If America is a strong and powerful country why do Americans view criticism as unpatriotic?

Question

Isn't criticism of America the most patriotic thing anyone could do? Doesn't criticism make us stronger?

Answer 1

Yes, criticism is fine. I resent, however, knee jerk comments by uninformed and uneducated people. You may ask, you may criticize, but do not judge that which you are not a part of.

Answer 2

It's really, I think, the attitude of the administration in power that makes criticism seem unpatriotic. The attitude of this administration is colored by the fact that we're a war - this started during 9/11. If you think back, the same thing happened during the Vietnam War, when people who protested it were seen as degenerate, drug-addled hippies who didn't want to work to help their country. During times of war, people tend to feel more powerfully about their country, since their sons/neighbors lives' may be on the line. Unfortunately, this administration has taken that idea to the national level.
Criticism does make the country stronger - it stopped the Vietnam War. I suppose the only answer is that nothing worth doing is easy.

Answer 3

It depends what the criticism is about, domestic policy- no one is offended because we all know THAT sucks, but foreign policy- that's where people get offended and upset, because there are soldiers out there putting their lives on the line and any criticism should come only after the wars are over. USA also does not accept any criticism from foreign countries because we think that we are the best. In many areas we are the best but in some areas, such as nationally sponsored health care, we lag far behind.

Answer 4

In my opinion, it's not Americans that view dissent as unpatriotic. It is the public relations machine of the American government that manufactures consent for it to be viewed in this manner. Think about it........
If you were a government that participated in an action that you knew would not be supported by public opinion then your best course of action is to manipulate that opinion. You do that by having a media that will repeat stories or askew the stories to produce a mindset within the population to shift the public opinion.
Once that shift has been created then it's easy to promote policies that goes against the common sense of man.
Read Edward Bernays book entitled Propaganda.

Answer 5

America today is neither strong nor powerful. In a democracy, opposition and criticism are common, and maybe America is no exception.

Answer 6

There is a continuum with Free speech (including rational criticism) on one side and Treasonous speech on the other. Widespread criticism of our military action to the point of providing comfort and support to the enemy is on the treasonous side of this continuum and therefore comes under fire. Nobody likes war and everyone wants it to end. What citizens do as we attempt to get to the end point falls somewhere on this continuum.

Answer 7

Who said that Americans are patriotic? yes,that is true they brag back what they are told on the Jewish controlled media but surely not patriotic.
If Americans are really that free,so is that one can not criticize the Jewish lobby and their tight control?

Answer 8

Criticism is a hallmark of the American way just so long as it is logical, intelligent, and rational.

If it does not have these qualities it is called something else.

Answer 9

yes it is patriotic to speak your mind freely , but there is a difference between criticising the adminstration for their actions and bashing individuals that represent our country , if you really wanted to make a difference you would speak your mind and not talk down to our leaders . Being that negative nobody would take you seriously anyway

Answer 10

Yes, you should never stop questioning the government. That's how countries end up with dictators. I think Bush started it with his "you either with us or against us" rhetoric. People think now if you question something, you're unpatriotic. That's stupid!