   Poll: "If you think different, you are unpatriotic" (true or false)    
  "If you think different, you are unpatriotic" true or false? Your oppinion?EDIT: I'm going to expand to take away the capciousness.Do you feel this is the sentiment among your friends, partners, nighbors, bartenders, etc?When I say "think different" I mean to think different than your government.EDIT2: Later I will post a thread called: "If you think different I won't answer your poll" [edited by - xaxa on March 29, 2003 8:07:35 AM]
  No, if you think different you are 'unpatriotic'.But if you are unpatriotic, then you are a TERRORIST!  [edited by - Jesper T on March 29, 2003 7:46:36 AM];quote:Original post by Jesper T  No, if you think different you are ''unpatriotic''.But if you are unpatriotic, then you are a TERRORIST!   [edited by - Jesper T on March 29, 2003 7:46:36 AM]  I like that more, I''ll change the name of the thread.  ;quote:Main Entry: pa·tri·ot·ism Pronunciation: ''pA-trE-&-"ti-z&m, chiefly British ''pa-Function: nounDate: circa 1726: love for or devotion to one''s country   One can be against the war and still love/be devoted to the US.  One can be of any political affiliation and still love/be devoted to the US.I think the main problem is that a lot of people who are against the *current* governments'' policies, tend to also act like they hate the country in general.  They never have anything good to say about the US.  And, according to the definition, if you don''t love your country or have devotion to it, you''re not patriotic.Disliking the President != unpatriotic, but disliking the US = unpatriotic by definition.-fel;  The question I think xaxa raises is whether this definition has been twisted a bit by the government to better suit their needs.  ;  I can't understand how someone can be devoted/in love with a country. I don't understand the concept of patriotism altogether.I have my opinion, I form this opinion on the experiences I personally have in my own life, as well as from news I get (wether they are biased or not, that's not the point). The opinion and ideals of my own government, as well as any other government, are mostly irrelevant in this process. If a different country than my own created a better approximation of my own ideals about life, then I have absolutely no problems quitting my country and moving to the new one.A government or a country is nothing but an abstract concept. From my point of view, patriotism is blindly following the ideas set forth by this abstract institution. Ideas that suit this institution, but that might not suit you personally, as an individual. Being patriotic means sharing the opinion of the majority - might it be right or wrong. Psychological control of the masses. I don't see, how individualism and patriotism can possibly fit together. [edited by - Yann L on March 29, 2003 10:26:17 AM];  Patriotism is just another excuse people use to avoid having to think for themselves. "If there is a God, he is a malign thug."  -- Mark Twain;  Some people are religious, some people are patriotic, some people are both, some people believe in nothing but themselves. Oh, but I''m sure all of you are so much better than everyone else.  ;  I dont think Im lot better than everyone else, but im a lot better than some people, like you for example ;  Whatever, buddy.  