what does it mean to be patriotic?

Question

and
if one speek their mind against the govenment; does this make one less patriotic?

Answer 1

To answer your second question first, no. If nobody every spoke against the government the USA wouldn't be a country, we'd have stayed in Vietnam, women and blacks wouldn't have rights...etc. etc.

What does it mean to be patriotic? Well according to most people it means blindly following what your leader tells you and supporting that view with highly implausible "facts". Totalitarianism if you will.

Patriotism is dangerous, plain and simple. It prescribes to a group (or groups of people) who support the fatherland (typically, btw how Adolf Hitler) or the motherland (Stalin-esque no?) in positive messages, etc. etc.

As George Bernard Shaw once said "You'll never have a quiet world until you knock the patriotism out of the human race."

Which is true. If you think of it, without Patriotism there wouldn't be a Palestinian-Israeli conflict (because neither would care if there was a state). Nor would the IRA-British thing have happened, ETA-Basque region conflict probably could have been avoided as well.

Now don't get me wrong, there's nothing bad about protecting our nation against harm, the bad thing is that the vast majority of people who call themselves "patriots" have 3 teeth wear over-alls and drive trucks that get 4mpg.

Answer 2

Nothing describes better Patriotism than the movie, "The Patriot". Nothing! And I'll tell you why.

We all have a family of sorts. Some of us are parents.

Any human being with an ounce of decency would want to protect their own from harm...first...before they start thinking about their neighbors and their neighbor's families.

If the same harm that faces me also faces my neighbor, then I would want to join up to form a group that will fight against whatever evil lurks.

Follow me so far?

The main question arising is what is the enemy and what harm does this enemy portend.

If we can't determine this enemy, then we must ask ourselves...are our lives in any danger from serious disruption?

How about economic upheaval?

An enemy wanting to kill us off economically can do magical things which we would hardly recognize, and if anyone is capable of ascertaining the stealth manner in which this enemy goes about afflicting us...then that is the enemy, and a true patriot would fight to the death this enemy.

In sum, patriotism begins at home.

Providing for ouselves and family is first and foremost, as it should be.

Any obstacle (and there are many) to getting us what we work hard for, is the enemy and thus should be defined as the enemy, and should be dealt with swiftly and forcefully to eradicate this enemy.

Without definition, then all we have is a word...Patriot...with no meaning.

Answer 3

Patriotism in the near future will mean taking 'action' in the revolt against our Zionistic controlled government and thought controlled Homeland Security gestopo agents. In furtherance thereof, after being successful and destroying most, shipping the rest back to Israel and other respective places in the world and taking care of our own business.

Answer 4

Patriotism can mean many things. To me it means cherishing one's country and the principles it stands for. And displaying a willingness to fight for those principles if the time comes.

Answer 5

Love and esteem for ones country.

Answer 6

Patriotism is supporting what's right for your country.

It's not kissing bushes ***.

Answer 7

Patroitism is supporting your President and the government.