Patriots, Please Identify Yourselves.

[cinch]

Guynemer:

In response to this rather inane thread, I will refer Sloww to my signature, and let him decide whether or not I fit his definition of "patriot."

Fantastic signature! I just realised that I have the same quote in mine; I'll have to disappear it post-haste.


Anyway: Paine is God!

I think that makes me a non-patriot. Oh, well...

[Master Zen]

I am a patriot, and a damn proud one.

why?

1) I don't believe the BS my government tells me until I can prove it. In the meantime I'll listen to both sides of the story and forge my own opinion.

2) I wish the best for my country and its people above all others, but not when it committs or intends to commit a grave injustice

3) I tolerate differences in opinion, after all a balance is what makes a country strong

4) I realize love for one's country doesn't have to necessarily be coupled with hate towards another


I guess under Slowwhands definition I'm just another pansy commie from south of the border. I don't care. Btw guys, don't lean too far right or you'll fall and hit your head.

[Lancer]

I'm a patriot. I own no flag other than one of those pins for a jacket or lapel. It was on sale... I have no framed constitution, though that sounds like a great idea. I do have a framed sketch print of a bald eagle standing on a branch, simple black on white. It's got dignity, and those who have dignity are free, which is what my country stands for when it is at its best, like now.

I also served my country in the army. I was a border guard on the border of east and west Germany. We were stationed in Bamburg, and Hof, on the border. I got to see an evil Soviet empire at its worst, where it murdered its citizens for seeking a better life by leaving. It was a cruel empire whose overseers are a cruel people. Our job was to stop the westward advance of the Russians. This we Americans did, over many years, through hard times and good. We held them and they fell under their own weight. The gate to the east is once again in the west. The United States was the backbone of that allied effort, and that made me see that what we do can be very good, and right. I became a patriot.

[Frozzy]

One has to be wary of the fine line between nationalism and patriotism. Germany is a great example.

Bismarck unites Germany and defeats France (1871?) Germany on top of Europe. 1914, Germany goes to war blindly under a ruthless monarch. 1939: Germany tricks the world through lies and deceipt into forming a European Empire.

After WWII, Germany splits and the East falls into brutal Soviet hands. Since then, Germans have been pro-community, supporting the UN and EU with all it's heart. German policy is the exact opposite of American individualism, and very few Germans will fly their flag for the fear of what happened in the past. Germany shows it takes a LOT to stamp out patriotism, whether mindless flag waiving or true love. Germany also shows how dangerous patriotism can be. Look at Bush after September 11th. All of his policies (Iraq, Afghanistan and even the restriction of free trade) have damaged foreign trade, or justified for the good of America. Support for Bush's policies has been high, and one has to wonder if American patriotism is something to do with it...

[Az]

1939: Germany tricks the world through lies and deceipt into forming a European Empire.

ahh, the early days of the EU.

[Lancer]

Frozzy, don't worry, we're not a pack of goose stepping nazis. Someday a liberal will be president again and all the lefties can carp about a new new age until I puke.

[Solly]

That cat was ****in ugly.

[Lancer]

Lincoln, you haven't met my neighbors. She's in he mid 30s and has screaming, stomping fits like a 5 yr old brat. He, he puts up with it. She brags about breast feeding their overprotected boy until he was friggin 6 and I guess refused the ***. He, he put up with it...and HE talks WAY too much.

It's frigging wierd over there. Of course, they're from California...

(Sorry Zk, Sten and Derek)

[FrustratedPoet]

In reference to the first post in the thread:

I like my country, but I certainly don't 'love' it.
'Love' is a strong word. I love my family, my close friends and my girlfriend - if the interests of my country ever directly contradicted the interests of those people then my country could go **** itself, to be honest.

So no, I'm not a patriot, although I think my personal morals and beliefs broadly match those of the people in power in this country. They're not perfect, but neither am I: I've got no beef with them (yet ).

[oedo]

Re: Patriots, Please Identify Yourselves.

Originally posted by SlowwHand
one who loves his or her country and supports its authority and interests

I can only agree to what most of the posters before said.
this is not a proper description at all or at least it needs to be elaborated.

my country´s authority has once been the nazi regime, my countries interests have once been world dominance and death or slavery to all non arish people and all people who don´t agree with their regime. does a german have to agree with the holocaust, the destruction of hundred of cities, massacres and the death of more than 60 million people to call himself a patriot? I hope not, because if so, I can hardly call myself a patriot.

nevertheless I love my country, I respect my constitution (which I think is the best contitution of all constitutions in the world) and I accept any authority based on my country´s constitution. I´m concerned by almost anything my country does in past, presence and future and I feel responsible for it.
so after all I would call myself a patriot.

[MRT144]

lancer...sometimes

[Lefty Scaevola]

Originally posted by Ramo
**** the state.

Duly noted in your immigration file.

[SlowwHand]

Originally posted by Master Zen
I guess under Slowwhands definition I'm just another pansy commie from south of the border. I don't care.

You are what you are.
As long as you're comfortable staying rooted in the flower bed, enjoy.


FrustratedPoet, if you're in a free land, it sure makes safety of your family more likely.

[Richelieu]

Originally posted by Spiffor
What does "splitting hairs" mean ?

It has probably been answered already but : couper les cheveux en quatre.

[Bereta_Eder]

or

diilizete ton konopa

(diluting the mosquito)

(now where the hell that phrase came from...? )