The change you will get...

[Eric5273]

Originally Posted by ZsX5o3

I know, and it's scary every time he says it. But, even though the anti-patriotism goes both ways, there's far more influence on the left side. Main stream media & Hollywood seek to bring down our government, maybe not literally, but just in general and I can't see the conservative base doing that, regardless who is in office. Granted it won't be peachy but it won't be as it is now. I'm not going to vote for Obama because I don't believe in him, but I do believe that restoring faith & patriotism to the nation is the most important goal for us right now.

Patriotism is doing what you believe is best for your country. Patriotism is NOT giving unconditional support to your government. I don't think you would argue that a patriotic Iraqi would have been one who was against Saddam Hussein. But I'm sure that Iraqis who liked Saddam would disagree.

My point is that you cannot be the judge of someone else's patriotism. Unless you know they are purposely doing what they think is bad for their country and have some alterior motive, you cannot say they are being unpatriotic. Patriotism is determined by one's personal beliefs. For example, if one believes in communism, then the patriotic thing for that person to do would be to push their communist ideas on their fellow countrymen. After all, that is what they think is best for their country.

So just because you don't believe in liberal ideas does not give you the right to accuse liberals of being unpatriotic. Is it just possible that what they believe is best for America is different than what you believe is best for America?

Here is your own guy John McCain saying the same thing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiGG5Za16zU

[ZsX5o3]

John McCain is not my guy.

[Eric5273]

Originally Posted by ZsX5o3

John McCain is not my guy.

That wasn't really my point. I think you understand what I am saying. Patriotism is doing what you believe is best for your country, regardless of what those beliefs are. Agreed?

[ZsX5o3]

no I don't buy that. I don't think tearing apart your own country and defacing it on the stage of the world because you love it is possible.

[Eric5273]

Originally Posted by ZsX5o3

I don't think tearing apart your own country and defacing it on the stage of the world because you love it is possible.

About 70 years ago, Albert Einstein did exactly what you say. He was the most famous German person in the world having won the Nobel Prize, and he announced to the world that his country had been taken over by thugs and that the world better watch out. Do you think he was being patriotic? Or did he do this because he hated Germany? He said he was very sad about what was happening to Germany.

[ZsX5o3]

lol. that's the kind of mentality I can't wait to be rid of.

[Eric5273]

Originally Posted by ZsX5o3

lol. that's the kind of mentality I can't wait to be rid of.

I guess we have a major difference of opinion, because I think Einstein was an exceptional individual and I think the world could use more people like him. If more Germans had spoken out, maybe WWII and the Holocaust would have never happened. I also think he was indeed being a patriotic German by speaking out to the rest of the world. I guess you disagree.

[chonko]

Patriotism- O patriotism...
According to Samuel Johnson, it is the last refuge of the scoundrel.
The thought that people honestly think that part of the country is more patriotic than another leaves me perplexed. Or, the notion that a particular political party is more patriotic than another is mortifying-and patronizing to the darker elements of a people.
My passport does not say if am of one political alignment, or from a certain part of the country- it simply states that I am a citizen of a certain country.