Patriotism
I'm just wondering how many of the Americans on here would consider themselves patriots in the sense that they are proud of their country and to some degree loyal to, and would serve it (not necessarily militarily).
are you talking about patriotism or jingoism? there are plenty of nutty jingos here.
I'm American and I don't really consider myself to be one of those hardcore patriots. You know, the ones' who say that they'd die for their country. However, I did notice that patriotism has been subconsciously planted in me. I first noticed it when I was reading an article about how China is going to overtake the US in becoming a world superpower and felt somewhat bad. This shouldn't have effected me that much either since it would have happened, at the earliest, toward the end of my career, but I guess I am somewhat patriotic then. On another note, I absolutely hate how people think their country is the best about a country just because they were born there.
Murka
We shit on other countries for brainwashing their kids but do the same exact thing here. Everyday in grade school you stand up to say the pledge of allegiance.
No way in hell would I die for this country.
I am loyal to the American ideal, but I feel that it has been pushed aside, in recent years. Pushed aside by asshole Republicans who don't know shit. Not that the Democrats are flawless, either, but I think I'm less turned off by bloated spending than I am by jingoistic fundamentalist nutjobs.
EDIT: this post was a much longer, more hateful attack on conservatives, but the simple truth is that I don't care and don't feel like pissing off 99% of WSO. There's no point. Everyone defines patriotism differently....I define it as doing what's best for everyone, so I'm retracting my last comment.
Simply put, I love this country.
I had the same problem. Bush's neocons definitely turned me towards leftist politics for awhile. However, now that the GOP has shown itself to be more than just filled by war hawks, I'm moved back in.
Although, I don't see how anyone who has a clue could find this anything than disgusting:
That "bloated spending" will be the end of this country you liberal fuck. Go vote for the black guy that wants to raise taxes, socialize healthcare, and send the rich to hell. You can hang out with your friends in New Orleans who thought this dumbshit would bring "change." Oh he changed things...he turned 7.7% unemployment to 10.1%.
He inherited a shitty economy from Bush.
Again, I have no illusions about Obama being perfect. But I'll be damned if I let a dipshit wacko like Santorum decide for me that I can't abort the baby in the surrogate mother working for the Atheist dude I'm fucking in the ass during all my free time not chasing "WMDs".
The modern Republican party is a regular circus sideshow. "Let's have a contest - the one who can spew the most shit gets the nomination!"
How the fuck do people like Santorum (and, to a lesser extent, Gingrich) get as far as they have?
Haha UFO is fired up!
I agree with a lot of what you said (although I don't advocate that neocons go killing themselves).
I think you can be a Patriot and not a jingoist. I think questioning someone's patriotism to score a politcal point is about as juvenile as you can get. On a somewhat unrelated note, I think the Patriot Act is one of the least patriotic things in American history.
"Sure, I've been called a xenophobe, but the truth is, I'm not. I honestly just feel that America is the best country and the other countries aren't as good. That used to be called patriotism." - Kenny Powers
Regards
lol that's a funny use of the words "xenophobe," "best," and "patriotism."
America is the greatest country in the world. Seriously just look at the rest of the world. The only reason your even asking this question is because the NFL is in off season. Once action on the gridiron kicks back into gear this wont even be a debate. Cant wait to kick all your pansy asses in the Summer games in a few months U-S-A. U-S-A, U-S-A
If your not a fan of America click the link listed below
http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee308/grecodad01/middle-finger.jpg
I should also point out that I'm probably biased. This is the song I wake up to every morning, brother...
Regards
Pretty sure thats the only way to wake up
Not a U.S. Citizen YET, but I definitely feel very patriotic.
America, Fuck Yeah!
I definitely know that my country makes mistakes and has a less than ideal track record but I would lay down my life for it any day of the week and twice on sunday.
Related: http://imgur.com/U1iFJ
The question isn't whether you would die for this country, it is whether you would kill for this country.
Stars and Stripes baby
“When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying the cross.” ― Sinclair Lewis
That pretty much sums it up for me.
Just haters. Everywhere I look... just hatin.
where did this mythology come from that politicians ever had the interest of the country at heart? 99% of politicians have always been scum since the time of ancient greece. this childish myth of better times in the noble past is just nonsense believed in by ignorant dolts too lazy to study their history.
and the guy who quoted lewis: spot on. i cannot think of a more fascistic psychopath than rick santorum, pandering to the ugliest elements of religious bigotry, racism and ultraviolent jingoism.
I think there was a better time in this country as far as politicians are concerned, but that was long ago when few served multiple terms and could be deemed 'career politicians'.
http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/minute/New_Seniority_Record…
http://www.senate.gov/senators/Biographical/longest_serving.htm
http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/R41545_20110107.pdf
I think part of the increase in average term lengths comes from a personal motive on the part of the Congressman and, as of late, is partly due to the complacency of severely uneducated voters. I can't tell you how many times I've asked people who they voted for in a certain race and it turns out to be the incumbent just because they have already been elected. It's not because they agree with their policies or disagree with the newcomers points of view, it's simply because they have an "I'm alive and things are too horrible" so they assume the person in office must be doing an alright job.
I honestly think these elections will just continue to get heated over the next several years because you have a wave of (fairly) well educated, internet saavy voters that will, in theory, usher in a new guard. The opposition will be old folks that might not be hip to the change and the lower class, especially low income minorities, who will be preyed upon with divisive ads that try to create an 'us vs. them' mentality. We are seeing it now with the current presidential campaign (read: class warfare) but you can be certain it will only get worse as time goes on.
Sadly, the poor will fall victim to scare tactics and they will likely side with the candidate that promises to dole out the most 'free' benefits. Luckily the lower socioeconomic bracket doesn't come out and vote in full force but with the amount of funding by super PACs up sharply, you can bet that they will be inundated with ads that urge them to get mobilized and 'save themselves'.
I do think the libertarian, Tea Party-esque movement will continue into the coming years/elections, I just hope we can make that far before imploding.
Regards
Wow, just reading this comes to my mind a conversation I had once with a German friend, he told me "Right, its a nice country (Germany), but there is nothing to be proud of, as I was not born when the big development happened, and we still haven't done enough, my parents ought to be proud, I feel we can do better".
I believe the US's great generation should be very proud, but not my country anyway :).
Btw ANT, it takes no courage to kill, but a lot to die for what you believe is fair.
Cheers!.
I mean, the definition for patriot is:
I vigorously support my country. I am willing to defend it if someone invaded us. I generally defend it against its detractors, but I also understand where some people are coming from when they have issues with our country. I still consider myself and American and a patriot.
True, but a lot of people don't see it that way. That's why I don't give a fuck what they think and do my own thing :)
all the "patriots" in germany taking the "my country right or wrong" attitude surely put themselves in a great spot by 1945.
ah yes watching the GOP debates i think that is a distinction no longer made.
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