Poll: Are you Patriotic?

[clarky07]

I have a poll going on my website that you all might like to participate in. I wrote an article last week that received quite a bit of negative feedback - 3 Reasons Why You Should be Proud to be an American. It was basically just saying that I am thankful to be an American. I thought it was benign but it received lots of negative feedback on my site and some social bookmarking sites. So I followed that post up today with - Why I'm Patriotic and You Don't Have to Be along with the poll asking simply, Are you patriotic? I suspect that most people on here have a response that is much more similar to mine than the rest of the internet, (or at least I hope), but I would like to find out. Is my point of view way off base here, or are there some patriotic Americans left.

[towerclimber37]

oh, they're there Clarky.. but you won't really hear their voices until there's no other choice but to change things.

Many patriotic Americans are of the old belief system.

you know, you're only as good as your word. walk softly and carry a big stick.

don't start something if you're going to quit...

their handshake is often as good as their signature. they are well off and dirt poor. They come in all colors and languages...simply because the idea of freedom is such a sweet call that many answer it.

I'm willing to bet that if you polled them, they wouldn't think that the constitution is a "living document".

Lots of them are on here..and they air out their ideas amongst those who think like they do...rarely do they do this in public.

Pray that you never have to hear them speak..because if they speak across this nation, things will change in a way that Obama could never fathom. They did it once before..the rest of the nation called it "the revolutionary war"..or the "war for independence".

They're some of the best folks you could call friend. they're also the worst sort of nightmare for the folks that wish to change our freedom into socialism. they're intelligent, well educated, well traveled and they can still manage to whip their weight in wolverines.

More importantly, they know what freedom is.

Edited December 2, 2008 by towerclimber37

[Guest jackdog]

Well said Tower.

[clarky07]

Well said Tower.

agreed

[Guest Astra900]

I know I'll get flamed for this, but; There's not much left to be patriotic for.

I would have loved to have lived my life years ago and maybe rode with Teddy and had much more to be proud of.

[Mark@Sea]

Astra, don't confuse the government with the country. Don't confuse the MSM's picture of things with what actually is. And don't take the trans-national, marxist left for a majority.

[NuTcAsE]

Astra, don't confuse the government with the country. Don't confuse the MSM's picture of things with what actually is. And don't take the trans-national, marxist left for a majority.

+1

[DavidD]

Nice replys Tower. Tell'em like it is.

[Smith]

I know I'll get flamed for this, but; There's not much left to be patriotic for.

I would have loved to have lived my life years ago and maybe rode with Teddy and had much more to be proud of.

Yeah, I only support perfection. If it isn't perfect it is inherently evil.:screwy:

It is amazing to me the people who can't see the forest for the trees. Some of the greatest moments in American history (or any history for that matter) were also in the midst of some of the biggest challenges from both within and without. The difference between then and now? People saw possibility instead of failure. Now we just mop around feeling sorry for our selves waiting for someone to make us feel better. Time to grab the boot straps my friends.

Edited December 3, 2008 by Smith

[Guest 2HOW]

You said it TC , theres plenty to be proud of .

[clarky07]

Ah, I love this forum. So many sensible people as opposed to, well, the rest of the internet. Thanks for the support.

[Guest rlrm777]

"They love our milk and honey, but they preach about some other way of livin' "

[Guest rlrm777]

There's nothing wrong with our country, or the system of gov't we have (or are SUPPOSED to have). The problem is that we allowed 'politican' to become a career. It was never meant to be.

We should have risen up years ago and put a stop to it.

We'll have to eventually, and it won't be pretty.

A couple hundred years ago, a group of patriots pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.

Do we have any of those people left today?

Edited December 3, 2008 by rlrm777

[Smith]

There's nothing wrong with our country, or the system of gov't we have (or are SUPPOSED to have). The problem is that we allowed 'politican' to become a career. It was never meant to be.

We should have risen up years ago and put a stop to it.

We'll have to eventually, and it won't be pretty.

A couple hundred years ago, a group of patriots pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.

Do we have any of those people left today?

+1 However, revolution is not needed. Term limits would cure a LOT of problems. The federal government is set up and designed for inefficiency. When you get guys up there for 30 years they learn how to use that to their advantage. We need people wo can only work within the frame work instead of behind it. The efficiency is on the state/local levels (or should be).

[Guest Astra900]

One good thing that still goes fair enough in this country, It's still okay to peacefully disagree with your neighbor.

[towerclimber37]

There's nothing wrong with our country, or the system of gov't we have (or are SUPPOSED to have). The problem is that we allowed 'politican' to become a career. It was never meant to be.

We should have risen up years ago and put a stop to it.

We'll have to eventually, and it won't be pretty.

A couple hundred years ago, a group of patriots pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.

Do we have any of those people left today?

