New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Patriotism

post #1 of 18
10/28/08 at 7:32pm
Thread Starter 
What is it? Would you call yourself a patriot? Is it dangerous or helpful to society? A prideful concept that can change lives for better or worse?
Reply
post #2 of 18
10/28/08 at 7:34pm
Patriotism is the virtue of the vicious
Reply
post #3 of 18
10/28/08 at 7:37pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Spike Marshall View Post
Patriotism is the virtue of the vicious
hahaha came in here to post that good job
Reply
post #4 of 18
10/28/08 at 7:50pm
It's also the last refuge of a scoundrel.
Reply
post #5 of 18
10/28/08 at 7:55pm
Patriotism is a tiny elvish lad who lives in the ear canal of any person that desires positive things for their country. He exists everywhere and everyone thinks differently of him.

This is what I came up with when asked in the 6th grade. It basically still holds true
Reply
post #6 of 18
10/28/08 at 7:57pm
Thread Starter 
I regret this...
Reply
post #7 of 18
10/28/08 at 7:59pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dreary louse View Post
I regret this...
What were you expecting though?

Most of the people here are kind of disenfranchised with the idea of America (citing the numerous election threads) and I'm a cynical Brit (the only people who find their own flag slightly offensive).
Reply
post #8 of 18
10/28/08 at 8:07pm
Patriotism is the well intentioned idiot child that happily opens up the door for Nationalism to storm into your house and shit on your couch.
Reply
post #9 of 18
10/28/08 at 8:13pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Spike Marshall View Post
What were you expecting though?

Most of the people here are kind of disenfranchised with the idea of America (citing the numerous election threads) and I'm a cynical Brit (the only people who find their own flag slightly offensive).
Er, I regret posting this because it's such an elementary question as Dan Baker pointed out.
Reply
post #10 of 18
10/28/08 at 8:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Drew S. View Post
Patriotism is the well intentioned idiot child that happily opens up the door for Nationalism to storm into your house and shit on your couch.
Nice. Well put, and succinct too!
Reply
post #11 of 18
10/28/08 at 8:24pm
It can be a beautiful thing if inspired by the genuine intellectual foundation of this country (note: for Jefferson, dissent is the highest form of it), but it's way too easily used as a tool to manipulate the masses by the cynical power brokers at the top. Lest ye forget:

“Naturally the common people don't want war; neither in Russia, nor in England, nor in America, nor in Germany. That is understood. But after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.”

-- Hermann Goering, Nazi leader who was convicted of war crimes and crimes against humanity at the Nuremberg Trials.

Who does that quote remind you of? (And don't hit me with Godwin's rule!)
Reply
post #12 of 18
10/28/08 at 10:10pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by yt View Post
Who does that quote remind you of? (And don't hit me with Godwin's rule!)
I'll try to say this under the same awareness of Godwin's Law that yt mentioned.

Forget remote control drones, planted explosives, controlled demolitions, phantom planes, holograms, air force shoot downs, doctored cell phone calls, maya calendars, inside information, cgi'ed footage, bogus black boxes, autopilots, clones, sleepers, Bilderbergs, lizards, Templars and Mossad black ops.

The September 11th attacks were a "Reichstag Fire" for the Bush Administration. No question.


Also, a real patriot would admit ER has been on the air waaaayyyy too long.
Reply
post #13 of 18
10/28/08 at 10:22pm
I"ll show my (rapidlly waning) Pro-Americanism here:

Patriotism in America should be directly related to our form of government and Constitution. It is not mindless "love of Country right or wrong" but a recognition that we are a "Nation of laws not Men" and that those Laws are determined by the people for the people. We can disparage that all we want, and we can recognize that we have strayed away from the ideal. But we should recognize that the ideal is worth moving towards even if we can never attain it fully.
Reply
post #14 of 18
10/28/08 at 10:47pm
We're not in our patriot graves just yet, but here's something to swell the mystic chords of memory.

(From the folks I've spoken to this past summer, the program above has helped them reconnect with their sense of national heritage and rekindle a good deal of sincere patriotism.)


....and something for our anglo brethren across the pond.
Reply
post #15 of 18
10/29/08 at 8:59am
I always thought Captain America said it best: "I'm loyal to nothing...except the Dream."

Yeah, I'm a geek, but damn if it doesn't cut through the bullshit.
Reply
post #16 of 18
10/29/08 at 11:08am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cylon Baby View Post
I"ll show my (rapidlly waning) Pro-Americanism here:

Patriotism in America should be directly related to our form of government and Constitution. It is not mindless "love of Country right or wrong" but a recognition that we are a "Nation of laws not Men" and that those Laws are determined by the people for the people. We can disparage that all we want, and we can recognize that we have strayed away from the ideal. But we should recognize that the ideal is worth moving towards even if we can never attain it fully.
The classical version of patriotism (from Socrates, etc.) definitely contains this idea - that it's important for citizens to be critical in order to improve their country.

What drove Germany during the Nazi era and informs the "America, Love It or Leave It" attitude is probably more accurately termed "nationalism."
Reply
post #17 of 18
10/29/08 at 11:22am
I consider myself very patriotic in that i completely love and stand by the CONCEPT of the United States. But potential and reality are two very different things.

I have no problem calling foul on what could, and should, be the greatest country in the world, when it is in the shitter...like it is now...on so many levels... *Gun Shot Goes Off*
Reply
post #18 of 18
10/29/08 at 1:16pm
Think I'm mangling this, but "Patriotism is supporting your country all of the time, and your government only when they deserve it." So sayeth Mark Twain.

I'll agree with Cap (America, not ElCap), it's the dream, baby, the dream.
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Political Discourse