What is patriotism? (An email I wrote in response to a swipe from a friends relative)

[Anonymous]

patriot = one who loves and defends his or her country.

[OwnerOfCalifornia]

This on top of the wars we fight and the taxes we pay is just an unbearable act and under no justification is it patriotic.

Fixed it for you.

Props for the Hank Rollins quote.

[OwnerOfCalifornia]

This on top of the wars we fight and the taxes we pay is just an unbearable act and under no justification is it patriotic.

Fixed it for you.

Props for the Hank Rollins quote.

[OwnerOfCalifornia]

This on top of the wars we fight and the taxes we pay is just an unbearable act and under no justification is it patriotic.

Fixed it for you.

Props for the Hank Rollins quote.

[OwnerOfCalifornia]

This on top of the wars we fight and the taxes we pay is just an unbearable act and under no justification is it patriotic.

Fixed it for you.

Props for the Hank Rollins quote.

[OwnerOfCalifornia]

This on top of the wars we fight and the taxes we pay is just an unbearable act and under no justification is it patriotic.

Fixed it for you.

Props for the Hank Rollins quote.

[Anonymous]

-Is it someone who waves the flag in others faces? No

-Is it someone who believes in jeebus? No

-Is it someone pays their taxes? No

-Perhaps its someone who serves in the military. No

-To me a patriot is someone who lives by pretty straight forward values. No

-Someone that neither lies cheats nor steals. No

-A person who thinks and then translates those thoughts into actions. No

-A patriot makes the effort to leave this world a better place than they found it, and does so by the manner in which he lives. No

-Furthermore a patriot is someone who speaks out when he or she sees something that they disagree with. No

-Its getting harder and harder to be a patriot. No

-Especially when your govt on top of all the lies cheating and stealing flat out steals 300 dollars per person for every man woman and child to bail out a risk taking private enterprise on wall street. (This is your opinion. It fails to recognize that you can be patriotic and yet not support the current administration).

-This on top of the wars we fight and the taxes we cut is just an unbearable act and under no justification is it patriotic. (You would actually suggest that the Marines serving in Afghanistan right now are not being patriotic by doing so? And nobody said that lowering taxes had to be patriotic, it is just a policy you disagree with).

-Nothing proves that the current coterie of our leadership is anything but patriotic more than the bold faced illegal theft of 30 billion dollars in publicly backed money given to JP Morgan Chase to buy out Bear Stearns. The quickest way to destroy a nation is to debase its currency. As Henry Rollins said, “all it takes is for one person to stand up and say, fuck this!” (Again, your opinion, and perhaps the actions you would advocate would lead to even greater disaster.)

[Anonymous]

-Is it someone who waves the flag in others faces? No

-Is it someone who believes in jeebus? No

-Is it someone pays their taxes? No

-Perhaps its someone who serves in the military. No

-To me a patriot is someone who lives by pretty straight forward values. No

-Someone that neither lies cheats nor steals. No

-A person who thinks and then translates those thoughts into actions. No

-A patriot makes the effort to leave this world a better place than they found it, and does so by the manner in which he lives. No

-Furthermore a patriot is someone who speaks out when he or she sees something that they disagree with. No

-Its getting harder and harder to be a patriot. No

-Especially when your govt on top of all the lies cheating and stealing flat out steals 300 dollars per person for every man woman and child to bail out a risk taking private enterprise on wall street. (This is your opinion. It fails to recognize that you can be patriotic and yet not support the current administration).

-This on top of the wars we fight and the taxes we cut is just an unbearable act and under no justification is it patriotic. (You would actually suggest that the Marines serving in Afghanistan right now are not being patriotic by doing so? And nobody said that lowering taxes had to be patriotic, it is just a policy you disagree with).

-Nothing proves that the current coterie of our leadership is anything but patriotic more than the bold faced illegal theft of 30 billion dollars in publicly backed money given to JP Morgan Chase to buy out Bear Stearns. The quickest way to destroy a nation is to debase its currency. As Henry Rollins said, “all it takes is for one person to stand up and say, fuck this!” (Again, your opinion, and perhaps the actions you would advocate would lead to even greater disaster.)

