What's the point of Patriotism?

Thanks for the food for thought. I will take it into consideration.

Glad you jumped in on this thread, Scrat.

I think Patriotism is not much different from feeling connected with your family, passionate about your highschool sports team, affection for your state, pride in your community, etc. It is the healthy human condition to need to belong, to be a part of something larger than the individual alone.

Patriotism is believing your country is the best place for you to be despite its shortcomings, warts, and blemishes. Patriotism is believing national values are worth defending even when that defense is paid for in blood and treasure.

The United States has much to commend it and much to condemn it. But only those who want to be here have to be here. We all have the right to go elsewhere any time we want. Yet only a tiny handful of citizens choose to go elsewhere while millions upon millions of people elsewhere would come here if they could. Knowing that, how bad could we be?

Those of you who hate this country, hate this government, hate who we are and what we are about, why not go find some place more to your liking? I think I'll do better just sticking around here with those others who choose to stay.

Foxfyre

I think Patriotism is not much different from feeling connected with your family, passionate about your highschool sports team, affection for your state, pride in your community, etc. It is the healthy human condition to need to belong, to be a part of something larger than the individual alone.

Patriotism is believing your country is the best place for you to be despite its shortcomings, warts, and blemishes. Patriotism is believing national values are worth defending even when that defense is paid for in blood and treasure.

The United States has much to commend it and much to condemn it. But only those who want to be here have to be here. We all have the right to go elsewhere any time we want. Yet only a tiny handful of citizens choose to go elsewhere while millions upon millions of people elsewhere would come here if they could. Knowing that, how bad could we be?

Those of you who hate this country, hate this government, hate who we are and what we are about, why not go find some place more to your liking? I think I'll do better just sticking around here with those others who choose to stay.

[quote="
I don't hate this country, or the government. I hate the illegal war in Iraq, the lies Bush and his administration tell the American people. If you prefer a country where dissent is not tolerated, perhaps you would find North Korea more to your liking. Dissent and opposition is what makes the USA such a great country. People like you want to take that away. Don't you understand that many men and women shed blood for that freedom and you want to take it away. How sad that you don't see the hypocracy in your words.

[quote=" Be careful or you will be labeled a "love-it or leave-it" person. Then someone will spout off about how only a true patriot will stand tall and condemn ones country...

I happen to think we have a very good and decent administration at the helm right now and I will work as hard to keep it there as you will work to oust it. I think many trends in American society are both bad and scary, but our current government is not to blame for that.

The fact that we disagree does not make either one of us unpatriotic.

DL, it isn't nice to not play into McGentrix' delusions!

Do I see this administration as evil? No I do not. Mistakes have been made. I deplore a few of the policies and/or laws that have been implemented. I think more could be done in other areas as well. But do I believe the leaders at the helm are basically decent and trustworthy people? Yes I do. (And I had different but equally troubling issues with the previous administration as I do with this one. Most people who despise Bush were just fine with the previous administration.)

I don't agree with them, but I can understand those who believe the war in Iraq is illegal. I give them much more credibility if they had the same sentiments about those countries bombed and/or invaded by the previous administration. But though I think some are shortsighted in their viewpoint, I don't think those who oppose the war in Iraq are necessarily unpatriotic.

I simply do not feel it useful to equate error or mistakes or imprudence with evil or even lying. I do not understand the unmitigated loathing and hatred of our current president/administration. I don't understand those who choose to believe the worst about those they oppose and will parrot any nasty thing about them whether or not there is proof for whatever the accusation of the week is.
I don't understand those who will not even consider mitigating evidence or who cannot give credit where credit is due.

True patriots I think look for the good as well as the bad.

Foxfyre

Do I see this administration as evil? No I do not. Mistakes have been made. I deplore a few of the policies and/or laws that have been implemented. I think more could be done in other areas as well. But do I believe the leaders at the helm are basically decent and trustworthy people? Yes I do. (And I had different but equally troubling issues with the previous administration as I do with this one. Most people who despise Bush were just fine with the previous administration.)

I don't agree with them, but I can understand those who believe the war in Iraq is illegal. I give them much more credibility if they had the same sentiments about those countries bombed and/or invaded by the previous administration. But though I think some are shortsighted in their viewpoint, I don't think those who oppose the war in Iraq are necessarily unpatriotic.

I simply do not feel it useful to equate error or mistakes or imprudence with evil or even lying. I do not understand the unmitigated loathing and hatred of our current president/administration. I don't understand those who choose to believe the worst about those they oppose and will parrot any nasty thing about them whether or not there is proof for whatever the accusation of the week is.
I don't understand those who will not even consider mitigating evidence or who cannot give credit where credit is due.

True patriots I think look for the good as well as the bad.

I think Patriotism is not much different from feeling connected with your family, passionate about your highschool sports team, affection for your state, pride in your community, etc. It is the healthy human condition to need to belong, to be a part of something larger than the individual alone.

Patriotism is believing your country is the best place for you to be despite its shortcomings, warts, and blemishes. Patriotism is believing national values are worth defending even when that defense is paid for in blood and treasure.

The United States has much to commend it and much to condemn it. But only those who want to be here have to be here. We all have the right to go elsewhere any time we want. Yet only a tiny handful of citizens choose to go elsewhere while millions upon millions of people elsewhere would come here if they could. Knowing that, how bad could we be?

Those of you who hate this country, hate this government, hate who we are and what we are about, why not go find some place more to your liking? I think I'll do better just sticking around here with those others who choose to stay.

Foxfyre

The real point is, however, is that the United States does not have to fence the people in to keep them here and it doesn't. That's one of the reasons I find to be patriotic.

Doglover writes: "Bush has done far worse than make a simple mistake(s). Tell that to the parents/spouses/children of soldiers killed in Iraq."