Blind Pseudo-Patriotism
I'm really getting tired of people who take every bit of criticism against some aspect of the United States and call it America bashing or anti-Americanism.
I am an American and I would consider myself to be a patriot. I love my country and want to see it succeed. However, part of being a patriot is the inherent desire to improve one's country. Part of that desire involves listening to criticism. I don't care who the source of the criticism is or what country they reside in or how corrupt their country is. That alone does not invalidate the criticism. It sickens me when I see these alleged American patriots do everything they can to dodge the issue.
Common psuedo-patriot excuses:
-Everyone else does it!
-Your country does it!
-You're obviously biased and anti-American so what you say is invalid!
-Don't go there, girl! (ok fine I made this one up)
[ 01-20-2003: Message edited by: BR ]</p>
I am an American and I would consider myself to be a patriot. I love my country and want to see it succeed. However, part of being a patriot is the inherent desire to improve one's country. Part of that desire involves listening to criticism. I don't care who the source of the criticism is or what country they reside in or how corrupt their country is. That alone does not invalidate the criticism. It sickens me when I see these alleged American patriots do everything they can to dodge the issue.
Common psuedo-patriot excuses:
-Everyone else does it!
-Your country does it!
-You're obviously biased and anti-American so what you say is invalid!
-Don't go there, girl! (ok fine I made this one up)
[ 01-20-2003: Message edited by: BR ]</p>
Comments
I think that is very true. I am very proud of being an American. And more than anything, I want to be able to say that we do the right thing by other countries and people. We haven't always. But we have also done some good too. The whole beauty of democracy is that we CAN criticize our leaders and voice our opinion. The problem is too many complain and DON'T VOTE. Less than half of eligible voters vote in the US. Thats sad!
In the interest of full disclosure (uh oh) I am a Christian (Roman Catholic) and an Independent. And one thing I dislike more than ANYthing is an idealogue. There's FAR too much grey in the world to be far right or far left. You need to be able to judge each case for yourself as it comes.
Back to you Bob!
I was at an art gallery of submissions from students at Keystone College in Northeastern Pennsylvania. My brother took home the top award with five other students for their work. But I saw something that caught my eye from someone who won nothing, although that piece was her only submission. I don't know what medium it was, but I can tell you that it was clearly a desecrated American flag muddied in drab color, torn and distorted in shape... unrecognizable except for that faint semblance of the American flag's shape, color, and design. I stood perfectly engaged.
That flag symbolized how American "blind pseudo-patriots" metaphorically desecrate the flag.
I'd like to go further and say that conservatives comprise most of that group. Just go to <a href="http://www.AlliedConservatives.com"; target="_blank">www.AlliedConservatives.com</a> to see how they blindly yet profusely proclaim their allegiance to the flag, their undying "love" for their country. It makes me sick.
[ 01-20-2003: Message edited by: trick fall ]</p>
When I look at the excuses cited here, they seem to me to simply be ways of asking if the party criticizing has any sort of moral or ethical high ground. I mean if you are saying someone is wrong, it is sort of de facto to others that you are saying you are right. People that question if someone has the high ground aren't "blind patriots."
Lastly I would say that in this world there are indeed dirty jobs to get done. Not everything is clean, neat, and has clearly delineated "sides." The fact that such problems do exist is often used as a means of criticizing the parties willing to deal with it rather than just the nature of the problem.
Nick
<strong>Word, BR.
I was at an art gallery of submissions from students at Keystone College in Northeastern Pennsylvania. My brother took home the top award with five other students for their work. But I saw something that caught my eye from someone who won nothing, although that piece was her only submission. I don't know what medium it was, but I can tell you that it was clearly a desecrated American flag muddied in drab color, torn and distorted in shape... unrecognizable except for that faint semblance of the American flag's shape, color, and design. I stood perfectly engaged.
That flag symbolized how American "blind pseudo-patriots" metaphorically desecrate the flag.
I'd like to go further and say that conservatives comprise most of that group. Just go to <a href="http://www.AlliedConservatives.com"; target="_blank">www.AlliedConservatives.com</a> to see how they blindly yet profusely proclaim their allegiance to the flag, their undying "love" for their country. It makes me sick.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Ah....blinders...they are such a lovely thing...
Nick
LIBERALS comprise most of the blind psuedo-patriots. That makes sense?
Let me stop typing so I get back to waving my flag <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" /> Oh 9/11! <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" /> I LOVE OUR COUNTRY!
