Why do people (usually the same people who insult "bleeding heart liberals") insist on saying that those who dont support the war are unpatriotic? Since when does wanting our soldiers home safe mean we are unpatriotic or not supporting the troops? I just dont see the rationale behind this, and I have seen plenty of people here on YA saying mean things about liberals, I would just like to see the reason behind these sayings.
2007-09-04 17:02:03 · 13 answers · asked by sami_sam 4 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
For those of you who point out that we arent in a war any more, that is a very valid point. But these people I'm talking about would say you are unpatriotic for saying that. I just read someone say that "only dems hate america".... Why, just because you think our system can be improved upon, does that automatically mean you hate america?
2007-09-04 17:12:41 · update #1
For John: I respect what you are doing in the middle war, and I am fully forgiving the troops whatever money and supplies they need to protect themselves while they are there. I do not, however, support the idea of keeping them there in a war that we created under false pretenses. I dont think we should have played games with the money that was supposed to go to them, but I also dont think we should fund militant operations in countries we think we should be able to control with that money. I'm not sure who you are inviting to go to canada, because the only people who have been undermining the constitution is the bush administration, with things like the USA PATRIOT act. Isnt one of the main points of the constitution the right to say what you believe, and protest that which you do not agree with?
2007-09-04 21:29:18 · update #2
And to freedomrockz: yes, I have witnessed what this war does. my best friends husband is serving right now in iraq. How is saying "I think we should give our soldiers everything they need when they are there, but we should get them home as soon as possible" unpatriotic? or less patriotic than saying "leave them over there for as long as it takes to get the government we want in place, no matter how many lives it takes"? THAT is the thinking I cant wrap my head around. Just because someone doesnt think we should send our boys over to fight a political war, how does that make them less patriotic than the person who blindly follows whatever the president says, regardless of the loss of life or lack of factual support? I care about what our soldiers fight for, and I dont want them fighting and dying for nothing. We arent "fighting the terrorists" over there, we are trying to control a civil war that our invasion started.
2007-09-04 21:33:19 · update #3
Patriotism means loving your country. If that means hating the current president for being an incompetent idiot and ruining our nation's image in the world, so be it. Patriotism is not blindly following the government. Sometimes, a patriot needs to speak against the government.
2007-09-04 17:12:09 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 8⤊ 1⤋
Being a patriot and being a nationalist are two different things, one supports the morals on which the country was founded and the other supports only the hunk of land on which the country was founded on.
I am pro-war but have never viewed the majority of liberals as unpatriotic, just as having differing views than my own, it's when people support the likes of Cindy Sheehan (who has literally gone around the world inciting hate towards America) that I actually think of someone as unpatriotic.
But I've noticed on YA it's usually the overboisterous liberals calling American troops 'rapists' and 'murderers' which I'm sure are just trolls here to provoke people into internet arguements and I just ignore them, my suggestion to you is to just ignore the nationalist consrvatives, but keep an open mind to the patriotic conservatives
2007-09-05 04:48:15 · answer #2 · answered by Jon 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe the question of war, is not about patriotism, it is about justice, is this a just war..I do not believe it is. I agree with John T about the constitution and about political hacks who use it for gain. But you must differentiate between war and patriotism, lest patriotic zeal become a spring board for war, as many a politcian would like.
Julius Caesar:
Beware the leader who bangs the drums of war in order to whip the citizenry into a patriotic fervor, for patriotism is indeed a double-edged sword. It both emboldens the blood, just as it narrows the mind.
And when the drums of war have reached a fever pitch and the blood boils with hate and the mind has closed, the leader will have no need in seizing the rights of the citizenry. Rather, the citizenry, infused with fear and blinded by patriotism, will offer up all of their rights unto the leader and gladly so.
How do I know? For this is what I have done. And I am Caesar.
