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Will the True Patriots Please Step Forward
more from Black Liberal Boomer
I’m beginning to think it’s time for an entirely new definition of patriotism.
Then again, maybe it’s just time for some of those on the far right who are in the process of hanging themselves with the flag they claim to love so much to reacquaint themselves with the word’s original meaning. According to Merriam Webster’s online dictionary, patriotism is defined as “love for or devotion to one’s country”.
It’s really not all that complicated. Oh we can make it as complicated as you please, but when you get right down to what the truth of the matter is? Simplicity itself.
So before those who feel it is their patriotic duty to secede decide to act on their own perverted definition of the values laid down by their beloved ‘Founding Fathers’, they may want to re-read that definition of patriotism on their way to their more perfect union – a union that apparently will have to be built by a bunch of disaffected, ignorant losers. Good luck with that.
The problem arises when the definition of ‘patriotism’ bumps up against the definitions for ‘love for’ and ‘devotion to’. Welcome to the gray area. Because now what we’re confronted with is how various and assorted types choose to define love. For example, some parents beat their kids with a stick when those kids misbehave and claim it’s because they love them. And they mean it. Other parents think that’s horrible and prefer to give their kids a ‘time out’ when they misbehave. And they think that’s the best way to express love. And they mean it. To say who’s right and who’s wrong in either instance is to invite a whole lot of trouble, most of it related to charges of being judgmental.
Similarly, there are people in this country who honestly believe that if a man is legally allowed to marry another man then there’s a good chance whoever approved that law is a disciple of Satan and that person is responsible for bringing down hellfire and damnation upon us all. Others (such as myself) happen to believe that these fears are more than a little ridiculous because we should all be allowed to love and marry whomever we please. Some actually believe that a black man being re-elected as the President of the United States by a landslide margin is truly a sign that Jesus is coming back before the end of the week and he’s gonna be pissed we let that happen. Others (once again such as myself) believe…well…
Guess.
Some believe that the best way to express their patriotism is to burn their nation to the ground if it doesn’t measure up to their standards because it is better to burn in ignorance than live in enlightenment. Others belief that the best possible America is the one we all create together.
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16 Responses to Will the True Patriots Please Step Forward
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Jeff
Nov. 16th, 2012 at 8:14 pm
I don’t think we need a new definition of patriotism so much as to take back the real meaning. It’s been highjacked and perverted to serve others ends. Those who wrap themselves in the flag while espousing radical and harmful beliefs are not patriots, no matter what they call themselves. A true patriot works for the good of the coutry as a whole, not the benefit of the chosen few.
Sandra
Nov. 17th, 2012 at 2:37 pm
Much like TRUE Christianity. These uninformed/ignorant, and yes racists Republicans, have usurped and distorted everything good about the Country in their own selfish and shortsighted beliefs that there way is the right and godly way. They love to claim the Constitution yet know nothing of the complexities of the Constitution and the admendments written and passed into law over the decades.
Alvin Góngora
Nov. 16th, 2012 at 8:36 pm
As a non US citizen and an observer that doesn’t live in the US I just stand in disbelief at this nut cases that want to undo the Union that has been built at such a high price and with such outstanding success. Those right wing crazy people with their un-patriotic attitudes are telling me that they don’t have a country at all. They still live in the 1860′s and don’t understand that the clock cannot be set back that far.
Johnee
Nov. 16th, 2012 at 10:17 pm
“They still live in the 1860′s and don’t understand that the clock cannot be set back that fare”.
Alvin, it’s amazing how much of a better grasp you have on what it means to be a patriotic American than some of the idiots that call themselves “patriotic Americans”.
Liberator
Nov. 16th, 2012 at 11:05 pm
Maybe we should mention the founders of the country…that formed the frame work for this country. They were a diverse group of men, that did not see eye to eye on everything. But they hashed out a framework that would encompass the far right and the far left. They were patriots, they died for the country. Standing up for or against gay marriage is not being a patriot. The men and women or that are willing to die for the constitution and defend this country are patriots.
Abe Froman
Nov. 16th, 2012 at 11:32 pm
Did you similarly write about building a better country together after the 2000 and 2004 elections? Or did you doubt, decry, and denounce the election results? If you did, does that make you less of a patriot? I would argue that questioning the official version of anything, elections or otherwise, is what this country is all about and actually prices your patriotism. There were plenty of people, famous and not, that threatened to leave the country after each of Bush’s elections. Anyone with that much passion about the future direction of this country is, by your definition, a great patriot. Someone not sharing your view on a given topic doesn’t make them unpatriotic, just like your accusing those who disagree with you of being unpatriotic doesn’t make you so either. It’s hard to build a country together if everyone labels their ideological adversaries as crazies who don’t love America as much as you.
Sandra
Nov. 17th, 2012 at 2:55 pm
Well Abe, since Bush did not win either Election fairly and Constitutionally, yes, Citizens had and have every right to criticize and call themelves real Patriots.
You’ve also missed the point, these so called partriots want an America that is built on their narrow and rigid belief systems while disregarding and discounting the freedoms and liberties of those who do not want what they are selling ie a Theocracy or a Plutocracy. America was never a Chrisitan nation as these eegits claim and the founders made it clear that there must be a separation of Church and State which these people are ignoring.
