[chokingvictim]

Originally Posted by Stringer Bell

are you saying that "patriotism" means not thinking for yourself?

I know you weren't quoting/asking me, but I would say that those who tend to consider themselves most patriotic (and put American flag stickers on their car/truck) tend to be the least likely to question government policy. They tend to call people unpatriotic or unamerican for disagreeing with government policy. Of course, every administration would like to have everyone believe that their policy is the true American policy, but it seems to me that lately there is more of this feeling in America that if you exercise your right to disagree with government policy, you are absolutely going to be called unamerican/unpatriotic. Very ironic, but becoming more and more common.

[corwin137]

Originally Posted by Stringer Bell

are you saying that "patriotism" means not thinking for yourself?

Of course not.

I am saying though, that many folk who refer to themselves as "patriots" do not think for themselves, and even more frequently, are mistaking patriotism for blind nationalism.

[chokingvictim]

Originally Posted by corwin137

Of course not.

I am saying though, that many folk who refer to themselves as "patriots" do not think for themselves, and even more frequently, are mistaking patriotism for blind nationalism.

Exactly. Many people cannot/do not distinguish policy from "America." If you "criticize the country" by opposing a policy, you are unamerican. It's scary how many people think like this. I know plenty of intelligent people who actually think it's unpatriotic and unamerican to mention anything negative about government policy either present or past.

[Stringer Bell]

Originally Posted by corwin137

Of course not.

I am saying though, that many folk who refer to themselves as "patriots" do not think for themselves, and even more frequently, are mistaking patriotism for blind nationalism.

I agree, people often misintrepret the term patriotism as simply waving a flag or blind defense of any and all things American.

[cogitoergosum]

Originally Posted by chokingvictim

Exactly. Many people cannot/do not distinguish policy from "America." If you "criticize the country" by opposing a policy, you are unamerican. It's scary how many people think like this. I know plenty of intelligent people who actually think it's unpatriotic and unamerican to mention anything negative about government policy either present or past.

I know many people who would call anyone expressing any form of patriotism a pawn of the government. There are people everywhere that cant really grasp what patriotism means.

[WUchi]

Originally Posted by CenterMass

Best Country on earth with the Oldest Constitution on earth celebrates it's independence day tomorrow. Of course we americans wont forget.

We're the on ly country in the world not corrupt enough to change shit around every time it gets fed up.

[Death March]

God, I'm glad I don't live in Cleveland.

[charlydevo]

Originally Posted by corwin137

Ooh- ouch. Sorry 'bout that. Your sarcasm was probably obvious, but my paranoia about people not thinking for themselves trumped it.

Yes. People should think for themselves, as long as they agree with you. If somebody freely thinks conservatively, they must be dumb, because they don't agree with you.

[chokingvictim]

Originally Posted by Death March

God, I'm glad I don't live in Cleveland.

Just because our river caught on fire, there's no reason to hate the city.

[Maximinus Thrax]

I plan to celebrate the Republic, more importantly, to celebrate George Washington's passion for whiskey.