Patriotism...devoted love, support and defense of one's country; national loyalty. This is the definition found in my Random House College Dictionary I keep by my computer.
While this definition suits my feelings and actions very well, I am wondering after a thread was locked concerning the American flag if there is some underlying attitude regarding our country that many of us are unaware of or has a more appropriate or different meaning than the one quoted above. Many accept our patriotism without hesitation or reservation. It would seem it is the one thing all could agree on without regard to party affiliation or our personal beliefs concerning the direction our country should be headed.
Surprisingly, here in our own little world of SoWal this does not appear to be so. What I am asking has nothing to do with objections to government policies or our political differences. It has to do with how do you really feel about your country and do you support it even though you feel it can always be made better? I know what my feelings are and how they have been developed. There is no doubt in my mind that this is the greatest nation on earth! I also realize that there can be improvements and valid changes at every level of its existence.
But after the past few days, I sense a feeling that some do not hold the same respect for the United States that I feel and do.
Please tell me I am wrong and why. Once again, this has nothing to do with Republican, Democrat, left or right, it has to do with how you feel about your attitude toward your country. Do you hold with the definition as presented above or is there something I am missing? To me nothing is more precious than the lifestyle I now enjoy thanks to being able to live in the greatest nation on earth.
Replies
61
SoWal Insider
This post being doomed to the same fate as the flag one.
Over/Under 8 hours??
Any takers???
Finally a post i can comment on. What's the spread?
SoWal Insider
you may not agree with them, but im betting you dont listen to either of these women with your own ears. instead you allow your opinion to be made by what others tell you.
to say either of these women is a dumb-ass is not knowing a thing about these women....especially palin. perhaps letterman has had an effect on you. if this country had more governors like palin, our states especially the blue state wouldnt have half their problems.
I didn't say Palin was a dumb-ass.
My opinion is that Coulter is so opinionated she alienates herself. I know no one who likes or respects her. Granted I don't know everyone, but in my circle and family we are even more diverse than this message board.
As to Palin, I stated that most of sowal agree on two things: Coulter and Palin.......to further clarify, I do not know nor do I care what names others choose to call Coulter, but most here agree that they do not care for Palin.
I wish I could stay up long enough to watch David Letterman. You would have had a better argument stating Rush Limbaugh, to which I would have replied, "He's a dumb ass."
I think for myself, BTW. I don't buy into the news boob tube or what others state, think, etc. However, I do listen to others and if I can see a beneficial statement/argument, well now, that's a good thang........
;-)
SWGB
To me patriotism is kind of like marriage. You promise to love, honor, cherish, take care of, and support. However, every once in a while you're at a party some body slips some 9/11 in their drink, they go a little bananas and the next thing you know they're in the parking lot with a baseball bat smashing out Iraq's car windows. You don't love them any less, but you are embarrassed and try to get them home so they don't continue.
Beach Lover
oh my...
I keep remembering this oldie - Doe anyone else remember
"my country right or wrong" ?
Only later did I learn the rest of the quote
"my country right or wrong, when right, to be kept right, when wrong, to be put right"
The trouble we have these days is we don't often enough have a civil discussion to figure out what is right, imho.
Why am I so wary of folks who are certain they know, without any doubt, reservation or need to listen to others, that they are right?
I keep remembering this oldie - Doe anyone else remember
"my country right or wrong" ?
Only later did I learn the rest of the quote
"my country right or wrong, when right, to be kept right, when wrong, to be put right"
The trouble we have these days is we don't often enough have a civil discussion to figure out what is right, imho.
Why am I so wary of folks who are certain they know, without any doubt, reservation or need to listen to others, that they are right?
Banned
I didn't say Palin was a dumb-ass.
My opinion is that Coulter is so opinionated she alienates herself. I know no one who likes or respects her. Granted I don't know everyone, but in my circle and family we are even more diverse than this message board.
As to Palin, I stated that most of sowal agree on two things: Coulter and Palin.......to further clarify, I do not know nor do I care what names others choose to call Coulter, but most here agree that they do not care for Palin.
I wish I could stay up long enough to watch David Letterman. You would have had a better argument stating Rush Limbaugh, to which I would have replied, "He's a dumb ass."
I think for myself, BTW. I don't buy into the news boob tube or what others state, think, etc. However, I do listen to others and if I can see a beneficial statement/argument, well now, that's a good thang........
;-)
I think you're wasting your time. He knows beyond any doubt that his way of thinking is what's best for everyone. If you disagree with him on the slightest matter, it's because you've been indoctrinated or brainwashed by some talking head in the liberal media. He is certain of this because he "used to be a liberal". It's not possible that just by your own accord you happen to agree with Olbermann, Letterman, Maher etc.. on a particular issue. No, they influenced your thinking and you're going down the wrong path. Why can't you view the world with his sense of clarity??? What's wrong with you????
