# “It’s only treason if you lose.” What does it mean?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-s-only-treason-if-you-lose-what-does-it-mean/1003721>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [July 4, 2024, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-s-only-treason-if-you-lose-what-does-it-mean/1003721 "2024-07-04T14:01:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\
**Post date:** [July 4, 2024, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-s-only-treason-if-you-lose-what-does-it-mean/1003721/21 "2024-07-04T17:20:29Z")

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In times like this ( in fact, at all times), the rule is the cat must take priority.

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**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\
**Post date:** [July 4, 2024, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-s-only-treason-if-you-lose-what-does-it-mean/1003721/22 "2024-07-04T17:37:15Z")

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No kidding! Any other response would be attacking an authority to which one owes allegiance.

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**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\
**Post date:** [July 4, 2024, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-s-only-treason-if-you-lose-what-does-it-mean/1003721/23 "2024-07-04T18:01:50Z")

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It’s only treason if the cat considers it to be so.

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**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\
**Post date:** [July 4, 2024, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-s-only-treason-if-you-lose-what-does-it-mean/1003721/24 "2024-07-04T18:06:21Z")

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I’ve never known a cat that didn’t.

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**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\
**Post date:** [July 4, 2024, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-s-only-treason-if-you-lose-what-does-it-mean/1003721/25 "2024-07-04T18:39:14Z")

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“You are…_a traitor to the paws_.”

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**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\
**Post date:** [July 5, 2024, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-s-only-treason-if-you-lose-what-does-it-mean/1003721/26 "2024-07-05T21:18:53Z")

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> [@Velocity](#):
>
> It’s only treason if the cat considers it to be so

> [@silenus](#):
>
> I’ve never known a cat that didn’t

> [@Love\_Rhombus](#):
>
> You are…_a traitor to the paws_.”

You all win the thread **🏆**.

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**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\
**Post date:** [July 9, 2024, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-s-only-treason-if-you-lose-what-does-it-mean/1003721/27 "2024-07-09T15:48:45Z")

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> [@LSLGuy](#):
>
> Which T-shirt got me to thinking of a corresponding LW idea.
> 
> I came up with “If you love your country, work every day to improve it. Not vandalize its improvements.”

How about Carl Schurz’ full quote? _“My country, right or wrong; if right, to be kept right; and if wrong, to be set right.”_

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**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\
**Post date:** [July 9, 2024, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-s-only-treason-if-you-lose-what-does-it-mean/1003721/28 "2024-07-09T16:18:12Z")

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> [@Velocity](#):
>
> the revolutionaries would have been treated the way we treat the Confederacy today.

With cities and schools named after them, statues that are not allowed to be removed, and waving their flags at rallies supporting a former president and leading candidate?

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