Patriotism

[nbblood 0]

Ok, I'm quite distraught about some "Americans'" views of America from some other threads. Personally, I think of myself as very patriotic and what I've seen in other threads lead me to believe that patriotism has long since gone by the wayside in the USA. Patriotism as Webster defines is: "love for or devotion to one's country." My thought is "love it or leave it" and I'm tired of the bashing, the attitude of "I don't owe my country anything, what has it done for me?" I've served my country for the past 12 years in the military and all I think is I wish I could've done more. I will continually look for ways. Yes, there are things I don't like and don't agree with, but I feel the good far outweighs the bad. I would like to hear what others think is great about the USA.

If you're not from the USA and you've got something to say that's great about your country, please, by all means, I'd like to hear that too. I personally believe that the U.S. is the greatest country in the world, but I expect that others think theirs is and I certainly respect that.

If you want to "bash" the USA, please do so in the numerous threads that are already doing that. Sure, you can utilize your free speach and hijack the thread if you really want to, but I'd really like to see a positive spin for a change.

I'll go first:

1. I love the fact that my country protects my freedom of speech, whether for or against the government, without the recourse of punishment by imprisonment or death.

2. I believe in the concept of the American dream. I don't think my country owes me welfare, medical care, education, unemployment....etc. I believe in the concept of those that apply themselves and take advantage of opportunity are rewarded accordingly for their efforts. I like that this still exists in some sense.

3. I love the fact that the USA has so many diverse climates and terrains and it offers so much variety in sites, environments, and communities.

4. I like the fact that we are held accountable by our peers through the justice system. Although flawed, as every system of justice seems to be, it is the best that I know of.

5. I love the fact that people are free to practice their religion of choice without persecution from the government.

6. I cherish the right to keep and bear arms.

7. I appreciate that my country realizes that freedom isn't free and takes proactive measures to maintain security and freedom, for the US and other countries.

8. I feel that the US is the most charitable in the world and I like what we've done to help others worldwide.

Ok, that's my short list. I could go on and on, but I'll leave it at that for now. Some may say I'm overly optimistic, I think many are overly pessimistic.

Anyway, if you've got something good to say, I'd really like to hear it.

Blues,
Nathan

Blues,
Nathan

If you wait 'til the last minute, it'll only take a minute.

[indyz 1]

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My thought is "love it or leave it"

I think that attitude is bullshit, and I would like to think that our founding fathers would as well.

I love the ideals that America embodies, but I don't care for the current administration or many of it's actions (including but not limited to a certain Act with an incredibly loaded name that relates to this thread). Does that mean I should start packing?

Fanatical nationalism (which many people with the "love it or leave it" attitude wrongly equate with patriotism) is far more dangerous than national apathy.

[nbblood 0]

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My thought is "love it or leave it"

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I think that additude is bullshit, and I would like to think that our founding fathers would as well.

Ok, fine, fair enough.

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Fanatical nationalism (which many people with the "love it or leave it" attitude wrongly equate with patriotism) is far more dangerous than national apathy.

You've got an excellent point. I should rethink my phrasing. Anyway, just a thought, not something I think should be enforced. I just think people "love it" more than they realize they do, otherwise they would leave, nothing more than that.

Anything positive now?

Blues,
Nathan

Blues,
Nathan

If you wait 'til the last minute, it'll only take a minute.

[Shark 0]

Dude, you have a thick skin.

[skydyvr 0]

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Patriotism as Webster defines is: "love for or devotion to one's country."

The sentiment lately among many on the left is more like "squat down and take a crap on it".

. . =(_8^(1)

[Nightingale 0]

a love for your country and an issue with its current leadership are two entirely different things.

[nbblood 0]

I know I didn't say anything at all about the current leadership. I'm simply asking, why do you love your country. Again, I'm not looking for the politcal backstabbing. Merely, what's great about your country. I don't know why this is so hard.

Blues,
Nathan

Blues,
Nathan

If you wait 'til the last minute, it'll only take a minute.

[jmpnkramer 0]

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I don't know why this is so hard.

It is hard because most of the people on here focus on the negatives in life. Many of them have not ever been out of this country for an extended period of time.

I also serve and have been doing so for 15YRS. I know where you are coming from. The administration looks differently in uniform. I can tell you that the former administration was much worse in my eyes. To have a draft dodger as Commander in Chief is appalling and unacceptable.