Beach Fanatic
Patriotism...devoted love, support and defense of one's country; national loyalty
I will agree with that definition but I can guarantee if you ask 100 people what their definition is of devoted love, support and defense of one's country; you will get many different answers.
And I personally do not think that any of them would be wrong. I can be patriotic and be very different in my actions of patriotism from someone else. We would both be patriotic, but we would be different and this is as it should be.
For truly if in this country where our forefathers died to give us freedom of choice, how sad it would be that we lost that ability in the name of patriotism.
Edited
SoWal Insider
I'm just glad I live here so I can have a choice. 
Beach Lover
"Patriotism is the willingness to kill and be killed for trivial reasons".
-Betrand Russell
"Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel"
-Samuel Johnson
"The heights of popularity and patriotism are still the beaten road to power and tyranny; flattery to treachery; standing armies to arbitrary government; and the glory of God to the temporal interest of the clergy."
-David Hume
"Patriotism is your conviction that this country is superior to all others because you were born in it."
- George Bernard Shaw
"Patriotism is an arbitrary veneration of real estate above principles."
-George Jean Nathan
"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
"The nation is divided, half patriots and half traitors, and no man can tell which from which."
-Mark twain
"A nation is a society united by a delusion about its ancestry and by common hatred of its neighbours."
-William Ralph Inge
"It is lamentable, that to be a good patriot one must become the enemy of the rest of mankind. "
-Voltaire
-Betrand Russell
"Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel"
-Samuel Johnson
"The heights of popularity and patriotism are still the beaten road to power and tyranny; flattery to treachery; standing armies to arbitrary government; and the glory of God to the temporal interest of the clergy."
-David Hume
"Patriotism is your conviction that this country is superior to all others because you were born in it."
- George Bernard Shaw
"Patriotism is an arbitrary veneration of real estate above principles."
-George Jean Nathan
"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
"The nation is divided, half patriots and half traitors, and no man can tell which from which."
-Mark twain
"A nation is a society united by a delusion about its ancestry and by common hatred of its neighbours."
-William Ralph Inge
"It is lamentable, that to be a good patriot one must become the enemy of the rest of mankind. "
-Voltaire
Beach Fanatic
"Patriotism is the willingness to kill and be killed for trivial reasons".
-Betrand Russell
"Patriotism is an arbitrary veneration of real estate above principles."
-George Jean Nathan
"A nation is a society united by a delusion about its ancestry and by common hatred of its neighbours."
-William Ralph Inge
"It is lamentable, that to be a good patriot one must become the enemy of the rest of mankind. "
-Voltaire
Thanks fishfood...
These are actually very LOGICAL quotes..In a religious sense then, patriotism is like a belief in a personal God or personal Jesus, disregarding all other false gods or prophets--patriotism, like some organized religions, can be somewhat delusional and closed off from the rest of the real world (almost like a mental illness) and, as Nathan said it truly is "an arbitrary veneration of Real Estate above principles." Well, I still have many Realtor friends--I don't think he is speaking to them particularly! (that was a joke).
Long after everyone reading this thread is dead, maybe those with "common sense" will be the "World Patriots".... maybe then there will be no more wars on earth.
Edited
Beach Fanatic
"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace."
-Jimi Hendrix
-Jimi Hendrix
SoWal Insider
Patriotism...devoted love, support and defense of one's country; national loyalty. This is the definition found in my Random House College Dictionary I keep by my computer.
While this definition suits my feelings and actions very well, I am wondering after a thread was locked concerning the American flag if there is some underlying attitude regarding our country that many of us are unaware of or has a more appropriate or different meaning than the one quoted above. Many accept our patriotism without hesitation or reservation. It would seem it is the one thing all could agree on without regard to party affiliation or our personal beliefs concerning the direction our country should be headed.
Surprisingly, here in our own little world of SoWal this does not appear to be so. What I am asking has nothing to do with objections to government policies or our political differences. It has to do with how do you really feel about your country and do you support it even though you feel it can always be made better? I know what my feelings are and how they have been developed. There is no doubt in my mind that this is the greatest nation on earth! I also realize that there can be improvements and valid changes at every level of its existence.
But after the past few days, I sense a feeling that some do not hold the same respect for the United States that I feel and do.
Please tell me I am wrong and why. Once again, this has nothing to do with Republican, Democrat, left or right, it has to do with how you feel about your attitude toward your country. Do you hold with the definition as presented above or is there something I am missing? To me nothing is more precious than the lifestyle I now enjoy thanks to being able to live in the greatest nation on earth.
Andy, great intentions with your post! ;-)
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