[Anonymous]

-Is it someone who waves the flag in others faces? No

-Is it someone who believes in jeebus? No

-Is it someone pays their taxes? No

-Perhaps its someone who serves in the military. No

-To me a patriot is someone who lives by pretty straight forward values. No

-Someone that neither lies cheats nor steals. No

-A person who thinks and then translates those thoughts into actions. No

-A patriot makes the effort to leave this world a better place than they found it, and does so by the manner in which he lives. No

-Furthermore a patriot is someone who speaks out when he or she sees something that they disagree with. No

-Its getting harder and harder to be a patriot. No

-Especially when your govt on top of all the lies cheating and stealing flat out steals 300 dollars per person for every man woman and child to bail out a risk taking private enterprise on wall street. (This is your opinion. It fails to recognize that you can be patriotic and yet not support the current administration).

-This on top of the wars we fight and the taxes we cut is just an unbearable act and under no justification is it patriotic. (You would actually suggest that the Marines serving in Afghanistan right now are not being patriotic by doing so? And nobody said that lowering taxes had to be patriotic, it is just a policy you disagree with).

-Nothing proves that the current coterie of our leadership is anything but patriotic more than the bold faced illegal theft of 30 billion dollars in publicly backed money given to JP Morgan Chase to buy out Bear Stearns. The quickest way to destroy a nation is to debase its currency. As Henry Rollins said, “all it takes is for one person to stand up and say, fuck this!” (Again, your opinion, and perhaps the actions you would advocate would lead to even greater disaster.)

[Anonymous]

-Is it someone who waves the flag in others faces? No

-Is it someone who believes in jeebus? No

-Is it someone pays their taxes? No

-Perhaps its someone who serves in the military. No

-To me a patriot is someone who lives by pretty straight forward values. No

-Someone that neither lies cheats nor steals. No

-A person who thinks and then translates those thoughts into actions. No

-A patriot makes the effort to leave this world a better place than they found it, and does so by the manner in which he lives. No

-Furthermore a patriot is someone who speaks out when he or she sees something that they disagree with. No

-Its getting harder and harder to be a patriot. No

-Especially when your govt on top of all the lies cheating and stealing flat out steals 300 dollars per person for every man woman and child to bail out a risk taking private enterprise on wall street. (This is your opinion. It fails to recognize that you can be patriotic and yet not support the current administration).

-This on top of the wars we fight and the taxes we cut is just an unbearable act and under no justification is it patriotic. (You would actually suggest that the Marines serving in Afghanistan right now are not being patriotic by doing so? And nobody said that lowering taxes had to be patriotic, it is just a policy you disagree with).

-Nothing proves that the current coterie of our leadership is anything but patriotic more than the bold faced illegal theft of 30 billion dollars in publicly backed money given to JP Morgan Chase to buy out Bear Stearns. The quickest way to destroy a nation is to debase its currency. As Henry Rollins said, “all it takes is for one person to stand up and say, fuck this!” (Again, your opinion, and perhaps the actions you would advocate would lead to even greater disaster.)

[Anonymous]

-Is it someone who waves the flag in others faces? No

-Is it someone who believes in jeebus? No

-Is it someone pays their taxes? No

-Perhaps its someone who serves in the military. No

-To me a patriot is someone who lives by pretty straight forward values. No

-Someone that neither lies cheats nor steals. No

-A person who thinks and then translates those thoughts into actions. No

-A patriot makes the effort to leave this world a better place than they found it, and does so by the manner in which he lives. No

-Furthermore a patriot is someone who speaks out when he or she sees something that they disagree with. No

-Its getting harder and harder to be a patriot. No

-Especially when your govt on top of all the lies cheating and stealing flat out steals 300 dollars per person for every man woman and child to bail out a risk taking private enterprise on wall street. (This is your opinion. It fails to recognize that you can be patriotic and yet not support the current administration).

-This on top of the wars we fight and the taxes we cut is just an unbearable act and under no justification is it patriotic. (You would actually suggest that the Marines serving in Afghanistan right now are not being patriotic by doing so? And nobody said that lowering taxes had to be patriotic, it is just a policy you disagree with).

-Nothing proves that the current coterie of our leadership is anything but patriotic more than the bold faced illegal theft of 30 billion dollars in publicly backed money given to JP Morgan Chase to buy out Bear Stearns. The quickest way to destroy a nation is to debase its currency. As Henry Rollins said, “all it takes is for one person to stand up and say, fuck this!” (Again, your opinion, and perhaps the actions you would advocate would lead to even greater disaster.)