No-one knows about all the ridiculous things Mr. Clinton did to reduce and weaken our military forces. That stuff is not publicized. Not wanting to pay the spouse of a fallen soldier in Bosnia! Reducing our retirement to 35%. These are just a couple of the actions he took. Thankfully, the 35% got put back up to 50%.

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I don't think my country owes me welfare, medical care, education, unemployment....etc. I believe in the concept of those that apply themselves and take advantage of opportunity are rewarded accordingly for their efforts.

This is the only thing I do not agree with you 100% on.

I am not saying it is owed to everyone. I am saying that it should be made a little easier to aquire. I am mainly talking about health care. I am not sure of the solution but it is very difficult. Become an independent contractor and get decent health care at a reasonable price. It is not out there. I am seen at the V.A. on a regular basis and my promary care physician even said that he could no longer afford private practice because of rising insurance costs.



What do I Love about our country?

1) First and foremost "FREEDOM"

Most do not actually know what this means because they have never been to a supressed land. Other countries may seem free but in reality are not. That is what got me about someone on here who recently took a trip and then asked what makes this Country so great. If you spend any extended amount of time in an area you will figure it out. Not a two-week vacation where you see all the good stuff and are ignorant to the actual daily life.

2) Everything else is a subset of number one! Most I will copy and paste because you have said them well. I did however change my to our. It is all our country.

a) I love the fact that our country protects our freedom of speech, whether for or against the government, without the recourse of punishment by imprisonment or death.

b) I love the fact that people are free to practice their religion of choice without persecution from the government.
Here again, if many of the people on here read more they would know that this is an amazing concept in every other part of the world. Most of the wars over the centuries started over religion.

c) I cherish the right to keep and bear arms.
Many of the other countries in the world it is much harder if allowed at all to have weapons legally.

d) It is much harder these days but the fact that a small businessman can actually thrive in this country given the right location. The fact that the individual is allowed to sell what he chooses.

America is the best Nation. We do many things to help others. Most do not see it because they are not involved in it. For many if it is not on television they have no clue of what is really going on.

The reason that we have so much animosity towards us in all the other places in the world is because the governments there push a ton of negative propaganda to make the people fearful of the U.S. and its people. It is unfortunate that our soldiers are dying. In the end though the region will be a better place. Hopefully in the future the World can get along. A novel concept I know.

Laters,



.

The REAL KRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMER!

"HESITATION CAUSES DEATH!!!"
"Be Slow to Fall into Friendship; but when Thou Art in, Continue Firm & Constant." - SOCRATES

[Cudlo 0]

Must resist urge to go on a rant towards Indyz... must resist.. must resist... ah hell. just check my sig for my opinion right now.... its freakin 6:30am

_________________________________________
"People demand freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought which they avoid." - Kierkegaard

[redramdriver 0]

*** UMM our founding fathers...wow..I do thinks that they left someplace because they didn't love it (the govt) and started something that they could love...i.e. Love it or Leave it.

I don't want to start something like bashing here trying to make someone else believe in the same principles that I do...very basic and fundamental ones at that.

I don't think anyone here will try to pervert you..umm I mean convert you. But there are certain basic responsibilities that we all have as AMERICANS.
Be true to your Country. Be Honest with your God. Open your home and arms to Friends. As for your enemies...Keep them close...very very close.

So, you bring your beer?

Its 5 o'clock somewhere
POPS #9344

[skybytch 273]

What do I love about my country?

The diversity of the landscape. Whatever natural features and/or weather pattern you are looking for can be found here. And there's always someplace different to explore, something you haven't seen before.

The freedom to explore the diverse landscape without (much) interference from the government.

The diversity of the people.

The selflessness, resiliency and generosity of the people.

The freedom to think and say whatever I want to. The freedom to learn about, explore, discuss and/or espouse whatever religious and/or political beliefs I choose.

Big airplanes at year round dropzones.

Chocolate chip cookies.

[sdgregory 0]

Sorry that some people cannot take the spirit of you thread and run with it. Some people just have to be negative no matter what and that is sad.


1. I love the social diversity of this country. I love the fact that I am a white male who grew up in a Cuban family and that they consider as much Cuban as themselves yet still maintain my own racial identity. I love that I can go to another part of thiscountry and experience a culture vastly different from t he one I grew up in and yet still feel at home.

2. I love the country itself. I love the Blue Ridge, Smokies and Rockies and yet at the same time, to walk along the coast of Florida and smell the salt in the air and taste it in everybreath makes my blood boil.

