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The test of my patriotism has been my ability to love my country equally when I was a member of the majority party, as well as the loyal opposition. My hope is that over the next four years, regardless of who leads us, we find common ground and acknowedge that, differences aside, we love - and want what is best for - our country.
And Kitty––LOOK WITH FAVOR UPON A BOLD BEGINNING–––this phrase was adapted for use on the reverse of the GREAT SEAL OF THE USA–––E PLURIBUS UNUS––––One composed of many. Let us, indeed, look with favor upon a new, bold beginning.
How can one love a country where the death penalty is still allowed, at least in some states, where a war was started, against a country, in which not all people are terrorists, but only a small group - and the main part of this crazy people isn’t found, still. A war against all other Countries opinion.
A Country where human rights count nothing, where Women still aren’t treated equal, a country, where economy dominates everybodies freedom, even if, or because, everybody doesn’t realize or doesn’t care.
I don’t want to be a patriot, if this would be the country or world to be a patriot off.
So I’m no patriot, and i will never be one. And, since I was born in Germany, I know what patriotism, can create, and how dangerous patriotism can be.
I know that, because of Germanys historie - therefore I will never be a patriot.
But I will always stay a lover of humanity, tolerance and honesty…and PEACE
Many of us love our country without loving the particular politicians that are currently in charge. We love that we can change the things we need to change if we work hard enough to do so. You are certainly right about the dangers of blind patriotism. That is why I like to read the Declaration of Independence every July 4th—if only to remind us that we were started as protesters and must continue as protesters if anything is ever to get better. It is protest, dissent, that are the backbone of the country.
“The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions that I wish it to be always kept alive.” One good reason why I like Tom Jefferson a great deal, Elizabeth.
Ina: Thank you for your brave post. It is always good to get different perspectives on such a hot button topic as patriotism. The claim by some that war and conflict are things Americans understand–––in contrast to naive Europeans with their pacifistic fantasies–––seems to me exactly wrong: it is Europeans (along with Asians, Africans, and Middle Easterners) who understand war all too well. Most Americans have been fortunate enough to live in blissful ignorance of its true significance except, of course, for those who have been in wars or have loved ones that are. May you continue to be a lover of humanity, tolerance, honesty and peace.
Good answer, Ina.
I myself do not even like the term patriotism. It implies loyalty or love of one portion of a world—indeed an entire universe— and a patriocracy (if that’s a word) at that. What about matriotism? Loyalty and love for ALL inhabitants of mother earth. That is what I myself feel—a loyalty, love and responsibility to the entire planet, universe and ALL life that exists. I get so tired of the idea that one country or it’s citizens is better than all others—that we must love our country simply because it is where we were born (or currently live.) We were all born into a universe and onto a planet that is in need of tolerance and love.
Thank you Ina. I appreciate the opinion…not sure if I totally agree but certainly honor the diversity. I too am a lover of humanity, tolerance, honesty, integrity…etc. I try to keep my side of the street clean.
Having been a military spouse, and having lived for several years away from this country, I would say Gratitude.
Having had both my oldest son and my husband stationed in Iraq for a year at the same time, gratitude is not currently included apart of what patroitism means to me.
Maybe someday that could be a part of what it means to me. But right now, it isn’t. My oldest boy may very well be heading for his third deployment there soon. How other current active duty military spouse feel, I am not sure whether they would include that word in their meaning, regardless of whether they had or are living overseas.
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