Why do so many people equate patriotism will blind loyalty?

Question

Please tell me, because I do not understand this. I though we Americans founded our country by questioning how we were being governed by England.

oops, meant thought*

To David: My husband spent 20 years as a Marine. I support our troops 110 %.

AND, I voted for the other guy, both times.

Some of you are making assumptions about me. I would no sooner burn a flag or spit on a returning soldier or marine than I would have an abortion. But I am pro choice. And I do believe that we have a right to protest against things we disagree with.

Answer 1

Because they think that being loyal has to be blind to be real. They don't understand that sometimes the strongest proof of loyalty is to question and in questioning try to make things better.

Answer 2

My take on it is that the people who equate patriotism with blind loyalty are the "patriarchal" types. They think "Daddy knows best" and are drawn to the strict "I'm better than you, so I make the rules and the rules are what you follow" Republican men. It's strict, it's easy, no thinking involved and it's what they're used to.

Then you have the other Republicans that don't really believe that patriotism = blind loyalty but they know that the Republicans are getting them what they want...MONEY. They'll talk out both sides of their mouth to get any piece of the moneypie they can. Bashing the Democrats with "you're a treasonous non-patriot" for not going along with all these wars and taking money from the poor and middle classes to give to the rich is just a bit of fun for them. Deep down, these types know it's not true but they also know that there are some really dumb Republicans out there who'll really believe them when they say it because they're "Daddy Knows Best" thinkers. Republicans have many think tanks they pour lots of money into to figure out what to say and how to say it to persuade people. Otherwise, how would they be able to persuade groups of people to vote against their best interests the way they do? Think tanks. Money. People like Karl Rove running the think tanks.

Sometimes it's a combination of both of those issues going on, too. I'm glad that I was brought up to think for myself and understand that money isn't everything. I've been so much happier after I started to question things, research political ideas and decide that I am an Independent who (if I have to pick between two parties) is wholeheartedly Democrat. :)

Answer 3

There is a difference between questioning politics or positions and downright bashing our gvt. I have no issue with people that have an honest disagreement with the gvts policies or positions. What I have an issue with are people that bash or create insane conspiracy theories against the president and the gvt because of those disagreements.

I also think that you shouldnt bash the country because of what a particular president or law might be passed at the time. The country is about more then just one issue. When a person calls the US evil or burns the american flag they are not showing patriotism for questioning authority, they are spitting on the Constitution and on all those that have fought to give us the freedoms and opportunities we have now. There is a basic amount of respect and decency I think that every true patriot should show this country and its leadership. I didnt like Bill Clinton or a lot of his policies, but I always said I would shake his hand out of respect for the office of the presidency and out of respect for what I believe this country stands for.

You are also not following Bush blindly if you actually have studied and looked at the facts and agree with this war. A lot of Bush bashers make it seem like if you dare agree with anything Bush does then you are somehow blindly following everything he says. Logical reasoned thinking individuals can come to the same conclusions on certain issues as the president without being mindless brainwashed loyalist. There is a lot, esp domestically, that I dont agree with President Bush on but there is a lot I do agree with him on, esp foreign policy. That does not mean I am brainwashed.

If you cant appreciate the freedoms and opportunities we do have in this country then you are probably a very self centered self serving individual that is somehow bitter about something that happened because no matter what you say about the US it affords its citizens some incredible civil rights while giving the citizens more opportunities to succeed then anywhere else. Disagreeing and pushing for change in a rational manner is good if you feel something is wrong. Bashing this country and calling the president names is just immature and unpatriotic. People in this country need to remember how much people sacrificed to give us what we have today and they need to realize how many people dont have what we have in the world today.



ummmmm patriot, democrats have just as many think tanks and use focus groups all the time. Bill Clinton lived off of them. Your onesidedness is shining thru.


wow anyone that says we should show the president some respect gets thumbs down. I guess you have to hate and spit on and call your "enemies" names to be a tolerant liberal nowadays.

Answer 4

This country was founded because people were being murdered, placed in jails (open-air pens) without food or blankets, were being tortured because they did not want to believe in religion the way the King (or Queen) dictated.
While there should not be "blind" loyalty, there should be loyalty. You can't question everything: It would be impossible to even read all that the government is doing.
One big problem: people don't know about the Constitution, Declaration of Independence, et al, and don't bother to learn the truth, but depend upon the Media.

Answer 5

That relies upon on who or what your unswerving to. in case you help the enemy in a time of conflict, it particularly is freedom of speech not patriotism. in the experience that your unswerving to the rustic, and that united states is at conflict, and you sensationalize, or exaggerate the losses of the rustic, without account of the enemies loss then, you at the instant are not a patriot. Patriotism isn't approximately or equivalent to blind loyalty. Patriotism is approximately scuffling with for what you believe, Risking your very existence on the line for that perception, and to be prepared to make the suited sacrifice for that perception, and love of united states. Frankly i'm a touch unwell and uninterested in politicians employing and cheapening the term - case in point Pelosi isn't a Patriot.

Answer 6

Some of the primary reasons are:
1. Blind loyalty is easier than analyzing the situation oneself.
2. For some people, it is hard to admit that they elected someone who is making a mistake.
3. Many people do not want to believe that America can make mistakes. They see it as a divinely inspired and divinely guided nation.

Answer 7

Patriots of this country don't have to wear uniforms or kiss our leaders asses, they just have to believe in what we are meant to be, and live like it too. We are no longer grateful for what we have and protecting it means educating ourselves on it and realizing why we became a country in the first place.

Those reasons are lost to most and the rest don't care as long as they get to watch there reality shows and have police show up when they call.

Answer 8

Because it's a very deceptive way for leaders like Bush and Cheney to get what they want. Convince the people that the government and the country are the same thing, and that by questioning the government you are unpatriotic.

"Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel."
-Samuel Johnson

"Patriotism

"Patriotic societies seem to think that the way to educate school children in a democracy is to stage bigger and better flag-saluting."
-S.I. Hayakawa

"Patriotism, the virtue of the vicious."
-Oscar Wilde

"We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty. When the loyal opposition dies, I think the soul of America dies with it. ." -Edward R. Murrow

"Patriotism is the egg from which wars are hatched."-Guy de Maupassant

Answer 9

They think to be patriotic you have to stand by your country ALL OF THE TIME but in reality
"Dissent is one of the highest forms of patriotism." These famous words were said by Thomas Jefferson one of the most brilliant political minds in American history. Questioning your government to try to make your country a better place is way more patriotic than just sitting back and letting the government control everything that goes on. This is the people's country not the governments. We need to question the government and work with them to make this the best country that we possibly can.

Answer 10

It`s not blind loyalty. There are several things I disagree with Pres. Bush about, but if I were able to give my opinion on major news networks, I would show respect. If not to the man, then at the very least, to the office. There`s no respect left in this country, for anything. Noone respects other people, their rights, or their property. Standing up and yelling Bush is an idiot, isn`t patriotism, at the very least, it is immature buffoonery.

Answer 11

For the same reason that so many people equate patriotism with racism, bigotry, ignorance, and old-fashionedness.

In America, patriotism means that we dislike absolutism which sucks the life-blood out of our liberty as individuals.