3. I love our history, good and bad. It is what makes this a great country. Though we are young in comparison our history is a testiment to human tenacity and triumph. I love the character of the many men and women who made this country what it is today, even the shady side of their characters.

4. I love that we have a Bill of Rights that cannot be taken away without our consent and that as long as we cherish the freedoms within it we will never relinquish them.

5. Our Flag, whose colors each have meaning, whose stripes tell some history and whose stars shine brightly. I still get chills when I see it flying in the breeze.

6. I love that if I disagree with my government I can verbally blast it and they cannot touch me. But I also love that if I am to make any positive change that it will require something of myself other than shallow rhetoric to make that change a reality.

7. The people. The American spirit. The idea that we do not take crap from anybody and that if we do, we prove as tenacious and resilient as those who came before us, to not let this country fall. That is the real victory in 9/11. We never let the dream of America falter.

8. Miami, Fl; Las Angeles, California; NYC, NY; Atlanta, Georgia; Chicago, Illinois.

9. Wildwood, Fl; 29 Palms, California; Blacksburg, Virginia; Genoa, Ohio;

10. Capitalism, the American dream, most American movies (some I wish would have never benn made), Ice Cream, girl's little league softball, boys optimist football, hotdogs, peanut butter, buffalo wings, imported beer, domestic beer, California wines, the dropzones, American ingeneuity and the fact that we touch two oceans and surround almost half a gulf.

[nbblood 0]

aha....thank-you. I knew there were some positive replies out there. We're getting somewhere now. Thanks for the positive replies.

Blues,
Nathan

Blues,
Nathan

If you wait 'til the last minute, it'll only take a minute.

[PhillyKev 0]

I love many things about this country, most of them have been already stated, so I won't repeat them. But one which I think explains why some people believe that I and others don't like this country is this:

-The peaceful transfer of power that happens every four years. Since the foundation of this country, elections by the people, fair for the most part, have determined who our leaders would be without the need for bloodshed or violence. That's a rare thing in this world if you look around at a lot of other nations. The closest we've ever come to a coup was the 2000 election. And I'm looking forward to that privelage of choosing new leaders this November.

I love this country, I love what it stands for, I love its stated ideals. I just have problems with the current administration and its policies.

One other thing I love about this country is the ever lasting desire to improve, not remain stagnant. To learn from our mistakes and become better. Through freedom of speech and expression, diversity and new ideas, even criticism help us to change for the better.

[nightjumps 1]

I love that "Freedom of Speech," means that we don't all have to agree on what is said.

[skydyvr 0]

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a love for your country and an issue with its current leadership are two entirely different things.

I agree entirely, and most conservatives I know aren't shallow or stupid enough to believe not liking Bush equates to being un-American.

But mayors who say "screw the law" and allow gay couples to marry are a GREAT example of what I was getting at.

. . =(_8^(1)

[billvon 3,000]

Things I love about this country:

-That we can settle differences between Alaska and Texas, Hawaii and Maine, democrats and republicans, labor and manufacturing etc without killing each other.

-That we have both strong national (and local) identities but we generally tolerate completely different identities.

-That the concept of starting with nothing, working hard, and becoming a success is still central to our way of thinking.

-That not only do we have a bill of rights, but it remains central to both our government and our view of our society.

-That we are willing to share our wealth with those less fortunate.

[Nightingale 0]

I was replying to Skydyvr, not to your original post.

What I love about this country is that I can strongly disagree with certain commanders-in-chief and certain laws, and they can't arrest me for voicing my opinion.

[JohnRich 4]

Reputed to be from Andy Rooney, the "60 Minutes" commentator:

I don't think being a minority makes you a victim of anything except numbers. The only things I can think of that are truly discriminatory are things like the United Negro College Fund, Jet Magazine, Black Entertainment Television, and Miss Black America. Try to have things like the United Caucasian College Fund, Cloud Magazine, White Entertainment Television, or Miss White America; and see what happens. Jesse Jackson will be knocking down your door.

Guns do not make you a killer. I think killing makes you a killer. You can kill someone with a baseball bat or a car, but no one is trying to ban you from driving to the ball game.

I believe they are called the Boy Scouts for a reason, that is why there are no girls allowed. Girls belong in the Girl Scouts! ARE YOU LISTENING MARTHA BURKE?

