Is it patriotic to dissent?

i seem to oft repeat myself but patriotism is defending your country from your government.

It is not unpatriotic, mammaj.

I voted with you two.

um, the fifth vote is mine. however i am not a u.s. citizen, so i don't know if i should have sneaked in. but since my government has joined in against mine and most of my fellow countrymen's wishes, i felt the question applies to me just as well.

I started a tread some time ago: True Patriotism

Since I was born and raised there I say it's not unpatriotic at all to only want what's best for you're country ;-)

My local newspaper is called 'The Patriot'. I don't like it at all, but since it is the only dily here ...

Re 'patriotism' the situation in

hmmm...

every country got its black pages in history. An American with a tattoo or T Shirt with an indian on it? bad taste?

true. but germans got it tough. americans were not accused as a group on the basis for collective guilt for the annihilation of native americans and other tresspassings against humanity. but every single german was considered guilty after the war. hard to shake that one off.

Patriotic to dissent?

Well, firstly I regard patriotism as basically pretty stupid. Because I am born on one piece of dirt I am supposed to think it better than other pieces of dirt that I would think better than the piece of dirt I live on now if I had been born there? Give me a break! I think we are sort of programmed to identify with our countries as a sort of extension to our more natural clan or tribe loyalty. It is a program I can do without.


Having said that, I DO live in a particular place, and I want it to be a good place for me and other people and people to come, so I am prepared to invest a fair amount of my energies into it. Unless I am stupid enough to think my country perfect, there are gonna be things I wanna change - therefore, if I have any independent thought at all, I am going to dissent at times. On my particular piece of dirt this is valued a reasonable amount of the time - it gets called freedom of speech and the democratic process and such - I consider it my duty to dissent sometimes, as long as I am reasonably lawful and don't use violence.

Very well said dlowan and I share those feelings.

Thank you Gezzy - I am sure many will not!

Frolic
I suppose I would be considered one with bad taste because I wouldn't think twice about wearing a t shirt with an indian on it and as far as a tatoo goes, I always wanted some type of tatoo that represented something indian, such as a spirit stick. I've always had a huge heart for indians and was always facinated with their culture and respect.

dlowan
what you feel is all that matters ;-)

Sh!t, I read the question wrong (unpatriotic) and voted the wrong answer.

The no vote should be a yes vote.

Hmm - on this occasion it is what I THINK as well.

Hmm - on this occasion it is what I THINK as well.

Nemmind, Wilso!

We got you correct vote now Wilso, and that counts ;-)