Is it ok to love America, but hate our leadership?

Question

Is that unpatriotic?

Or do you have to support the leadership in order to love OUR country?

I just want every person in America to think critically.

For those of you who don't understand what critically means in the context of what I am saying:

Characterized by careful, exact evaluation and judgment.

Refer if you like to my questions on politics. Maybe I come across the wrong way...not my intention.

If there is something wrong with our system of government (refer to my question on Katrina)

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ap.k2rkpZEaSjx6KLoLhdRLsy6IX?qid=20060810115950AAfFW80

People say, oh, well, so what. You can't compare the US and China. I say that is a load of bull. You can compare. One country did a heck of a lot better job when it came to protecting their people.

And what gets me, is this: Many responses to my questions say "I feel so much safer with Bush". I just don't get it.

Think CRITICALLY people.

Answer 1

I think that country and leadership are 2 different things.

I'm french, and I went 4 times in the USA. I love that country, love the landscapes, love the people I met there. I have good friends living in the USA.

I don't like the way Bush govern the country. I know that profit is important in our world, but sometimes I think it's too much, I think the politic of the USA should be more human.

Maybe you voted for Bush, maybe not, I don't know. But many American didn't vote for him. He's the president, but that doesn't mean than anyone agree with him.

Last time I voted for a president in France, it was Chirac against Le Pen. I didn't like Chirac, I didn't want him as a president. But I had no choice because Le Pen is really bad (with all his racist ideas). So I voted for Chirac. And I do love my country very much. But that doesn't mean I like my president.

I don't think it's unpatriotic. You can choose your leadership, you're lcucky to have that opportunity, it's not the same in every country.

Answer 2

Bush is a great leader in this time of crisis. War on Iraq- Thumbs up. Yes Suddam Hussein did not have nuclear weapons but we can not take that chance. Suddam would probably was seek vengeance after the gulf war and drop a mushroom on us. USSR had nukes and when thay fell from power there weapons were spread out through the middle east. Iran has nukes. Afganistan had al-Qaeda. Now katrina is a different story. You can pass that off and blame it on Bush but we have been ib hurricanes in the past and people didnt evacuate. Okay it is all right to not like the goverment, but bush has done a good job

Answer 3

I don't believe that it is unpatroitic by any means. I just believe that if you are going to hate something you should legitimate reasons as to why you feel that way and simply not reguritate what the media says. You obviously do not have this problem so I commend you on that. Many people simply go with what is mainstream and the popular movement at the time. I was always taught that you respect the position, not necessarily the person in that position.

If you haven't before I recommend reading some Noam Chomsky books.

Answer 4

Everyone loves their home country but usually not the government I come from Ukraine and moved to Canada after the fall of the union I still thought Ukraine was a beautiful country to live in but the government was quite bad and it is now slightly better. the point is I understand the point you are making. You love the beauty of freedom in your country. Sadly I have to say I like America as a country however not the government.

Answer 5

It's okay to love America and hate our leadership. But try that in China - see Tiananmen Square. That is what makes America stand above all the rest. We can disagree with the government and (mostly) not have to worry about repercussions from that. Our Founding Fathers wanted us to keep the government in check. We are suppose to question them and hold our representatives accountable. Like you said, "THINK CRITICALLY people".

Answer 6

Of course you can as long as you don't incite violence against the leadership. You would be attacking America as if you were attacking a soldier because he's our commander in chief and top civillian at the same time. You can say you hate him just like you did.
Oh and what does China have to protect itself against? College students who want Democracy? Yeah they stopped them in their tracks. I'm sure the people of China feel much more safer now.

Answer 7

Yes, question authority, our nations is built on a system of checks and balances because each branch is not to trust the other, they are to keep an eye on them, and check for errors. Only since 2000 have we come to some kind of point where we have forgotten the basics of Ameican Civics.

Answer 8

Yes you can love your country and hate your government and still be patriotic.I am Canadian and I hate our Nazi Fascist Prime Minister and will never forgive him for crawling up the Fuhrer Bush's *** and joining him in an illegal war for oil and profit and The New World Order.Ain't Hunter C a piece of uneducated crap.

Answer 9

It is not unpartriotic, but you have to remember that the country is the people and in this country, the people put leaders in office. Therefore the people are the ones who have the power to take them out of office. If you don't like the leaders either lead yourself or vote!

Answer 10

I think it is possible. I love America. I think it's the greatest country on Earth. But at times I don't think that way when I hear a report from Washington saying that our wonderful President Bush has a vendetta and really has nothing to do with National Security. As I said...I think it is possible.