I think that if you feel homosexuality is wrong, it is not a phobia, it is an opinion.

I have the right "NOT" to be tolerant of others because they are different, weird, or tick me off.

When 70% of the people who get arrested are black, in cities where 70% of the population is black, that is not racial profiling, it is the Law of Probability.

I believe that if you are selling me a milk shake, a pack of cigarettes, a newspaper or a hotel room, you must do it in English! As a matter of fact, if you want to be an American citizen, you should have to speak English!

My father and grandfather didn't die in vain so you can leave the countries you were born in to come over and disrespect ours. I think the police should have every right to shoot your sorry self if you threaten them after they tell you to stop. If you can't understand the word "freeze" or "stop" in English, see the above lines.

I don't think just because you were not born in this country, you are qualified for any special loan programs, government sponsored bank loans or tax breaks, etc., so you can open a hotel, coffee shop, trinket store, or any other business.

We did not go to the aid of certain foreign countries and risk our lives in wars to defend their freedoms, so that decades later they could come over here and tell us our constitution is a living document; and open to their interpretations.

I don't hate the rich. I don't pity the poor. I know pro wrestling is fake, but so are movies and television. That doesn't stop you from watching them.

I think Bill Gates has every right to keep every penny he made and continue to make more. If it ticks you off, go and invent the next operating system that's better, and put your name on the building.

It doesn't take a whole village to raise a child right, but it does take a parent to stand up to the kid; and smack their little behinds when necessary, and say "NO!"

I think tattoos and piercing are fine if you want them, but please don't pretend they are a political statement. And, please, stay home until that new lip ring heals. I don't want to look at your ugly infected mouth as you serve me French fries!

I am sick of "Political Correctness." I know a lot of black people, and not a single one of them was born in Africa; so how can they be "African-Americans"? Besides, Africa is a continent. I don't go around saying I am a European-American because my great, great, great, great, great, great grandfather was from Europe. I am proud to be from America and nowhere else.

* * *

[skydyvr 0]

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Reputed to be from Andy Rooney, the "60 Minutes" commentator:

It wasn't written by Rooney, but it's still a nice piece.

. . =(_8^(1)

[kallend 2,027]

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*** UMM our founding fathers...wow..I do thinks that they left someplace because they didn't love it (the govt) and started something that they could love...i.e. Love it or Leave it.

I think you are in error - the founding fathers lived in various colonies in 1775 and clearly didn't LOVE the way things were going. But they most certainly DID NOT LEAVE, they overthrew the existing government by force.

Love it or leave is a ridiculous concept not supported by history.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[AndyMan 7]

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UMM our founding fathers...wow..I do thinks that they left someplace because they didn't love it (the govt) and started something that they could love...i.e. Love it or Leave it.

You have an interesting version of history.

Would you prefer that instead of complaining and politicking, people who had a beef with the current administration took to arms and overthrew the government in a bloody messy rebellion?

Didn't think so.

Personally, I can't imagine anything more patriotic then working to improve the country you love.

_Am

__

You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

[osuskydiver 0]

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I've served my country for the past 12 years in the military and all I think is I wish I could've done more. I will continually look for ways.

I feel the exact same way.

I love that there are people out there sacrificing more than most people will ever realize to serve their country, to become soldiers, so that everyone in this country are still able to have all the freedoms every human deserves.

I love that this country is willing to go abroad and help other nations, whatever the chrisis, so they too can have these basic freedoms.

I love how every american has the same rights as the next american.

I love everything about this country. This is the greatest Nation in the world!

By the time you read this you have already read it.

[jkm2500 0]

Hey John,

That list was made by the "Nuge". We had a thread about it several years ago. It can be found here.

I love the US because it is the greatest country on the planet. We have the ability to stand up for freedom. We also stand up for the things that I dont neccesarily think are right, but I tolerate because they are other peoples freedoms. I love that I can own as much land as I can afford, and do whatever I want with it. I love the fact that I can stop at a DQ at 1o'cclock in the morning and get a cheesbuger with the grease.

SGT Marshall

The primary purpose of the Armed Forces is to prepare for and to prevail in combat should the need arise.

[kallend 2,027]

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I love that I can own as much land as I can afford, and do whatever I want with it.

SGT Marshall

Really? We have zoning regulations around here (Illinois), so we can't do what we like with land that we own.

Then there are environmental regulations, like I can't turn my yard into a toxic waste disposal facility...

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.