My passion, when I have time to spill it, results from the constant dull roar from the media about how America is wrong and it's all our fault, etc. Not just world media. And I get upset that so many intelligent folks seem to be sucked in by the propaganda and refuse to wake up to the truth. It seems that lots of folks behave as if they no real stake in the outcome of our economy (at least it sounds that way when they give their opinions) and that's just not true.
Most of the spin stems from the Left's desire to regain power (since a successful, healthy country isn't one they can get elected in, consistently). But some of the initiative behind it stems from hypocrisy and hatred of capitalism and the American form of it. I think there's no threat from "blind pseudo-patriotism" that rises above the threat from people who secretly hate living in this country and are working daily to destroy it. Thankfully, most of the self-righteous and all-knowing seem to be just wind, leaving those of us who understand what's going on to actually keep the country running.
[ 01-20-2003: Message edited by: finboy ]</p>
a wonderful economy didn't help Gore (unless you count the popular vote)....
Ps i help the economy greatly, i am upper middle class so i pay the most taxes (which i gladly pay as i benefit so much from living in the best country in the world), i have a nice home and pay taxes on that, i buy lots of stuff since i have two daughters and also love home theater and computers and such...i surely don't want the economy to fail, and i surely love my country even though i am a liberal who wants the US to be the best country (and it would be nice if it was the most loving too)...war can be necessary (my grandfather fought in WWII and i love him dearly for it), but war should be the last resort for a country as strong as ours...i respect and love people in the military...i hope they don't have to go to Iraq...i fear, not only for their lives because i know we will kill many more than we get killed, but mostly i fear if we do send our boys door to door in Iraq...i fear for the mental health of our 20 year old boys who are forced to kill children because an 8 year old girl is holding a gun as that soldier enter her home...i would have a hard time dealing with that...and it will happen more than once if we do a ground war like the military brass are predicting....g
why do i think this horrid outcome will play itself out more than once?? think of here....if another country attacked the US and tried to invade my home, i (even though i am very gentle in nature) would expect that i, my wife and my two daughters (aged 14 and 13) would fight to the death...i expect no less of the Iraqi people...
[ 01-20-2003: Message edited by: thegelding ]</p>
<strong>Okay, you're right, Trumptman.
LIBERALS comprise most of the blind psuedo-patriots. That makes sense?
Let me stop typing so I get back to waving my flag <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" /> Oh 9/11! <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" /> I LOVE OUR COUNTRY!
Who said anything about liberal or conservative?
That is why you are wearing blinders. You look at art, and see conservatives who hate America. You look at my post and see conservative vs. liberal.
My first post clearly addressed the questions being asked. You posted about "art" that received no mention, or award. However with your special "blinders" on it takes on special significance and relates somehow to conservative websites.
[quote] That flag symbolized how American "blind pseudo-patriots" metaphorically desecrate the flag. I'd like to go further and say that conservatives comprise most of that group. <hr></blockquote>
You stay with that narrow view, go right ahead, no peripheral understanding is needed.
<img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" /> <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" /> <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />
What is funny is how you condemn those who blindly endorse America and patriotism yet you so blindly endorse a liberal political view that you see it everywhere and in everything. Enjoy your blinders with a nice side dish of hypocracy.
Nick
[ 01-20-2003: Message edited by: trumptman ]</p>
<strong>
a wonderful economy didn't help Gore (unless you count the popular vote)....
Ps i help the economy greatly, i am upper middle class so i pay the most taxes (which i gladly pay as i benefit so much from living in the best country in the world), i have a nice home and pay taxes on that, i buy lots of stuff since i have two daughters and also love home theater and computers and such...i surely don't want the economy to fail, and i surely love my country even though i am a liberal who wants the US to be the best country (and it would be nice if it was the most loving too)...war can be necessary (my grandfather fought in WWII and i love him dearly for it), but war should be the last resort for a country as strong as ours...i respect and love people in the military...i hope they don't have to go to Iraq...i fear, not only for their lives because i know we will kill many more than we get killed, but mostly i fear if we do send our boys door to door in Iraq...i fear for the mental health of our 20 year old boys who are forced to kill children because an 8 year old girl is holding a gun as that soldier enter her home...i would have a hard time dealing with that...and it will happen more than once if we do a ground war like the military brass are predicting....g</strong><hr></blockquote>
Right. You're the genuine article -- you protest because you love America and because you don't want people to die.
