When ol' Teddy wrote that speech *or had it prepared for him* i'm sure no one thought about who shares that same ideology, neo-nazi and the klan for example. However true it is, it is still treasonous, pitty, huh?

Patriotism is a lot like rohypnol -- something to distract you while your government rapes you in the ear.

I like the way Cycle said it. Nicely put. He's right. America's based on lies. I used to take great pride in my country until I realized that we're not as independent as we think we are. If you want a different point of view, go to some of the old war vets and let them relive the glory days of the ole Red White and Blue. Personally, bittersweet liberty don't mean s**t to me.

(I hope somebody catches my last line...)

Espy? I Don't think the Neo-nazi's or Klan are doing whats best for the country.

Patriotism is a word much like love thats had its meaning twisted to the point of snapping like a overstretched rubberband.

~Rico

Unfortunetly, patriotism isnt what it used to be. I take great pride in my country, yet i still dont really respect the governments view on patriotism. For example, im in the air force for a job, for other people, and to maybe bring some meaning to why this country is the way it is. the politics have nothing to do with patriotism, honestly. being an airman in the air force, i know what patriotism is, and you dont need to be in the military to have that. although, i found out what it really is only after i joined the air force. no im not a gun ho american shooter or whatever you call it, but i do respect the fact that patriotism is in truth the pursuit of a greater good for all people in this country. like i said, the politics doesnt seem to have much of that... they just play their little games and make it seem like its the most important thing in the world. patriotism starts with you, and its the yearning for something you can take pride in and feel good knowing you protected, like your freedom. those of you in the UK, USA, Canada and such, have life so good, and if you dont believe me, take a trip to iraq. compared to the rest of the world, our patriotism within helped us reach a society and make our country the best it can be to live in. however, patriotism usually only is at its best during the beginings of a country. thats when we fight for what be know is best for us, not because we think we're better.

Isn't Patriotism usually confused as Nationalism? Which is the bad thing?

I mean Nationalism is the belief that your country is superior. Patriotism is just a love for your country. And my guess is that Nationalism, the bad guy, is disguised as Patriotism to make it seem right.

an example of patriotism is tatooing the american flag on your chest

Quote:

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Espy? I Don't think the Neo-nazi's or Klan are doing whats best for the country.

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sarcasm my friend...

although both right wings claim to be very patriotic and doing what is best (lynching migrants and muckraking)for our country.

What is patriotism? Love of Country.
Most people love the coyuntry where they were born or their parents were born.

Then there are those who make their fortunes some place else and love that country too.

Then there are the nationalists who want their country to be powerful.

Nationalism and patriotism are two different things. A person can be patriotic and not be nationalistic. But a person who is nationalistic tends to be patriotic.

I was a very strong Mexican nationalist. My children were born United States citizens. I am caught in the middle.

Patriotism in the UK = Supporting England in the World Cup.

Geez but football (and sport in general) sucks.

And so does patriotism.

SUPPORT YOUR COUNTRY BY LICKING THE BOOTS OF EVERY POLITICIAN IN SIGHT!

To me, Patriotism is simply someone under the impression that their country can do no wrong, regardless of its future actions, because it has done good once before in their life.

I'm an American. I respect the Revolutionaries, and those in the World Wars, and probably a bunch of those in the lesser wars, too. But that doesn't mean I'm gonna hop right up the second we're under conflict and announce my allegiance to us because my parents told me to respect the flag, and because I say the pledge.

Patriotism is prideful bias, usually embedded into a child's mind at an early age. It's nothing more than signing a death wish, as the country's values are bound to change, even momentarily. I will never be a patriot to any country (I do not control. :P). I'll choose the right side, not the side I'm waterlocked to.

~Nytloc Penumbral Lightkeeper

See Cycle and Nytloc. Patriotism is an insult to individuality and reason. Obviously, if you base your pride, morality, and beliefs on patriotism, they can't be universally right. If you were born somewhere else, or your country takes contradictory positions, would that magically mean that an opposite viewpoint is true? To accept patriotism as a value is to implicitly endorse relativism. Relativism suggests that patriotism is pointless as a source of beliefs.

The worst kind of patriotism is loyalty to government over country. Teddy Roosevelt and those who take that position have a good point, but often publically support the idea of patriotism, probably because their opponents whine 24 hours a day about it as an attack. Unfortunately this is what conservatives do to public debate. By calling on every socially demanded word and value in the book and associating it with themselves regardless of logic, they turn the debate towards a contest of adherence to those assumptions, instead of the assumption itself.

Patriotism: love for one's country. Re: Veckums,

I don't believe that patriotism is an attack on individuality and rationality, any more than any other type of love is. I love my country in the same way (though not to the same degree) that I love my family and friends or my neighbors. Does that mean I spit and taunt on people who aren't in my family and think everyone outside my gene pool is inferior? Do I think my group of friends are somehow superior to everyone else? No. But I will defend the things I love, because I love them. I won't compromise my values for this love, but such a thing is not unheard of. Admittedly, all love, including our love of country, distorts reason in some way, but our capacity to love makes us human, not robots.

Since this post started with a quote, I'd like to throw out another one, which I wholeheartedly endorse:

War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things: the decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks nothing is worth a war, is much worse. When a people are used as mere human instruments for firing cannon or thrusting bayonets, in the service and for the selfish purposes of a master, such war degrades a people. A war to protect other human beings against tyrannical injustice; a war to give victory to their own ideas of right and good, and which is their own war, carried on for an honest purpose by their free choice,is often the means of their regeneration. A man who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his personal safety, is a miserable creature who has no chance of being free, unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself. As long as justice and injustice have not terminated their ever-renewing fight for ascendancy in the affairs of mankind, human beings must be willing, when need is, to do battle for the one against the other.
-John Stuart Mill

Well said.

Wait, what? What the hell does that quote have to do with the topic except for the single passing use of the word "patriotic"?

Christ I hate that quote.

I have no idea what patriotism is because I fail to feel paitriotic to my homeland: The Netherlands.