[cooperthedog]

Technically, a patriot is a someone who espouses the “official” values of the nation, typically via ritual or ceremony (flags, pledges, etc.).

One can demonstrate degrees of patriotism, from the shallow (e.g. purchasing a “support our troops” bumper sticker, yet opposing additional personal payments (taxes) to support the actual war/troops), to the ultimate sacrifice (giving your life in combat).

The problem is that our founding fathers version of patriotism was focused on defending/supporting our *system* of government (i.e. the Constitution) vs. individual leaders, institutions, or objects. The current administration likes to do alot of flag waving and associate its values and authority as absolute, which I would label as nationalism. I think a true patriot is someone who is willing to defend the Constitution, question and change their appointed leaders, & sacrifice for their country (physically or financially).

As for the BSC bailout, I think it was a necessary evil. Credit markets seizing up, banks failing, etc. can cause untold damage to all. Also, this gov’t giveaway isn’t much different from all the rest, “privatize the gains & socialize the losses” – its how our “free”-market works…

[cooperthedog]

Technically, a patriot is a someone who espouses the “official” values of the nation, typically via ritual or ceremony (flags, pledges, etc.).

One can demonstrate degrees of patriotism, from the shallow (e.g. purchasing a “support our troops” bumper sticker, yet opposing additional personal payments (taxes) to support the actual war/troops), to the ultimate sacrifice (giving your life in combat).

The problem is that our founding fathers version of patriotism was focused on defending/supporting our *system* of government (i.e. the Constitution) vs. individual leaders, institutions, or objects. The current administration likes to do alot of flag waving and associate its values and authority as absolute, which I would label as nationalism. I think a true patriot is someone who is willing to defend the Constitution, question and change their appointed leaders, & sacrifice for their country (physically or financially).

As for the BSC bailout, I think it was a necessary evil. Credit markets seizing up, banks failing, etc. can cause untold damage to all. Also, this gov’t giveaway isn’t much different from all the rest, “privatize the gains & socialize the losses” – its how our “free”-market works…

[cooperthedog]

Technically, a patriot is a someone who espouses the “official” values of the nation, typically via ritual or ceremony (flags, pledges, etc.).

One can demonstrate degrees of patriotism, from the shallow (e.g. purchasing a “support our troops” bumper sticker, yet opposing additional personal payments (taxes) to support the actual war/troops), to the ultimate sacrifice (giving your life in combat).

The problem is that our founding fathers version of patriotism was focused on defending/supporting our *system* of government (i.e. the Constitution) vs. individual leaders, institutions, or objects. The current administration likes to do alot of flag waving and associate its values and authority as absolute, which I would label as nationalism. I think a true patriot is someone who is willing to defend the Constitution, question and change their appointed leaders, & sacrifice for their country (physically or financially).

As for the BSC bailout, I think it was a necessary evil. Credit markets seizing up, banks failing, etc. can cause untold damage to all. Also, this gov’t giveaway isn’t much different from all the rest, “privatize the gains & socialize the losses” – its how our “free”-market works…

[cooperthedog]

Technically, a patriot is a someone who espouses the “official” values of the nation, typically via ritual or ceremony (flags, pledges, etc.).

One can demonstrate degrees of patriotism, from the shallow (e.g. purchasing a “support our troops” bumper sticker, yet opposing additional personal payments (taxes) to support the actual war/troops), to the ultimate sacrifice (giving your life in combat).

The problem is that our founding fathers version of patriotism was focused on defending/supporting our *system* of government (i.e. the Constitution) vs. individual leaders, institutions, or objects. The current administration likes to do alot of flag waving and associate its values and authority as absolute, which I would label as nationalism. I think a true patriot is someone who is willing to defend the Constitution, question and change their appointed leaders, & sacrifice for their country (physically or financially).

As for the BSC bailout, I think it was a necessary evil. Credit markets seizing up, banks failing, etc. can cause untold damage to all. Also, this gov’t giveaway isn’t much different from all the rest, “privatize the gains & socialize the losses” – its how our “free”-market works…

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