Why do so called "patriots" blindly follow ANYTHING their government does?

Question

So if you are against the war in iraq you are unpatriotic? That is what I hear from many people. It makes me think........OK If you are a parent and you love your child dearly....but he/she misbehaves, what do you do? ....See my point? A REAL PATRIOT IS SOMEONE WHO LOVES THEIR COUNTRY SO MUCH THAT THEY RECOGNIZE WHEN IT IS WRONG AND TELLS IT!!!! That is REAL patriotism!

Answer 1

It's a fair question (if perhaps over passionate.)

How many times have Republicans questioned the patriotism of anyone who has opposed anything the Bush administration has done? Republican's favorite criticism of any opposition seems to be: "you're supporting Al Qaeda," or "that's exactly what the terrorists want." It was even suggested that a vote for John Kerry was a vote for Osama Bin Laden.

And of course my all time favorite "America, love it or leave it."

If our success in Iraq (or anywhere) depends on whether our enemy is "emboldened" (whatever the h___ that means) then we are in far bigger trouble than I thought.

I'd be all for sending more troops if I had some assurance that our commander in chief would put them to better use than the one's he's had so far.

If anything has emboldened our enemies, it is the incompetence of the Bush administration at fighting this war.

Perhaps if he and his administration would like to step down and let someone who knows what they're doing run things the American public would have enough confidence that they would support additional troops. If I saw any sign of a new approach, diplomatic efforts, a real timeline, etc., any sign of competence whatsoever, II would at least consider the new proposition.

As it is, I see no signs that things will improve under this president with or without the additional surge. Like the deadbeat brother-in-law that keeps coming back for handouts, this president has entirely blown his credibility with the American people. Our military is already over-stressed and over-stretched and in no position to serve as a deterent to our other enemies, North Korea and Iran (unless, of course, the surge has a different purpose than the one they're telling us about.)

I'm all for winning, but for that to happen we need to replace our leadership. It will not happen under this president. My patriotism extends to our republic and it's constitution, it does not blindly extend to politicians who have shown again and again that they are not up to the task.

Answer 2

You have the right to disagree, but you don't have the right to interfere in something you have no real knowledge of. The media has done it's best to give the wrong impression on the war since the beginning, so how do you know that you against the right thing? The biggest gripe by all of the soldiers that have been there is that America is not seeing the real story. So if it makes you feel patriotic then go for it.
USAF Veteran

Answer 3

You are not unpatriotic if you are against the war in Iraq. A patriot is someone who will defend and support their country but you still don't have to agree with everything the goverment does. In the military you have no voice against the goverment due to your "contract", you need to keep your opinions to yourself or you can get in trouble.

Answer 4

You really don't understand, do you?

Even General Petraus said that the "resolution" voted on by Congress would only encourage the enemy. By looking like we hate the war and are putting pressure on the government to pull our troops, you only encourage the enemy to believe it might be worth their time to keep up the terror.

A United front, regardless of our internal disagreements, keeps us strong and undefeatable in our enemies eyes and is a force multiplier. The United States has a powerful and very scary military, but our Congress and the Code Pink types are a force wussifier.

Allowing our troops to do what they do best is patriotic. Not acting like we can vote to send them to war, then act like it's okay to take our ball and go home.

Answer 5

A real patriot would not put American lives in harms way in danger. We have military personel in Iraq and we shouldn't be giving the enemy emitional ammo.
We could
Have silent protest petitions of the war and tell our polititians to keep it quiet, So our enemy does not hear and become emboldened to kill more Army and Marines.
And tell the media to keep it from the eyes of our enemy.

Answer 6

Those who complain and protest are not Patriots, They are just citizens exercising their right that the real Patriots are serving to protect right now. Why does it disturb the left that people do not want to call protesters patriots. If you want to be called a patriot so bad, Volunteer to serve you country and then we will call you one.

Answer 7

OK...we are in Iraq...if we pull out it WILL give boldness to all radical Islam...it will show bin Laden is correct that America doesn't have the will to fight him and his fighters...it will show America is inept, weak, not unified and cowards...remember Carter tried for 444 day to negotiate with terrorist...Reagan had one day and it was done...Clinton made little effort to retaliate against radical Islam when it attack America abroad...Cole 2000, WTC 1993, 3 U.S. embassies in1998...Clinton made little effort to find bin Laden while Frisk 1996, Arnett CNN 1997, Miller ABC 1999, all got interview with bin Laden but Clinton's CIA couldn't...so for all of these attacks abroad and no effort to find him bin Laden decided to attack America in America...9/11...so i think the war in Iraq was a bit too premature...but it was a problem that was going to happen at some point...don't think people who disagree with the war are unpatriotic...but i think people who don't know the stakes at hand and want a pull out are naive or unpatriotic and america haters...Bush brought the fight to the enemy instead of letting the fight come to us in America like Clinton...we have 3,000 America soldiers dead...these people who volunteered for service...but no war goes perfect and people die in war...that is life...more people died on the beach on normandy in one day than the years this war has been going on...that should say something...its easier to be a critic and an armchair coach than it is to be the coach...the Dem's were calling for more troops...Reid said it on December 17th...but now that Bush wants it they are against it...

Answer 8

I think people get upset and start crying a lack of patriotism when people do things like march on funerals with anti-war signs.

I'm a republican and people like O'Reilly and other "bigots" disgust me just as much as they do you. And I think that if you'll pay attention, alot of republicans feel that way, but it's just such a widely accepted stereotype that we don't have much room to defend ourselves. Without the freedom of expression, all others are null and void.

Answer 9

There are some disagreements, even between non secular Roman Catholics, on the concern of even if or no longer the Pope particularly speaks for God. wondering a number of the failings limitless popes have executed, that in all fairness ridiculous to imagine of that being the pope and sitting on the throne mutually as wearing a humorous hat makes you infallible.

Answer 10

Rev. Jim Jones convinced 1500 people to commit suicide in 1979. Does that tell you anything about the media brainwashed dumba-s-s in America. I hear it over and over "read more" I'm careful who's sh-it I read. It don't take a well read rocket scientist to see Bush and his administration is soooo full of s-h-it. I'm just as patriotic as the next but I'm not STUPID. I wasn't against war on terror but it's not that anymore, even a baboon can see it's religous bu-ll-s-h-it now and I'm saying it Because our V.P. is a jew and what nation do the jews live in. There I said it and no ******-ing way am I gonna apologize for it.