+1000 on the term limits.

we DO actually have folks like that today. You've got folks like Michelle Malkin and her ilk who work every day to keep things right for the rest of us. I know she's only one example.

Look at the blogs! thats the new "battlefield" of ideas...you've got the daily Kos putting forth liberal ideas and then you've got places like "the jawa report" that keep refuting them.

It must infuriate the Left to lose like they do all the time...but they lose simply because we are NOT the kind of nation they think we are and their ideas are inherently flawed...this precludes any sort of victory, moral or otherwise.

for those of you who have never read it, I suggest you put the old hairy eyeball on this web page..you'll favorite it if you're not careful!

http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/

[wjh2657]

I served 30 years of honorable service on active duty in the United States Marine Corps.

I have been a good law abiding citizen for 44 years of my 65 years of life (full citizenship began at 21 when I was a kid!)

BUT, according to current measures of patriotism that have become entrenched in the last decade, I am NOT considered to be patriotic.

I don't believe that the President or any other member of government is infallible just because they are a Republican (I am a Libertarian)

I don't believe that the the more money a person has the less liable they are to the law.

I don't believe that only fundamental Christians are true Americans (I am a Baptist, but not rabid about my faith to the point of trying to force it on others with laws.)

If you think this is extreme, you need to read a few of your own posts in this and other forums. Any time guns are discussed, only a radical right and sometimes downright racist viewpoint is tolerated.(I am white) Any other view is immediately Anti-American. We, as a group, show little if any tolerance for any other view and are downright scary in the attitudes and actions we espouse. Making people be afraid of us will not bring them to their knees in submission to heed our rights, it will only bring them to back those who would disarm us.

Patriotism involves the recognition of freedom and liberty for ALL. This includes at least respecting to some degree other viewpoints.

I am NRA, I am a Marine, I am a Christian but I don't have to scare my neighbors and I will allow them to voice their viewpoint, with some respect for their feelings.

I wasn't a Marine so I could carry a gun and kill people. I was a Marine to defend the rights of ALL people and defend their right to a good life.

I used to be considered a patriot, I'm not so sure what I am anymore.

[Smith]

I served 30 years of honorable service on active duty in the United States Marine Corps.

I have been a good law abiding citizen for 44 years of my 65 years of life (full citizenship began at 21 when I was a kid!)

BUT, according to current measures of patriotism that have become entrenched in the last decade, I am NOT considered to be patriotic.

I don't believe that the President or any other member of government is infallible just because they are a Republican (I am a Libertarian)

I don't believe that the the more money a person has the less liable they are to the law.

I don't believe that only fundamental Christians are true Americans (I am a Baptist, but not rabid about my faith to the point of trying to force it on others with laws.)

If you think this is extreme, you need to read a few of your own posts in this and other forums. Any time guns are discussed, only a radical right and sometimes downright racist viewpoint is tolerated.(I am white) Any other view is immediately Anti-American. We, as a group, show little if any tolerance for any other view and are downright scary in the attitudes and actions we espouse. Making people be afraid of us will not bring them to their knees in submission to heed our rights, it will only bring them to back those who would disarm us.

Patriotism involves the recognition of freedom and liberty for ALL. This includes at least respecting to some degree other viewpoints.

I am NRA, I am a Marine, I am a Christian but I don't have to scare my neighbors and I will allow them to voice their viewpoint, with some respect for their feelings.

I wasn't a Marine so I could carry a gun and kill people. I was a Marine to defend the rights of ALL people and defend their right to a good life.

I used to be considered a patriot, I'm not so sure what I am anymore.

Why so angry about what others believe while admonishing us to be open minded? I just don't understand inconsistency.

Patriotism by it nature is incumbent on a collective of others. If the majority of other believe one way, you don't get to redefine the terms of understanding as the minority. Patriotism is an understanding of common support among the majority.

[Oh Shoot]

I served 30 years of honorable service on active duty in the United States Marine Corps.

I have been a good law abiding citizen for 44 years of my 65 years of life (full citizenship began at 21 when I was a kid!)

BUT, according to current measures of patriotism that have become entrenched in the last decade, I am NOT considered to be patriotic.

I don't believe that the President or any other member of government is infallible just because they are a Republican (I am a Libertarian)

I don't believe that the the more money a person has the less liable they are to the law.

I don't believe that only fundamental Christians are true Americans (I am a Baptist, but not rabid about my faith to the point of trying to force it on others with laws.)

If you think this is extreme, you need to read a few of your own posts in this and other forums. Any time guns are discussed, only a radical right and sometimes downright racist viewpoint is tolerated.(I am white) Any other view is immediately Anti-American. We, as a group, show little if any tolerance for any other view and are downright scary in the attitudes and actions we espouse. Making people be afraid of us will not bring them to their knees in submission to heed our rights, it will only bring them to back those who would disarm us.

