What in your opinion does it mean to be patriotic?

Question

Please answer first, then if you want to know what I think then click on the link below.

http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-P1yyzg81aaf_xCdDYILXWz_fa6UIepr7

superdaringhero
notice that I said in the presence of foriegners or when on foriegn soil.

Would you tell people outside your circle of family and close friends what you really thought about your sister sleeping around or your father being involved in criminal activities? Of course not. You deal with those issues within the family. The same is true within a nation. Our problems should be handled at home.

Presenting a United Front is vital to maintaining the strength of a nation.

superdaringhero
I answered this question in my blog. You stand against the government at home by staging peaceful protests, voting, and initiating communication with elected officials.

You just do it at home and not on foriegn soil or at events that are intended to entertain foreign dignitatries.

Answer 1

Being patriotic is different to everyone- people can interpret it in different ways. To me, it means several different things. Being patriotic is not a state of mind, it is a state of action. To be patriotic means to have pride in one's country. It means respecting our veterans, from all wars, past and present, whether or not you agree with the reason for the war. It means willfully doing your civic duties- especially voting. People died for your right to vote- take advantage of that. Appreciate it. It means bettering yourself and bettering your community in any way that you can. And it means stepping up the the plate and doing what your country needs you to do. It is being responsible, and following the law. Finally, it means doing your part to change the things that you don't see as fit, whether writing a letter to your local newspaper, or lobbying on Capitol Hill. We have a great country- let's do everything that we can to keep it that way!

Answer 2

Being patriotic to me means not to go against your government during a time of war. The war on terror was one conflict in which our country was forced into by the terrorists on 911. We were also put between a rock and a hard place regarding the question about what we should do about Saddam. We have known for a long time that he was giving financial aid to terror groups for many years and that made him public enemy #1. We also have known that he had WMD's which he has used against his own people several times. Those weapons by the way, have been found in smaller quantities then expected but they were still found. The liberal media refuses to acknowledge this fact, which really is no big surprise at all to me.
I can understand not supporting your current president since I hated Bill Clinton when he was president with a burning passion and still do to this day. But I never became a traitor against my own country and bashed America as several well known politicians have done since the war began. Those people should be shot as traitors IMMEDIATELY. They are filthy scumbags in my opinion.

Answer 3

"Presenting a United Front is vital to maintaining the strength of a nation.".....yeah, that worked real well for German citizens during the late 1930s. Blind loyalty will get you nothing but enslaved.


To question the government at every turn to make sure that Thomas Jefferson's predictions don't come true.

"Our rulers will become corrupt, our people careless. A single zealot may commence persecutor, and better men be his victims. It can never be too often repeated, that the time for fixing every essential right on a legal basis is while our rulers are honest, and ourselves united. From the conclusion of this war we shall be going down hill. It will not then be necessary to resort every moment to the people for support. They will be forgotten, therefore, and their rights disregarded. They will forget themselves, but in the sole faculty of making money, and will never think of uniting to effect a due respect for their rights. The shackles, therefore, which shall not be knocked off at the conclusion of this war, will remain on us long, will be made heavier and heavier, till our rights shall revive or expire in a convulsion."

-Thomas Jefferson, Notes on the State of Virginia, 1781.

Answer 4

you said " It is patriotic to stand firm behind our leaders in the presence of foriegners even if we do not respect or agree with the decisions that those leaders make. "


That is the MOST UNPATRIOTIC THING you can ever do!!!

As an American it is our DUTY to stand up against the government WHENEVER we disagree with it. You are an IGNORANT AMERICAN. It is our duty to CHALLENGE our government and make sure that it is doing the right thing, not just go along with whatever they say.

everything else you said was fine. But to say it is patriotic to stand behind the president even if you disagree with him is incorrect. I guess if it was up to you and your ideas we would've stayed Loyal to the King instead of fighting for our independence, since we have to stand behind our leaders.

Answer 5

Patriotism is standing up for individual freedom. I don't believe a nation, state and government are required for liberty or fulfillment, and they actually serve to trample liberty more often than not. Your brand of patriotism (and that of most Americans) is actually nationalism.

Answer 6

Your country is not your family. It is the RESPONSIBILITY of Americans to criticize a government gone wrong, whether at home or abroad. I didn't vote for Bush and he didn't really win, so I don't have to say anything nice about him anywhere.

Answer 7

to be patriotic is to hold reverence for the basic principles that the country i built on..

for example, in our country, the idea of freedom and separation of church and state...

i think, for america specifically, questioning the government and freely speaking your feelings about it is patriotic.. this is especially true in a time such as this where these values aren't always upheld..

peace is patriotic.

edit: i wholeheartedly agree with Zombie.. the poster before me

Answer 8

That is a tough question in our day and age. It's simple though really! To be willing to put your life on the line for you fellow countryman, no matter what their belief or conviction. When your needed, pop tall and hope to be brave!

Answer 9

Patriotic, in my oppinon, is a love for your country. There are multiple levels of this, Super Patriotism, is believing a country is ALWAYS right or ALWAYS wrong. Patriotism, is simply the desire to better your country in any way you can.

Answer 10

To blindly follow government is not.Speaking up for injustice and truth is.