Zonie63
Posts: 2826
Joined: 4/25/2011
From: The Old Pueblo
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ORIGINAL: RottenJohnny
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ORIGINAL: Zonie63
I don't know that patriotism is a requirement for anyone, no matter if they're in business or if they're just an ordinary citizen. I think that every citizen has a right to be patriotic or to not be patriotic, depending on his/her own beliefs, experiences, and set of values.
Agreed.
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However, I've encountered a great many people who have made exhortations to "patriotism" when it comes to supporting militarism and global interventionism - who also overlap with the same factions which support "free trade" and outsourcing. Those who call themselves "patriots" only when it's convenient for them, while throwing patriotism to the four winds when it comes to profits, that doesn't really look too good.
It makes one wonder just what is true "patriotism" anymore.
I understand what you're saying, Zonie, but doesn't everyone define it differently anyway? Kind of like "Christian", "Liberal", "Conservative", "Master", or "Slave"? Is there any one definition that can be considered "true"?
Exactly, that's why it's all the more difficult to declare someone "patriotic" or "unpatriotic" based on subjective definitions. I just think that when politicians and other powerful figures in society demand patriotism of the common people, they should hold themselves to the same standards they would hold the rest of the population to. This is especially true for those on a certain part of the political spectrum who have a track record of being rather vicious in attacking the patriotism and loyalty of other Americans who have dared to question U.S. policy.
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I can only tell you this much...I define my patriotism by looking for appropriate ways to increase and maintain the freedoms of the individual as provided for in our founding documents. For the most part, that means voting for those things I view as reducing the authority of the group or the state over citizens.
I respect that, although for me, it's difficult to fathom how patriotism can be defined in some kind of document - or even in one's politics. I consider it a civic obligation to obey the Constitution and the law of the land. I think it's also important for good citizenship for people to be aware of our other Founding documents and the overall history of the country, in order to be better informed as citizens and voters.
I don't think patriotism can be blind or disingenuous or rooted in ignorance. The Founding Fathers were not all of one like mind, and there were a number of issues upon which they vehemently disagreed. That would tell me that it's still possible to be a patriot without necessarily subscribing to a certain set of political views. There have been occasions where the state has had to flex its muscle over its citizens, and that may be where different views on "patriotism" might conflict, depending on one's perceptions.
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Take the ACA for example...
As far as I'm concerned, if the population wants to regulate the health insurance industry into dust, I could care less. But when it comes to things like the federal mandate to purchase insurance, I'll oppose that until the day I'm dead. In my view, it's a violation of everyone's right to freedom of choice. In other words, "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness".
Does that actually make me patriotic? I guess that's up for debate.
I felt somewhat the same way when they implemented mandatory auto insurance and seat-belt laws.
There are things about the ACA I wasn't too fond of; I think they took the wrong approach. For me personally, I want health insurance, so I don't need a federal mandate to tell me to get insurance. I wish it didn't have to be this complicated, and frankly, even with insurance, I'm going to end up with quite a bit of out-of-pocket expenses. So it's really no great shakes.
I don't know that this issue is one that would make or break it for me in terms of patriotism towards America. There are plenty of laws I don't like, although I think that they get passed in the first place because some genuinely believe that they're doing good for the country. But again, that's why I think patriotism should not be blind or ill-informed, since something done "for the good of the country" might be subject to interpretation.
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