Patriotism involves the recognition of freedom and liberty for ALL. This includes at least respecting to some degree other viewpoints.

I am NRA, I am a Marine, I am a Christian but I don't have to scare my neighbors and I will allow them to voice their viewpoint, with some respect for their feelings.

I wasn't a Marine so I could carry a gun and kill people. I was a Marine to defend the rights of ALL people and defend their right to a good life.

I used to be considered a patriot, I'm not so sure what I am anymore.

Helluva post. Truly.

(quoted intact for emphasis)

- OS

[Oh Shoot]

... Patriotism is an understanding of common support among the majority.

Most intangible ideals, like "patriotism", "courage", "honor", "loyalty", many others, can be defined in a number of ways, and of course ill-defined to suit one's own ends.

Patriotism can also be, as famously defined by Samuel Johnson, the last refuge of a scoundrel.

- OS

[Smith]

Most intangible ideals, like "patriotism", "courage", "honor", "loyalty", many others, can be defined in a number of ways, and of course ill-defined to suit one's own ends.

Patriotism can also be, as famously defined by Samuel Johnson, the last refuge of a scoundrel.

- OS

Kinda my point. What used to be patriotism will, in a few years, be officially considered radical extremism. Sad really. Give me back Mayberry!

[Oh Shoot]

Kinda my point. What used to be patriotism will, in a few years, be officially considered radical extremism...

Yeah, I guess folks like Joe McCarthy got a bad rap.

Certainly one of the most "patriotic" guys of all.

- OS

[DaveTN]

Barack Obama’s election to the office of president is a great thing for America. I am proud that we as Americans have started to put race behind us and elect officials based on who they are. For this I am very thankful today.

Racism is far from behind us. We just elected a president not because he is qualified but because is a black. If he had been white he would not have been able to beat out Hillary and she would have been elected because she is a woman.

Neither is qualified and neither are the best this country has to offer.

2. We have the freedom of religion in America. It does not matter what you believe, you are free to worship how you please in America. That is not the case in many places around the world. Many people are persecuted for what they believe all over this globe. I believe that each of us should be allowed to chose what we believe, and nobody should be able to take that away. I am thankful that I live in a country where that can’t happen.

My people are not free to worship as we please. We want prayer in schools and to be able to post religious artifacts in public without court injunctions obtained by heathens and those that would like to kill us because of our religion.

I’m glad that you are proud to be an American. Our country is in great danger right now. Not from a foreign aggressor but from those that will sell our country out if it will save them a buck. Am I a Patriot? Well besides serving my county, I defend its interests still today. So I would say; yes. But given what just happened in this election and what is happening with our economy I’m not sure if there are enough of us to save our country.

[Oh Shoot]

(DaveTN

): We just elected a president not because he is qualified but because is a black. If he had been white he would not have been able to beat out Hillary and she would have been elected because she is a woman.

(OhShoot): More than likely, ANY dem would have won this election. I agree that Hillary would have won in a landslide. But Obama really just squeaked by in comparison, mainly BECAUSE he is black (or black enough). He probably got the

fewest

votes of anyone the Dems could have run.

Neither is qualified and neither are the best this country has to offer.

You'll never again see a "best" as long as the candidates are selected by the American Idol Method. The public should not even vote on the presidency. When a man has to spend the better part of a billion dollars to get a $400K/yr job, there's a fundamental flaw with the "free election" process.

My people are not free to worship as we please.

Sure you are, just do it on "your" own turf. Your church isn't even taxed. I don't let Muslims into my home to rant about their god. Or Hindus. Or Christians. Likewise I don't want them doing the same anywhere I'm forced to spend my tax contributions, as that is "my turf" also.

We want prayer in schools ...

Meaning Christian prayer of course. Then have "your" own schools, not ones paid for with my tax money. (Actually, the government on any level should have nothing, NOTHING to do with education in America, anyway, but that's a different debate.)

and to be able to post religious artifacts in public

Post all you want on your own private property of whatever kind. Your home, your church, wherever. Buy a vacant lot and make it look like the Vatican. That's plenty public enough. I don't care to see a buddha OR crucifixion on my courthouse, or school, or public health clinic, or highway patrol station, or sanitation dept., etc.

As always, your "rights should end where my nose begins" in both literal and figurative sense, and vice versa.

One of the tenets of the founding fathers (and indeed, the pilgrims before them), was religious autonomy. Though often spouted by evangelists, America was NOT founded as a Christian nation but as a "nation under God" (and not under the British). Indeed, a good many of the signers of the Declaration were not Christians, but for lack of a better label, Deists. Like Jefferson. Like me.

I guess I'm just not patriotic.

- Oh "donning flame (and brimstone) retardant suit" Shoot

Edited December 21, 2008 by OhShoot
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[Guest Schwarzgebrannt]

I leave symbolism to the symbol minded.