Criticizing Bush, but you’re still a patriot.
Criticizing the US government, but you’re still a patriot.
Taking up arms against the US, I think we can agree you’re not a patriot - or are you? The Montana militia folks might argue that they were patriots, and the federal government very misguided and wrong.
What kinds of words, if any, or actions, if any, are unpatriotic?
Well, I would argue things like appointing a known felon to oversee an agency designed to spy on American citizens, or detaining American citizens without pressing charges or allowing access to a lawyer, or passing unconstitutional laws would all be unpatriotic.
But, what do I know? Obviously, if this were true, “The Patriot Act” would be unpatriotic, and that must mean that Black is White, wars prevent terrorism and Republicans support deficit spending.
Words? None. First Amendment, don’cha know.
Actions? Almost anything that causes injury or death to people, and/or damage or destruction to property.
Just something to start with, anyway.
Lesseee…
*Giving live updates of military strength, movements and future plans.
*Purposely hampering and obstructing any military action.
disrupting any civilian activity such that resources both military and civilian are allocated away from their intended purpose.
Capital crimes against any political or military personnel.
Placing more concern and aid for the enemy.
We will find out soon enough when some of us on this board will get arrested for our unpatriotic posts, giving comfort to the enemy.
HEIL BUSH
Guess the BBC is unpatriotic then…
So bombing Iraq is unpatriotic? I am glad I am not the only one who thinks so.
I would say that words that attack not a specific individual or policy, but rather the nation itself, would certainly be unpatriotic. Examples:
Not unpatriotic: “Bush is a buffoon, and he’s running this nation into the ground.”
Unpatriotic: “America is a vile nation that represents the worst this world has to offer.”
Not unpatriotic: “The way current US policy leads to the oppression of Palestinians is appalling.”
Un-patriotic: “I hope terrorists murder thousands of Americans, so this travesty of a nation learns a lesson.”
Not unpatriotic: “US actions may very well have led to the attacks of 9/11.”
Unpatriotic: “America got what it deserved on 9/11. Long live Arafat!”
And so on.
I would also say that using American tragedies as an opportunity to pursue unrelated political agendas is unpatriotic. “Approve this pork project, or the terrorists have already won!” I’d rather not delve into specifics, though, because I think that’d just turn into useless shouting and namecalling from both sides of the aisle.
Jeff
Hlujarn:
When no one from this board is arrested, will we see a retraction from you?
I would say burning the flag is unpatriotic. To me it says “I hate all that this country stands for”. I have no problem with protest against any policy or action. Burning the flag crosses the line. BTW, I would NOT favor making that action a crime.
The correct way to dispose of an American flag is by burning. Should an American flag become spoiled in any way, its owner is advised to burn it, rather than just throw it in the trash. In this case, Flag Burning is a patriotic act.
Those who oppose Flag Burning don’t oppose an act, but a reason for doing an act; a thought. I’d rather let people think whatever they like, thanks.
Sorry to mop up your paranoiac wet dream, here, but it’s not going to happen. I am so magnificently amused by the fools who rant on and on about how “oppressive” the USA is–all the while living in the USA to rant on and on about how “oppressive” the USA is.
CNN too! Dang, there were news reporters with the US tanks in Kuwait going on the air live saying, HEY! everyone! we havent moved yet. Dont worry Baghdad. We’re still here!!
:smack:
I have an american flag sticker pasted upside down on the back of my truck. Is that unpatriotic? No, it is an international symbol of distress. When democracy is restored in the US, I will paste my flag sticker the right way up. BTW, I wish I would get arrested for my criticism of the present gang of thieves who have hijacked our government, then that would prove my paranoid wet dreams completely true.
McDuff:
By “oppose”, do you mean “don’t like”, or “seek to make illegal”? I don’t want to make it illegal, but I certainly oppose it in the sense that I think it’s a shitty thing to do. Flag-burners are free to burn their flags and think whatever vitriol they want; I’m free to think that they’re ungrateful assholes who should consider leaving the country if they hate it that much. Everybody wins! 
Jeff
Being patriotic is subjective, so there aren’t any real clear cut answers, however IMO…
Unpatriotic
*Spitting on, cursing at, or otherwise maligning American troops upon their return from the horrors of war.
*Using your citizenship to aid and abet stated emenies of the US.
Burning an American flag. While I’m not sure it should be illegal, you’ll have a hard time keeping my foot out of your ass if you do it in front of me.
Failing to pay your taxes.
Patriotic
*Even if you don’t support the troops, just leave them alone. If you’ve nothing positive to say, then shut the fuck up. Your freedom of speech ends where my right to peace begins.
*Sticking it to the stated enemies of our country, or, doing nothing to aid and/or abet them.
*Flying the american flag at your home, work, or other place of general importance.
Neither one or the other…
I’ve said this before, I’m sure, but how, exactly, does this “not supporting the troops” deal work? Am I to wish death on them? Or am I merely to think that they’re risking their lives fighting a really dumb war that doesn’t have to be thought.
Nice 1st Amendment you have over there. Shame you don’t think so.
patriotism - loyal allegience to one’s country.
country - geographic area and the citizens and their government (elected or not) who occupy and claim legal right to it
acts not patriotic:
cheering for the other team in international competition
expressing shame about your own country to someone from another country or while in another country
not voting and then bitching about the results
vowing to leave your country just because you don’t like election results
taking advantage of your country’s accommodations while attempting to cripple or overthrow it
acts patriotic:
being willing to fight when the fight isn’t going so well and your country’s world position, or perhaps sovereignty, are at risk, even if you don’t agree with the premise of the fight or even if some dumb-assedness on part of administration put the country in such a bind
realizing there’s a big difference between idealism and perfection, that the grass on the other side of the fence has been painted green, and that your own country is on the whole just fine
setting out to improve the country instead of wasting time crying about or envying others who are
resolving to positivity even though you don’t like a particular election result (I’ve had to work hard on this down here in the recent Senate election).
flashing your boobs at Mardi Gras
McDuff:
You are, of course, correct about disposing of a flag. Just as you know, of course, that that was not the intent of my post. I’ll stand by my guns on the flag buring as unpatriotic when done for any other reason.
Well, not quite. There’s the well-known “Shouting ‘fire!’ in a crowded theater” example of unprotected speech. Ditto false and damaging words. Of course there are places in the world where even true words, if they are damaging or unpopular or offensive to those in authority, can get you into serious trouble. Fortunately most of us are in a time and place where this is not the case. But just try staging an anti-Hussein rally in Baghdad, for example, and see how long the demonstration lasts.
Actions: Lots of things that are good and/or patriotic can cause injury, death or damage to property. Shooting a rabid raccoon, for example, or a kidnapper, or a person who’s trying to release Ricin in the subway. Or restraining a guy on an airplane who has explosives in his shoes.
I imagine what the OP meant might have been that a patriotic person can demonstrate against some government policy, but that if he starts throwing rocks or breaking windows or passing on information that endangers his country’s troops, that is not patriotic.
Oh, and to everything chigger said: Ditto. Well stated.