Freedom Forum - What is patriotism

Patriotism means being loyal to your country all the time and to its government when it deserves it. -- Mark Twain

Sen. Carl Schurz's definition of patriotism at the turn of the 18th century: "My country right or wrong. When right, to keep right; when wrong, to put right."

A true patriot would keep the attention of his fellow citizens awake to their grievances, and not allow them to rest till the causes of their just complaints are removed. -- Sam Adams 1771

from Webster's (online) patriotism: Main Entry: pa·tri·ot·ism Pronunciation: 'pA-trE-&-"ti-z&m, chiefly British 'pa- Function: noun Date: circa 1726 : love for or devotion to one's country

patriot: Main Entry: pa·tri·ot Pronunciation: 'pA-trE-&t, -"ät, chiefly British 'pa-trE-&t Function: noun Etymology: Middle French patriote compatriot, from Late Latin patriota, from Greek patriOtEs, from patria lineage, from patr-, patEr father Date: 1605 : one who loves his or her country and supports its authority and interests

"Beware the leader who bangs the drums of war in order to whip the citizenry into a patriotic fervor, for patriotism is indeed a double-edged sword. It both emboldens the blood, just as it narrows the mind ... And when the drums of war have reached a fever pitch and the blood boils with hate and the mind has closed, the leader will have no need in seizing the rights of the citizenry. Rather, the citizenry, infused with fear and blinded with patriotism, will offer up all their rights unto the leader, and gladly so. How do I know? For this is what I have done! And I am Caesar."

The thing to remember is that oftentimes a government arises that does destructive things to one's country. For example, though Hitler was popularly elected in Germany, at a certain point many became disillusioned with his prosecution of the war and the wreckage it wrought on their economy and began to think that the government led by Hitler was destroying their country. The assassins who attempted to kill him (von Staufenberg bomb plot, August, 1944) could be considered patriotic because they were trying to save their country from his government. This case emphasizes that one's country is a different thing than the government that rules it. Many forget or confuse this.

country: Main Entry: 1coun·try Pronunciation: 'k&n-trE Function: noun Inflected Form(s): plural countries Etymology: Middle English contree, from Old French contrée, from Medieval Latin contrata, from Latin contra against, on the opposite side Date: 13th century 1 : an indefinite usually extended expanse of land : REGION 2 a : the land of a person's birth, residence, or citizenship b : a political state or nation or its territory [this is where the confusion creeps in] 3 a : the people of a state or district : POPULACE b : JURY c : ELECTORATE 2 4 : rural as distinguished from urban areas

"A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against its government. -- Edward Abbey, A Voice Crying in the Wilderness (Vox Clamantis in Deserto)

government: Main Entry: gov·ern·ment Pronunciation: 'g&-v&r(n)-m&nt, -v&-m&nt; 'g&-b&m-&nt, -v&m- Function: noun Usage: often attributive Date: 14th century 1 : the act or process of governing; specifically : authoritative direction or control 2 obsolete : moral conduct or behavior : DISCRETION 3 a : the office, authority, or function of governing b obsolete : the term during which a governing official holds office 4 : the continuous exercise of authority over and the performance of functions for a political unit : RULE 5 a : the organization, machinery, or agency through which a political unit exercises authority and performs functions and which is usually classified according to the distribution of power within it b : the complex of political institutions, laws, and customs through which the function of governing is carried out 6 : the body of persons that constitutes the governing authority of a political unit or organization: as a : the officials comprising the governing body of a political unit and constituting the organization as an active agency b capitalized : the executive branch of the U.S. federal government c capitalized : a small group of persons holding simultaneously the principal political executive offices of a nation or other political unit and being responsible for the direction and supervision of public affairs: (1) : such a group in a parliamentary system constituted by the cabinet or by the ministry (2) : ADMINISTRATION 4b

Secret US Forces Plan Pretext for Clamp-Down, GuluFuture.com

Beneath this thin veil of patriotism people are very suspicious, people have a lot of pent up mistrust and frustration and they are ready to explode. They know they are being lied to. They know they were much better off before this return to the same old oil wars, same old energy crises, same old doublespeak. Same old COINTELPRO. Same old governance through deception and lies.

31 October 2001 - Patriotism or Nationalism? by Joseph Sobran, Sobran's

What is patriotism?

some say "peace is patriotic"; Some say it is patriotic to instruct our government, rather than meekly wait for it to instruct us...