Patriotism

[opebo]

In light of todays holiday, I have produced a poll. 

Please post explanations of your choice, and what patriotism means to you.

[Ebowed]

Positive.  It is one of the few things that can bring together a nation in times of crisis, i.e. immediately after the 9/11 attacks.

[A18]

Negative. Always an excuse for bigger government.

[opebo]

Nothing more or less than hate, hubris, and latent violence.  An ugly bout of emotional irrationality (particularly when they nation-state is rather third rate).

This holiday repulses me.

[Gabu]

Neutral.  Patriotism can be the motive behind great things, and it can also be the motive behind horrible things.

[Speed of Sound]

the problem with patriotism is it can be manipulated by the government, just like fear.

[jokerman]

Extremely positive.  Patriotism is great.  It's what binds people together and makes them more than individuals, it makes them one great country that binds together to crusade to accomplish the goals of society in a fantastic sense of nationalism.

[Nation]

A combination of Preston and Gabu's statement.

[Hatman 🍁]

I am very patriotic- but not towards the USA How can that be a bad thing? However, blind patriotism is a bad thing

[Rob]

I am very patriotic- but not towards the USA

What is there to be patriotic about in Canada? Anyway, I have to say that I'm slightly negative on patriotism. There's nothing wrong in itself to love a particular country, but the first action of demogogues is to wrap themselves in the flag. Ultimately, it can be good or bad depending on the circumstances.

[Hatman 🍁]

I am very patriotic- but not towards the USA

What is there to be patriotic about in Canada?

Troll.

[Rob]

I am very patriotic- but not towards the USA

What is there to be patriotic about in Canada?

Troll.

You got me Earl, I'm a troll. Ban me, quickly!

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Patriotism is by and large a good thing... Nationalism on the other hand is by and large a bad thing.

Perhaps oversimplified, but it's what I tend to think

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Patriotism is by and large a good thing... Nationalism on the other hand is by and large a bad thing.

Perhaps oversimplified, but it's what I tend to think

These last 4 years have made "Patriotism" a bad word.

[Hatman 🍁]

I am very patriotic- but not towards the USA

What is there to be patriotic about in Canada?

Troll.

You got me Earl, I'm a troll. Ban me, quickly!

I never said you should be banned.  You have the freedom to be a troll, and that's just one reason I should be patriotic about Canada - freedom of speech. I do believe it exists in the U.S. too

[Rob]

Man, that was a great response. You even managed to turn it into a lecture on civic values! I'm sorry that you think I'm a troll if I challenge your (no doubt very narrow) worldview, but you have the freedom to be an idiot.

[Alcon]

EarlAW, Goldwater, please stop hating America so much.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

These last 4 years have made "Patriotism" a bad word.

How exactly?

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

These last 4 years have made "Patriotism" a bad word.

How exactly?

That everyone who has ever criticized Bush has been called "un-patriotic" for the last 4 years. Patriotic is now a loaded word here. MSNBC just today called Bush protestors un-patriotic.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Teddy Roosevelt had it right.

“To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”

The problem is that most of people using the word think it's ok that Bush ignored repeated warnings that Al Qaeda might attack the US (and don't forget that they already attack the World Trade Center, in 1993), and then he started a war for no good reason. It's been completely corrupted.

[MissCatholic]

I'm not patriotic.

America embarasses me sometimes. but least i'm not French imagine that!!!!!!

[Ebowed]

The problem is that most of people using the word think it's ok that Bush ignored repeated warnings that Al Qaeda might attack the US (and don't forget that they already attack the World Trade Center, in 1993), and then he started a war for no good reason. It's been completely corrupted.

Patriotism, at least by my definition, does not mean blind faith in the president.  I'm patriotic, but that doesn't mean I supported invading Iraq.

[Gabu]

These last 4 years have made "Patriotism" a bad word.

How exactly?

That everyone who has ever criticized Bush has been called "un-patriotic" for the last 4 years. Patriotic is now a loaded word here. MSNBC just today called Bush protestors un-patriotic.

Personally, I've always found the action of challenging a fellow countryman's patriotism (or of calling him or her something like "un-American" or whatever) to be somewhat odd.  As far as I know, nothing like that ever happens in Canada.  It's just assumed and taken as given that a politician loves their country in Canada, regardless of what he or she does.  I don't even know if "un-Canadian" is a word.

[John Dibble]

It's in degrees. Having a bit of pride in one's country can be a good thing if there's something to be proud of, but blindly loving the country no matter what is bad.

[Democratic Hawk]

Positive

Dave