Unfortunately, your peaceful attitude and gratitude for your lifestyle have been hijacked by the Left. When you were marching up there, it had one meaning to you, but an entirely different meaning to leaders in the Democrat party. They see that as an opening, a way of controlling people. The media reflects it daily.
[ 01-20-2003: Message edited by: finboy ]</p>
<strong>...but I saw something that caught my eye from someone who won nothing, although that piece was her only submission. I don't know what medium it was, but I can tell you that it was clearly a desecrated American flag muddied in drab color, torn and distorted in shape... unrecognizable except for that faint semblance of the American flag's shape, color, and design. I stood perfectly engaged.</strong><hr></blockquote>
You would.
[quote]<strong>That flag symbolized how American "blind pseudo-patriots" metaphorically desecrate the flag.</strong><hr></blockquote>
That's nice and all. Any chance that instead of your armchair art critic attachments, that this was simply a shit-stirring jughead who digs being provocative for the sake of it? Wouldn't be the first time an artist has done so, you know.
Don't be so quick to attach lofty notions to something that could be quite base and idiotic.
You mean if I took an American flag (or a picture of Christ), shredded it up, took a piss on it, smeared it with tar and put it in a frame, I could be thought-provoking and "cutting edge" too? Great...sign me up!
<img src="graemlins/hmmm.gif" border="0" alt="[Hmmm]" />
On another note, how does anyone dare brand anyone else "psuedo patriotic"? How do you even know? What do you go by? What gives you some special keen insight to what someone feels in their hearts about something?
Seems to me a few of you are painting with a very broad brush:
Conservatives = pseudo patriots
Any chance someone could have conservative leanings and leave the "pseudo" part off?
If I misunderstood any of the above, then I apologize. But I read through all of the above posts numerous times and it just seems like a "pile on" party a bit.
Plus, I hate it when non-creative stuff is given too much credit. Any of us can piss in a jar and stick a crucifix in it and call it art. I don't disagree on the subject matter...I just think it's lame art and elevates stupidity. Kinda like watching Ozzy and his idiot brood stumble through their lives.
Do I want war? Hell no. It's horrible. I'd love nothing more than for everyone to behave themselves and then I wouldn't have to worry about all the buddies I have who are in the Marine Corps and the Navy (most of whom have already been deployed and are on the other side of the world, doing God-knows-what right now).
<strong>
Unfortunately, your peaceful attitude and gratitude for your lifestyle have been hijacked by the Left. When you were marching up there, it had one meaning to you, but an entirely different meaning to leaders in the Democrat party. They see that as an opening, a way of controlling people. The media reflects it daily.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Finboy,
Please do the following...
1)Take the remote
2)Turn off the cable news channels
3)Go outside
4)Find something interesting to do
5) Repeat as necessary
Nick
Unfortunately, your peaceful attitude and gratitude for your lifestyle have been hijacked by the Left. When you were marching up there, it had one meaning to you, but an entirely different meaning to leaders in the Democrat party. They see that as an opening, a way of controlling people. The media reflects it daily.
<hr></blockquote>
thanks for the kind words finboy...
of course the left does this, but the right plays just the same also (i remember listening to Rush Limbaugh one day and he went on and on about the liberal media and how it tells people what to think and that his audience didn't need that because it thought for itself and then all the audience members called in going "Ditto, Ditto Ditto"...i thought it very funny as of course he always tells them exactly what to think)...it is actually quite horrid how both sides behave, taking any issue and trying to turn it to their benefit...the only thing you can do as an individual is try to do what you think is right...act, vote, discuss and even argue....and as much as you can, love...it will help you live longer and happier (at least that is my opinion and hope)....g
[ 01-20-2003: Message edited by: thegelding ]</p>
<strong>
Finboy,
Please do the following...
1)Take the remote
2)Turn off the cable news channels
3)Go outside
4)Find something interesting to do
5) Repeat as necessary
Nick</strong><hr></blockquote>
That was funny.
As for an earlier post, I guess I just don't notice where someone is from unless their English is somewhat poor. Other than that, I don't pay attention (unless someone brings it to the surface.) So I have no negative reaction when NEW makes a post because I have no idea where he's from. Oslo? Could be on vacation, could be away for a semester, could be an ex-pat.
My point is if you remove the fear of this being US bashing from a foreigner it's a very valid point. It might just be bashing from him, but there are other like myself that are still concerned but we're here in the States.
<strong>Nobody go changing the subject. We're talking about Americans here.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Sorry if that was directed at me...my thoughts are spread across two different threads....