# Happy Patriot Day, Everyone! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 11, 2008, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-patriot-day-everyone/463091 "2008-09-11T12:51:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2008, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-patriot-day-everyone/463091/41 "2008-09-11T18:55:46Z")
> [@5-HT](#): > > Before I read this thread, I had honestly forgotten that it was even called Patriots’ Day. Now, from this point forward, perhaps we do need a day honoring Tom Brady’s knee injury, but it would likely be mourned by some and celebrated by others. > > Seriously, do people actually use that name? I’ve never heard regular people call it Patriots’ day, just 9/11. If you work for the Federal government, it pops right up on your monitor in the morning. Plus we’ve been getting assorted emails about Patriot Day observances. ---
**Author:** ![Santo\_Rugger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Santo\_Rugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santo_Rugger)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2008, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-patriot-day-everyone/463091/42 "2008-09-11T19:00:34Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Where on earth did you get that from? Nothing I said above had anything to do with pride. That said… > > a) In fact, no, not really, because I wasn’t an American before then. I moved here when I was thirteen, and I didn’t come from a background of privation and dictatorial government, so it wasn’t as if I came to America and found a land of opportunity. On 9/11 I was 19, and I hadn’t really made up my mind about where I wanted to live or what I wanted out of life or… well, anything, really. I’m still not sure if I call myself an American, but I love the country, its people and way of life, and it is definitely _home_. > > b) I wasn’t talking about my own feelings, anyway; I’m talking about the attitudes of segments of the population toward other segments. Nobody was whining about affirmative action or immigrant labor or gay rights or any of the hundred other things which usually divide us for that one day. Well, that went over like a lead balloon. I was making a (probably bad) joke about how the people who are content to call 9/11 \*Patriot Day \*are probably the same people blasting Michelle Obama for her, “For the first time I’m proud to be an American,” comment. I guess it wasn’t as funny or obvious as I thought, sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2008, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-patriot-day-everyone/463091/43 "2008-09-11T19:02:06Z")
> [@Santo\_Rugger](#): > > Well, that went over like a lead balloon. I was making a (probably bad) joke about how the people who are content to call 9/11 \*Patriot Day \*are probably the same people blasting Michelle Obama for her, “For the first time I’m proud to be an American,” comment. I guess it wasn’t as funny or obvious as I thought, sorry. The message board reading public is slow and easily whooshed. More liberal use of smileys to denote jocularity strongly indicated. (:smack:) ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2008, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-patriot-day-everyone/463091/44 "2008-09-11T19:08:12Z")
Shit . . . I didn’t even realize today was 9/11. I don’t know how to feel about that. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2008, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-patriot-day-everyone/463091/45 "2008-09-11T19:14:27Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > Shit . . . I didn’t even realize today was 9/11. I don’t know how to feel about that. Well, it ain’t Remembrance Day for you, that’s for sure. ---
**Author:** ![Rodd\_Hill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3ab097/32.png) [@Rodd\_Hill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodd_Hill)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2008, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-patriot-day-everyone/463091/46 "2008-09-11T19:22:29Z")
> [@Harmonious\_Discord](#): > > Patriot Day > Patriot Act > > I bet there is a tie in. **Act Like a Patriot Day.** Problem solved. Just don’t be upset in 5 or 10 years when it becomes an excuse for Deep-Cut Discount Mattress Sales and the like, with local businessmen doing their own commercials dressed as FDNY. And you _know_ someone, somewhere would. ---
**Author:** ![Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4da419/32.png) [@Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gala_Matrix_Fire)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2008, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-patriot-day-everyone/463091/47 "2008-09-11T19:26:51Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > Seven freaking years later and Osama Bin Laden is still out there! I like this idea. Osama Bin Laden is Still Alive and Free Day. That or Recreational Mourning Day. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2008, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-patriot-day-everyone/463091/48 "2008-09-11T19:54:15Z")
How about Freedom Day? No? Okay, back the drawing board. (I shall also register my vote as a foreigner that Patriot Day is extremely obnoxious.) ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2008, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-patriot-day-everyone/463091/49 "2008-09-11T21:01:50Z")