Shiva (Moderator)
Nov. 17th, 2012 at 7:59 am
I will say this about that. The word Patriot is vastly over used and has been ruined. To compare yourself as a supposed constitutionalist to George Washington who was a Patriot is wrong.
Washington and his buddies that started this country in an act of war against Britian had a real thing to fight for. Most of the tea party thugs who call them selves patriots say they believe in the constitution yet have no qualms with taking the right of people away to protest. Believing in the constitution doesn’t make one a patriot.
I think people need to stop using that word in the context of everyday life.
Anne
Nov. 17th, 2012 at 12:19 pm
These fools on the right have appropriated and misused the word “patriotism” to mean “my way or the highway.” They love to impugn the character and motives of folks who disagree with their policies by calling us immoral moochers who hate this country and by assigning to themselves a moral superiority they don’t possess. Patriotism means,among other things, care and concern for fellow Americans which recognizes that our progress depends on the well-being of all of us.
Brigita Petrutis
Nov. 17th, 2012 at 12:19 pm
The least patriotic bunch are those CEO’s threatening to lay off employees and/or increase prices, because Obama won a second term. These corporate millionaires and billionaires enriched themselves on the backs of the working class, and now feel justified to “punish” the very country that allowed them the opportunity. Titans of industry? Spoiled rotten, and displaying unsportsman-like behavior, they are. For once, capitalism could shoulder some responsibility and adopt a patriotic stance for the sake of pulling this country together.
nITa
Nov. 17th, 2012 at 1:08 pm
The problem with calling oneself a Democrat or a Republican, and this is especially true of politicians, is that one is expected to align oneself with the “party” platform and to work to dismantle whatever the other party’s platform stands for. That is NOT Patriotism. What happened to thinking for oneself? I am not a dumb cow who needs to be told what to think. Being a patriot means working together to protect our borders, working together to ensure that our children do not go to school hungry- making learning more difficult, getting people involved in the political process so that we can affect change, not suppressing the vote. If you encourage me to vote, you now have an opportunity to change my vote. Stop giving us crap about gay marriage or abortion. Allowing gay marriage or civil unions will NOT change my own sexual orientation and being pro-choice has nothing whatsoever to do with my own personal decision to abort, it just means I am allowing you to think for Yourself, to decide on your own how you will respond to Your situation.
nITa
Nov. 17th, 2012 at 2:16 pm
Speaking of patriotism…..
In the words of Barbara Bush:
“I’m tired now of the elections,” Bush, who had endorsed Republican Mitt Romney, said at a forum on America’s first ladies. “People spoke. Move on, get on with it. I want to do other things and not to be ugly.”
“They are going to have to compromise,” said Barbara Bush, the wife of former President George H.W. Bush. “It’s not a dirty word.”
AUSTIN, Texas, Nov 15 (Reuters)
Angie Dee
Nov. 17th, 2012 at 6:20 pm
Today people use the term patriot to infer that racism, classicism, poverty and all things negative are the true embodiment of the word. I understand that our founding fathers were flawed, as we all are, but had good intentions. No the US Constitution was not meant to apply to all persons but since it’s writing we have come to understand that for those collection of words that we call the Constitution and the Bill of Rights to have any true meaning we must disavow ourselves of the rhetoric of hate and encompass all individuals who reside within our borders. I love my country. I would protect her and the freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution at the expense of my own life. I believe this is the true meaning and measure of a patriot. I choose love over hate. I am willing to listen to other opinions because people have the right to think how they want. I have have felt as if my country hated my very existence until 2008. When I saw Barack Obama take the oath of office I realized that I am only limited by my efforts to rise out of the ashes of hate and discrimination. I am a patriot.
Shiva (Moderator)
Nov. 17th, 2012 at 8:31 pm
“use the term patriot to infer that racism, classicism, poverty and all things negative are the true embodiment of the word. ”
Thats not true. Although most of the tea thugs who call themselves patriots are racists. I have never heard patriot defined as a racist
A Walkaway
Nov. 17th, 2012 at 6:33 pm
I usually ask the “Good Christians” who also rant about being patriots “Which is more patriotic… blindly supporting your country no matter the evil it does, or speaking out when it does wrong and demanding better from it?”
Then they usually try to twist the words over abortion – and I ask them “which is more patriotic… supporting a country that gives people the freedom and right to make choices, or demanding that country severely restrict the choices people make and even make their decisions for them?”
The reality is, there may be two worldviews, but one emphasizes freedom and responsibility (especially the responsibility for the harm one does to others), and the other emphasizes blind obedience to authority and actually a denial of responsibility, because “God is supposed to fix everything, unless the person is a horrible sinner”.
Inez
Nov. 17th, 2012 at 9:31 pm
What we need is a march on DC. Like Occupy Wall St. we need to get the attention of the DO NoTHING REPUBLICANS. How dare they accept a paycheck ,benefits, and all of the percs available to them. No Lable, Common Cause, and Public Citizen need to get together with thousands of taxpayers and storm the Chambers. I”m sick of my taxes going to those who abhor our President. They made it public two years ago that wanted him to be a one term President. Due redistricting I lost a great congressman(Democrat) not a Republican who doesn’t even know this ditrict section.