2007-09-05 00:59:02 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You know it has never been unpatriotic to question the actions of the government. In fact, it's just the other way around. If it was unpatriotic to question this government, then we'd still be part of Great Britain. By the way, I support what we're doing in Iraq. Our troops are fighting people who want to hurt us, and I just think America needs to do more to make sure this country stays safe; like getting rid of the Bush Administration.
2007-09-05 00:49:52 · answer #4 · answered by super682003 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The only unpatriotic ones are the ones who call the troops war criminals, invaders, etc. Those guys and gals are just doing what they are told the best they can. We shouldn't expect every soldier to question orders or to even understand sometimes. So support the troops, respect them for doing the best they can given the situation and hope they come home soon. Nothing unpatriotic about that. I'd bet there were thousands of families wanting the troops home from Europe in WWI and WWII too.
2007-09-05 00:12:32 · answer #5 · answered by shogun_316 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
What you described is simply the "you're either with us or against us" mentality that was spewed out by their fearless leader pretty much since the start of the war in Iraq.
As far as personal attacks on liberals, I would have to say its because conservatives don't have much on their side as far as facts go lately... so that's what they resort to.
And as far as patriotism goes... men with the name of Washington, Adams, Jefferson, and more were once called unpatriotic as well by England. I have no problem being lumped with the unpatriotic at all.
2007-09-05 02:42:56 · answer #6 · answered by DethNcarnate 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
For as long as political parties have existed there has been a tension between the opposing parties. Here's a question for you: why is it that the same "bleeding heart liberals" who say "I support the troops, just not the war" have never stopped to consider the impact of what it's like to see your comrades in arms die beside you and then some politician back home says on National Media something to the effect of, "This war is senseless, our troops are dying in vain."?! The "bleeding heart liberals" aren't patriotic, they don't care about what our soldiers fight and die for, if you want to see a perfect example of patriotism then look at the soldiers who volunteered. If you wish to show patriotism and be able to say without guilt "I support our troops" get to know the troops and find out what they think. Otherwise you are just unpatriotic, and that's all there is to it!!!
2007-09-05 01:10:32 · answer #7 · answered by freedom_isn't free 3 · 0⤊ 4⤋
Polo: Is this a rhetorical question or do you really want to know?
As one of those guys that has risked life and limb, I am disgusted that so many in the US refuse to take the time to listen to us, to refuse to understand the enemy and threat we face or to dig any deeper than the CNN/other media reports which constantly portray only the negatives. (Follow my 360 link to my blog to know the rest of the story and how the media misportrays it through selective reporting.)
I despise the politicians that are using the above and trampling on the graves of my fallen brothers to get your vote and others that fall into the above category. They have all the same information I have. They KNOW that Al-Qaeda is in Iraq in greater numbers than anywhere else and they too will choose to keep our troops in the fight there when they suddenly "realize" this after having gained power. But they will do so while tying the military's hands behind their back and while undermining our effectiveness.
And yes, I would invite those that undermine the rights I protect (Constitution) and the protectors themselves to move to a country such as France or Iran that more closely represents their beliefs. I would not suggest they go to Canada. Our ally there has been undermined enough with the influx of our weak from the 60's and 70's.
We are a country built on the Constitution and personal responsibility, even if so many have abandoned those ideas. Disagreeing with political beliefs is fine and healthy. Disagreeing with the Constitution or undermining the military in protecting it is quite another.
2007-09-05 00:38:37 · answer #8 · answered by John T 6 · 2⤊ 3⤋
The war ended a long time ago, in fact by the time that Bush declared 'mission accomplished' the war had been over for three months.
You are talking about the occupation, NOT the same thing.
2007-09-05 00:09:59 · answer #9 · answered by r1b1c* 7 · 4⤊ 2⤋
It's kind of a rule for debates: if you're wrong, change the subject. You can't defend wanting more people dead, so instead you point and say "look! you're not a patriot!" and the subject is changed.
2007-09-05 00:17:31 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