Do you love America, and all that it stands for?

LOL.

I'm patriotic..................to a fault. That doesn't mean I don't recognize and acknowledge all of America's bullshit and quickly point it out.

Why is patriotism only associated with America?

I'm very patriotic, but not for America. The internet is global. =/

Rockbird wrote:

Why is patriotism only associated with America?

It isn't. It's just that it seems that most of the members here are U.S. citizens so that was the focus of Chris' question. And to answer it, yes I do love this country but not blindly. If you love someone you should be able to help them work on their faults. To me it's like having a sibling. You can fight like cats and dogs among yourselves but if someone outside the family says something against your flesh and blood…watch out.

I'm as patriotic as I need to be considering what I do for a living. At least SOME form of patriotism is necessary for me to have the will to do what I do.



However, I don't have BLIND patriotism! In my experience MOST people who claim to be "patriotic" don't know the first thing about basic things like US history and law and government, to say nothing of things like US military history, the Law of Armed Conflict, National Security Policy, International Relations, etc. And I think that people who are patriotic just for the sake of being patriotic (because they were born in the US and therefore see it as something worthy of praise), those people are often missing the big picture. Half the time they don't even know what THEY themselves believe in not to mention what the US stands for (or whether or not those are one in the same). But I also feel the same way about a lot of Americans who constantly criticize the US and speak negatively about a country that they support by living in and paying taxes to.

Here are three quotes (3 different perspectives) about patriotism that I like to refer to:

1) Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel. (Samuel Johnson)

2) Patriotism is your conviction that this country is superior to all other countries because you were born in it (George Bernard Shaw)

3) Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it. (Mark Twain)

I believe in Mark Twain's intepretation, however I feel that most people who claim "patriotism" are somewhere between Samuel Johnson's and George Bernard Shaw's intepretation.

I recognize the problems this country has and have no desire to pretend they don't exist, but honestly I have no desire to live anywhere else.

Yes, I am.

Shale wrote:

OH BTW Capt. I thot you were in the Marines or Army. Didn't realize you were a Staff Sgt in the AF. I left as A1C, (3 stripes) but in the two years to get my Honorable Discharge certificate, they now call me Seargent.

Lol nope, definetely AF. But I'm not a Staff Sergeant anymore. That second picture was taken back in 2004, lol. I just posted it because I already had it uploaded to photobucket. I digitally removed my last name from that photo some years ago. The top pic is more recent (from earlier this year) and my blousing of removed so that my current rank and last name aren't in view.

Who is the attractive young lady who's almost out of uniform?

PS - Love the Mark Twain quote!

I love America. I'm patriotic. My house is painted red, white and blue...

But I'm afraid of what it's become and where it seems to be heading.

alan smithee wrote:

Who is the attractive young lady who's almost out of uniform?

PS - Love the Mark Twain quote!

One of the Washington Redskin's cheerleaders on a USO tour at a deployed location.

I guess I'm the only American who doesn't like it here.

Rockbird wrote:

I guess I'm the only American who doesn't like it here.

I'm sure you're not. But then the question arises, "why do you live here" followed by "where would you rather live"?

CatEyes10736 wrote:

I recognize the problems this country has and have no desire to pretend they don't exist, but honestly I have no desire to live anywhere else.

I wouldnt hang a flag on my wall and don't follow the conservative patriot love theme but if somebody from Japan, Afghanistan, India or Canada came around and talking big shit bout America it would irritate me and I would throw up pride.

1) - I have no money (broke college student)

2) - Back in Germany.

captainbryce wrote:

One of the Washington Redskin's cheerleaders on a USO tour at a deployed location.

Way cool. She reminded me a little of Drea de Matteo from The Sopranos.

Rockbird wrote:

1) - I have no money (broke college student)

2) - Back in Germany.

Are you from Germany originally?

Wadsworth wrote:

I wouldnt hang a flag on my wall and don't follow the conservative patriot love theme but if somebody from Japan, Afghanistan, India or Canada came around and talking big shit bout America it would irritate me and I would throw up pride.

That's what I meant about someone outside the family talking smack about your brother or sister even though you don't always get alone yourselves.

captainbryce wrote:

I'm as patriotic as I need to be considering what I do for a living. At least SOME form of patriotism is necessary for me to have the will to do what I do.



However, I don't have BLIND patriotism! In my experience MOST people who claim to be "patriotic" don't know the first thing about basic things like US history and law and government, to say nothing of things like US military history, the Law of Armed Conflict, National Security Policy, International Relations, etc. And I think that people who are patriotic just for the sake of being patriotic (because they were born in the US and therefore see it as something worthy of praise), those people are often missing the big picture. Half the time they don't even know what THEY themselves believe in not to mention what the US stands for (or whether or not those are one in the same). But I also feel the same way about a lot of Americans who constantly criticize the US and speak negatively about a country that they support by living in and paying taxes to.

Here are three quotes (3 different perspectives) about patriotism that I like to refer to:

1) Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel. (Samuel Johnson)

2) Patriotism is your conviction that this country is superior to all other countries because you were born in it (George Bernard Shaw)

3) Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it. (Mark Twain)

I believe in Mark Twain's intepretation, however I feel that most people who claim "patriotism" are somewhere between Samuel Johnson's and George Bernard Shaw's intepretation.

First of all, look how handsome you are!

Second, I agree with number three the most as well.

The things that I don't like about the US, I feel we, the people, should change. That's part of being an American, the freedom to support the things that we choose, and to work to change the things that we don't approve of. That's what makes the US great, imo.

thepossiblepolice wrote:

First of all, look how handsome you are!

And I'm not even in my dress blues!

captainbryce wrote:

Rockbird wrote:

1) - I have no money (broke college student)

2) - Back in Germany.

Are you from Germany originally?

No, I was born and raised in Boston. Love Boston. But the US as a whole? Absolutely not.