Patriot Day is perfect. It’s the day when every one is on your side, giving you good thoughts, even joining you when you go out and beat the Giants of terror. It’s a sure win, you’re about to go into the record books and then. . you are totally sidetracked by an Iraqui cheerleader with a beard and no weapons of mass destruction. You are now 18-1. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2008, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-patriot-day-everyone/463091/50 "2008-09-11T21:17:27Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > Patriot Day is perfect. > > It’s the day when every one is on your side, giving you good thoughts, even joining you when you go out and beat the Giants of terror. It’s a sure win, you’re about to go into the record books and then. . you are totally sidetracked by an Iraqui cheerleader with a beard and no weapons of mass destruction. You are now 18-1. Win. That will never [get old](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=464471&highlight=Patriot). ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2008, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-patriot-day-everyone/463091/51 "2008-09-11T23:04:17Z")
I was talking to the Missus about this today would “Remembrance Day” or something like that not be alot more appropriate? ---
**Author:** ![5-HT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/f19dbf/32.png) [@5-HT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5-HT)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2008, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-patriot-day-everyone/463091/52 "2008-09-11T23:07:06Z")
Let’s call it Osama Bin Ladin day. We can eat sweets and toffees, set off fireworks, and burn effigies of Osama. We’ll build big bonfires and have a good old time. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2008, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-patriot-day-everyone/463091/53 "2008-09-11T23:07:50Z")
> [@5-HT](#): > > Let’s call it Osama Bin Ladin day. We can eat sweets and toffees, set off fireworks, and burn effigies of Osama. We’ll build big bonfires and have a good old time. “Penny for the Osama?” ---
**Author:** ![5-HT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/f19dbf/32.png) [@5-HT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5-HT)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2008, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-patriot-day-everyone/463091/54 "2008-09-11T23:18:55Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > “Penny for the Osama?” Remember, Remember the 'leventh of september. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2008, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-patriot-day-everyone/463091/55 "2008-09-11T23:24:08Z")
> [@5-HT](#): > > Remember, Remember the 'leventh of september. _on one plane the passengers fought I see no reason why Flight 93 should ever be forgot_ Alternatively: _Remember, remember, the eleventh of September the bad guy still hasn’t been caught I see no reason why Osama bin Laden isn’t still being sought_ I suck at this. Where’s **ETF**? ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2008, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-patriot-day-everyone/463091/56 "2008-09-11T23:43:55Z")
> [@WF\_Tomba](#): > > Does the President think firefighters and police ran into those buildings because _Americans_ were in danger? No, it was because _people_ were in danger. And they didn’t do that selfless deed because they were good Americans but because they were good people. This really is lovely, and deserves another shout-out. There are good people in EVERY group, regardless of nationality or religion or ethnic group or political orientation. There are bad people in every group. When bad people do bad things, good people react to help, regardless of group. I realize that’s a simplistic answer, being someone who teaches social psychology after all, but I try to overcome my professional cynicism with these simple statements: Good people do good things. Bad people do bad things. I don’t believe either of those statements relate in any significant way to group identity. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2008, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-patriot-day-everyone/463091/57 "2008-09-12T01:00:31Z")
Blowback Day. ---
**Author:** ![Aankh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ebca7d/32.png) [@Aankh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aankh)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2008, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-patriot-day-everyone/463091/58 "2008-09-12T05:19:45Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > _on one plane the passengers fought > I see no reason why Flight 93 > should ever be forgot_ > > Alternatively: > > _Remember, remember, the eleventh of September > the bad guy still hasn’t been caught > I see no reason why Osama bin Laden > isn’t still being sought_ > > I suck at this. Where’s **ETF**? Subscribing now just in case this thread gets hijacked into riffs on “Remember, Remember…” Please keep them coming! ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2008, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-patriot-day-everyone/463091/59 "2008-09-12T12:34:46Z")
> [@DianaG](#): > > Seriously. Is there anyone who is unclear on what’s being referenced when someone says “September 11th”? It was okay this year, but in previous years I could count on some newsbeing to say “Today is the fifth [whatever] anniversary of September 11.” No, it _is_ September 11. ( **Hamish** responded: “Don’t you know they retired the number? Like in hockey?”) ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2008, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-patriot-day-everyone/463091/60 "2008-09-12T16:17:22Z")
It’s the two thousand and eighth anniversary of September 11th! 😛 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-patriot-day-everyone/463091.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-patriot-day-everyone/463091.md?page=4)