Patriotism is a bit more open than I thought

[Strategyking92]

akuma587 said:

Strategyking92 said:

Being proud of your country is great.

If you go over the top though, it gets annoying.


Haha, Akuma sounds like this:


Sometimes, the stupid way is the best way. I mean, if you don't get it, your fault, I really mean, use your head. no need to over explain
Here's my comments:
bad patriotism = bad
good patriotism = good
The stupid way is the best way

Lol, well the Marxist struggle between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat is a question for another day

Its way more complicated than "good" and "bad" patriotism, as many people who do believe in their country and have "good" patriotism are duped into supporting people who completely contort this country's values.  And that's not really "good" patriotism, its more like "lazy" patriotism.

Its more like this:

Informed patriotism = good patriotism

Uninformed patriotism = bad/lazy patriotism

And sometimes being a good patriot means criticizing your country.

Staying informed about what the government is doing and criticizing the government for abusing its power either at the ballot box or by discussing these things is the only meaningful way a person can be a good patriot.  You can talk all you want about how Farmer Fred who slaps American flag bumper stickers on his car and drones on about how much he loves the military is more patriotic than me.  But the fact is that Farmer Fred probably doesn't know a damn thing about what the government is actually doing and probably doesn't even know that much about what it means when the government IS abusing its authority. 

What does Farmer Fred know about his Due Process rights and what it means that the government must provide Equal Protection under the law to citizens within its jurisdiction?  Does Farmer Fred even know any of the names of the Supreme Court justices currently on the bench?  Does Farmer Fred even know when the government has done something unconstitutional?  I bet you Farmer Fred can tell me who last season's winner on American Idol was though.  That is essentially the average American in a nutshell: ignorant by choice.

 

Regardless of what farmer fred thinks, if your feelings for something are too in the extreme, that's almost always bad. I mean, take people for example: if you like somebody too much, you could get possessive and stalkerish. If you hate somebody too much, well, that leads to violence and so on. Sometimes though, the two mesh together, like when a person kills somebody because they "couldn't have them" or some stupid crap.

The only thing that doesn't fit into anything I've said would be being uninformed, but while not being brainwashed into one of the two extremes. Just being levelheaded. Not caring even sometimes.

 

I am patriotic, but I have enough sense to acknowledge my countries' flaws.