Why are Republicans generally more patriotic than Democrats?

[HurricaneDitka]

@k9bfriender

Didn’t we just have a thread a bit ago about how it was inappropriate to criticize in any way, shape, or form, the United States of America on the Fourth of July?

Maybe I was wrong, but I felt that it was being inferred that those who would dare to make such observations as to the flaws and challenges to their country would be unpatriotic. I don’t know if that word was actually used, and I don’t feel like going back to find out, but it certainly felt that way to me.

Now, if we were just talking about thinks that were appropriate or prudent, and that you were not talking about patriotism, then I got the wrong impression, but you would have to admit that it would be a reasonable impression to get from the context of the thread.

We had a thread around the 4th of July with some of those sentiments. Someone offered an analogy about pointing out the flaws of one’s spouse during your anniversary dinner, or something like that. I don’t think “maybe the 4th of July is not the best day to harp on America’s flaws” is really the same thing, or even particularly similar, to “unquestioning support for the actions of my country regardless of whether those actions are right of wrong” / “If you somehow dared to think that there were things that were wrong with our country, you were a damn commie” / “thinking that the US can do no wrong and that we must support the president, so long as it’s a white male” / “my country right or wrong”. In that thread, I personally wrote this:

@HurricaneDitka

@snfaulkner

The birthday of our nation which constitutionally allows us to bash it whenever we want. What could be more American than that?

I agree that we’ve all got the right to bash it whenever we want, but I wouldn’t say it’s always “appropriate”. I thought this question by Shodan was really on-point:

@Shodan

Do we need to mention that Martin Luther King Jr. was a plagiarist and a wife-beater every January 15th?

Sure, I guess someone could do that, but it’s the sort of anti-social behavior that alienates and annoys people. I’d call it “inappropriate” even though it’s perfectly legal.

@k9bfriender

In any case, have you ever heard the phrase, “America, love it or leave it”? Anyone who uses that phrase or any of its variations is one who does not brook any criticism of their motherland. This is a sentiment more oft expressed on the R side of the aisle.

I don’t know if I’ve ever heard someone say the phrase out loud, but I’ve seen a handful of bumper stickers with that printed on it before. Seeing it once or twice a decade on someone’s rusting-out bumper has given me the personal impression that it’s not a particularly-widely-held attitude. I haven’t read any studies or surveys that have attempted to quantify how widely-held it is. Have you?