This country was founded by a group of men willing to question its governors.
Is questioning the judgment of our elected officials patriotic? Seems there are a lot of posters on here that equate disagreeing with Bush with lack of patriotism.
Which is more patriotic -- blindly following a leader who is prone to error, or questioning the judgment and seeking to limit the power of a reckless public official?
2007-01-29 09:44:29 · 9 answers · asked by Murphy 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Other - Politics & Government
Rat, my income tax pays the salaries and buys the tanks and the guns and trains the troops and delivers them. I am going have a say in foreign policy. That's my money being spent.
2007-01-29 09:54:36 · update #1
Funnel -- remember that Oscar Wilde quote, spoken by Sean Connery in "The Rock"? "Patriotism is the vitrue of the vicious." What a quote!
2007-01-29 10:13:20 · update #2
Do you think patriotism is good? Patriotism is something politicians use to fool people. What good is patriotism? If people have the attitude "my country right or wrong" what can politicians get away with? They can get away with whatever they want. Don't be fooled politicians are just people most of whom will, sell you down the river. You should learn to despise patriotism, and think instead of what will benefit the people who live in your country. Think of the world too, the world is not just the USA.
2007-01-29 10:05:01 · answer #1 · answered by funnelweb 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The direct answer to the question is yes, questioning authority can be patriotic if it is used to move the nation forward in a positive, growing manner. After all, like you point out, our founding fathers did exactly that.
However, when you question authority, ensure that you do not fall to the other extreme by assuming that THAT authority is wrong or misleading you. In other words, keep an open mind and question both sides of the arguments and their supporting data.
For example, the war in Iraq has not been the defeat and catastrophe that the media and many liberal outlets make it out to be. They have a democratically elected government, their infrastructure, economy, and overall freedoms are at levels never seen by most Iraqis. People can speak and vote freely without worry the secret police will come and drag them of and torture them. Women have more freedoms than they have ever known. Finally, the Iraqi Army is growing and taking over control of the country's defense. I know this because I was there.
As for WMD, Saddam DID have them but either transported them to other countries or buried them prior to our entry in March 2003.
Finally, show me one leader who has not made mistakes, especially during a war. Also, why is this leader suddenly reckless and error proned when ALL those who denounce him now had the same intelligence he had before we went in there, yet we are suppose to believe them and not him.
2007-01-29 10:38:19 · answer #2 · answered by Wookie 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I agree with you as long as people are questioning authority with cause. Questioning authority just because it is authority is not right. I do not see how people standing up to the current government are not patriotic. There are a lot of things wrong that need to be fixed.
2007-01-29 09:50:11 · answer #3 · answered by A.Mercer 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think that it is patriotic that you question those who are running this country. It shows that you're paying attention, and care. Remember when our parents would say "If I didn't care, I wouldn't say anything."
Bush may be a great guy, but not a great president.
2007-01-29 10:58:23 · answer #4 · answered by aureliusrocker 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dissent is the ultimate form of patriotism. Being passive and uninformed is the least patriotic thing a citizen can do!
2007-01-29 09:55:03 · answer #5 · answered by Katherine 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The criticisms have to be justified and kept in proper boundaries!
What occurs all to often is purely partisan heckling designed to undermine his respect and cause dissension! That type of activity is pointless, destructive and divisive!
Questioning about domestic policies is more open to acceptable behavior than Foreign policy!
2007-01-29 09:51:48 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It was the very essence of patriotism to our founders. They gave us the power to circumvent bad leadership and they would be appalled if we refused to do so when we are confronted by it.
2007-01-29 10:00:38 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are correct my fellow Patriot!
Keep fighting corruption when you find it!
2007-01-29 09:53:32 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
can you imagine what a difference it would have made in Germany if people would have questioned Hitler??
2007-01-29 10:00:01 · answer #9 · answered by truth seeker 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