NanaSue57 wrote:
Merriam-Websters Dictionary:
Patriotism: : love that people feel for their country
Full Definition
: love for or devotion to one's country

I'd say it's pretty simple and to the point. I cannot believe you people are complaining about Americans loving their country.

How about you move outside of the US. Maybe you'll be happier if you don't have to be around Patriotic Americans. I mean, since you all (liberals) seem to hate America so much.

RESPONSE:

As Franken noted, liberals love America like adults love their parents, while conservatives love America like a four year-old loves his parents. Liberals love America, but can emotionally and intellectually recognize that America sometimes takes an errant path and try to get back on course. This is the same way an adult child loves a parent. Conservatives, on the other hand, think everything America does is right, just as a young child thinks everything Mommy does is right even if Mommy is acting unwisely. And a four year-old will punch you in the nose if you ever say anything bad about Mommy.

Here are the ten argument headings: 10) Patriotism May Make War More Likely; 9) It May Discourage Useful Political Involvement; 8) It Encourages Unjustified Hatred Or Distrust; 7) Patriotism Makes Rights Violations Acceptable; 6) It Makes Censorship Acceptable; 5) Patriotism Leads To Denigration Of Others; 4) Patriotic Feelings Encourage Atrocities; 3) It Is Expensive; 2) Patriotic Thought Replaces Critical Thought; 1) It Just Isn’t Necessary. Read the arguments here: http://listverse.com/2014/03/27/10-unavoidable-arguments-against-patriotism/

A few comments. I am a vet and believe that our form of government is the best thus far offered for the greatest good of humankind. Yet this "greatest good" often ends up taking second, third, or out of the running place for the imperatives of Patriotism: "love of country and zeal for its interests." This is clearly and abundantly manifest in our history (and the history of every country). The ideals and principles, and sometimes laws and common sense, of ours or any country get covered or obscured by the flag. Such as The Patriot Act, ironically enough, as we all see very plainly now.
I am not making my stand on religious grounds (more on the basis of critical thinking) but a few verses from the Bible often cited by Christians as an argument to fight for one's country is Romans13:1-4. This could involve a huge explanation but I will cut to the chase: A Christian is "to submit to the governing authorities" not for their sake or the country's but, as the other verses that follow in context plainly disclose, out of love of neighbor. For the Christian is a "citizen of heaven," "a stranger in a strange land," a "foreigner" and "alien" wherever he or she may reside, having been "set aside" (made holy) as an "ambassador for the kingdom of God." He or she is not to get "entangled in worldly affairs."
A curiosity. There is a street in a city in Norther Ireland where the only difference in loyalty and belief is the happenstance of being born with an even or odd address number. Think about that.
Lastly, Patriotism has no other values ascribed to it than "love of country," which is why every country can have patriots no matter their politics or beliefs: Patriotism is a one size fits all defect.

Here is the author's Number One Argument against Patriotism verbatim:

"Some readers may reject these arguments, but many others will simply ascribe all the worst effects cited here as a result of “extreme patriotism” or misinterpretations of what it means to be patriotic. But if the risks are there, and milder forms might lead to more virulent ones, we have to ask if patriotism is necessary at all.

"Do we derive some special benefits from it in terms of prosperity or liberty? There isn’t much evidence for that hypothesis. The United States is, statistically, more patriotic than many other countries. Yet it has a lower median household income than several less patriotic counterparts. It ranks lower on liberty than several other countries, according to measures like the World Press Freedom Index.

"We don’t need to be patriotic to defend common values or the spaces we share. People will defend themselves, their families, and their homes with or without patriotic feelings. So what evidence is there for enough good effects of patriotism to balance the harm done by it?"

A definition from Merriam-Webster......Patriotic: having or showing great love and support for your country : having or showing patriotism

To me, this is it in a nutshell. To others who are threatened by those who love our country, it is much broader, as you have just posted with the 10 points of Patriotism, written, no doubt by someone who fears patriotism.

Why would anyone fear patriotism? Because patriotic Americans will make it more difficult to reach the One World goal. We patriots believe in our country and love it dearly. No list can take away my love for America. Also, just because I love my country will I go out and become a terrorist. Those who do are the ones with warped hearts and minds.

I am dumbfounded by anyone living in America who has an attitude against patriotism. I mean, what?!?!? Those people really do need to find another country where patriotism doesn't exist.

And that is my take on it, for whatever it is worth. Oh and by the way, GOD BLESS AMERICA, and those who love it!!!

A definition from Merriam-Webster......Patriotic: having or showing great love and support for your country : having or showing patriotism

To me, this is it in a nutshell. To others who are threatened by those who love our country, it is much broader, as you have just posted with the 10 points of Patriotism, written, no doubt by someone who fears patriotism.

Why would anyone fear patriotism? Because patriotic Americans will make it more difficult to reach the One World goal. We patriots believe in our country and love it dearly. No list can take away my love for America. Also, just because I love my country will I go out and become a terrorist. Those who do are the ones with warped hearts and minds.

I am dumbfounded by anyone living in America who has an attitude against patriotism. I mean, what?!?!? Those people really do need to find another country where patriotism doesn't exist.

And that is my take on it, for whatever it is worth. Oh and by the way, GOD BLESS AMERICA, and those who love it!!!

I was prompted to write this dangerous piece because of the imminent danger presented predominantly by the Right that they are the true and only patriots, their opposition thus being un-American at the least and anti-American at the most, the First Amendment effectively trashed by the Right for others to hold a differing opinion as to policies. Disagree with the Right and, like in Russia, you are an enemy of the State.
We have a bicameral system in order to get the fullest possible picture of a need or problem to find a solution, through debate and eventual compromise, that is in the best interest of the common good and in keeping with our basic principles. The Right now claims it is the only voice allowed to speak and all others should be silenced, for those voices are un-American or anti-American. (Read the history of any tyranny and you will see the stark similarities.)
But there is a quandary in the true American, patriot, family values, got all the right answers crowd: who is the True (capital "T") Conservative? (In another land, at another time, the question might have been who has the brownest shirt.)