Well said.

The "love your government, or leave the country" crowd are just parroting back what the "establishment" tells them.

They are good little parrots.

If this attitude prevailed in Colonial America, the USA would have never been born. All the colonists would have conformed, or moved.

And where are we supposed to leave?

Perhaps the country with dirtiest hands is the one where its citizens are not allowed to bother and question what is going on in the Government. Luckily, we don't live in such a country.

But, in America, too, the meaning of Patriotism has underwent a fundamental transformation. You are asked to to leave just when you ask questions.

Perhaps it is better to replace 100 Million Americans with 100 Million Asimos.

The reason for saying "if you hate this country so much why don't you leave?" Is to point out that in spite of this nation's flaws it's still the best in the world and if you disagree then why don't you:

a. elaborate by telling us what country YOU think fits the bill
and
b. GET THE HELL OVER THERE

Patriotism isn't blind loyalty but it sure as hell isn't a "blame America first in spite of the truth" mentallity either.

Not asked and not when you ask question. You are TOLD to leave when you blame your nation, the greatest nation on the planet, for every evil under the sun in spite of the truth.

PS The real parrots are those who spew back the words of America's enemies of America as if they are Gospel.

Actually, I'm pretty sure the greatest nation on the planet is Russia.

A good point to discuss...

Now it is temperroof's turn to bring about enough evidence that America is the greatest. [not hinting that I don't agree with him on this]

If I am not Asimo, I have every right to both question and blame my country That's because I want it to be better for me and for the others.

Sometimes a mom beats her child; but not out of revenge or hate, but out of hate and good will.

Sometimes it is good to listen to our enemies because you can find out your own shortcomings without bothering much or waiting too much.

And each single American has his own description of enemy.

Then let's talk about your country and the blame you wish to give it (whatever country that may be) for whatever.

Believe it or not, there is not a Bush running this election. Just because one thinks so little of one man and believes that man capable of doing the 9/11 attacks on his own country, does not mean that man actually (or even possibly) DID it. Capablility is not equivalent to probablility.

See, this is how I look at it: A Bush is not running, so what is the point of focusing on GWB other than to draw attention somewhere irrelevant to the elections?

I didn't like a good amount of what Bill Clinton did, yet I was still capable of respecting the office of the President. That's what rational Americans who know the effect morale can have on a group's effective performance, do; when their candidate didn't elected. That is also what rational anti-Americans who are aware of the effects morale have, know and will exploit.

So, self-flagellation about one's country is ineffective to productivity and success. Having confidence in the spirit of her people, the foundations of her democracy, and the freedom she has will get you somewhere productive with less personal angst.

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I am an American. That's the way most of us put it, just matter of factly. They are plain words, those four: you could write them on your thumbnail, or sweep them clear across this bright autumn sky. But remember too, that they are more than just words. They are a way of life. So whenever you speak them, speak them firmly, speak them proudly, speak them gratefully. I am an American. ...a tradition

I don't believe you are an American. If you were, you would not reduce Patriotism to "live or leave it" level.

And, yes, I am an American; an immigrant American originally from Dagestan, a semi-independent Republic in Russia... Ethnically, I am Caucasian.

But I won't believe you are an American until you prove me you are so.

If I cared what you believe about me, I guess I could prove it. But, alas, I don't care what you (or others) believe about me.

But I do see that either you have no concept of the effects of morale or you actually do.

__________________
I am an American. That's the way most of us put it, just matter of factly. They are plain words, those four: you could write them on your thumbnail, or sweep them clear across this bright autumn sky. But remember too, that they are more than just words. They are a way of life. So whenever you speak them, speak them firmly, speak them proudly, speak them gratefully. I am an American. ...a tradition

Blame America first?

Let's review, shall we?

What country were most of the hijackers from?

What country was their leader from?

What country is ruled by a scumbag Royal family, has zero civil rights, treats their women like property and which is propped up by oil profits?

What countries did the US invade?

How many hijackers were from Iraq?

How many suicide bombers in Iraq are from Saudi Arabia?

After learning that most of the hijackers were Saudi, that their leader was Saudi, that they teach hatred for the US in their schools, even though they are an ALLEGED ally, what did the US do to retaliate?

What country do almost ALL the experts belive Osama is hiding in?

Waht country is training most of the new terrorists?

What country has received the largest increase in foreign aid since 911?

Jeesh.

Good little parrot.

"Love it [meaning don't criticize it] or leave it" is only one of the dodges used by anti-freedom patriots. Another is to inflate any criticism offered to absurd levels. Thus, when America is called to task for its governmental and other collective sins, the anti-freedom patriot speaks of "those who blame America for every evil under the sun."

America is not, of course, to blame for "every evil under the sun" and I know of no one who has ever suggested to the contrary. America is not to blame for overpopulation. It is not to blame for the existence of Neo-Nazis. It is not to blame for female genital mutilation practiced in certain African cultures. It is not to blame for the only slightly less extreme sexism practiced in some Muslim countries and many other parts of the world. It is not to blame for the Chinese occupation of Tibet. It is only partially, and not primarily, to blame for the inhumanities committed by the state of Israel. And so on. I could list a great many more "evils under the sun" for which the U.S. is either largely or entirely not to blame.

However, there are in fact logical positions that one might take between saying that America is to blame for "every evil under the sun," and claiming that she is not to blame for anything. For example, one might acknowledge that America is a nation-state, and shares with other nation-states the characteristics of being run always by fallible and often by wicked people, and that her collective hands are not clean.

One might also point out that the phrase "greatest nation in the world" is vague and in need of definition; the observation that Russia is the "greatest" nation in the world (measured by land area) points this up.

Personally, I don't care if America is or isn't the "greatest nation in the world." All I care about is whether she is as good as she is capable of being. The answer, alas, is clearly in the negative. And I would like to see something done about that.

Great post!

Very well said.

Possibly because people who live here are more or less "set-up" here. They know the language, the laws and might have America-only skills (such as knowledge of tax laws, etc...). If I could give my computer processor for one that was 0.1% better, I wouldn't because the increase in performance is too small to warrant the pain of changing processors.

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A federal judge ruled today that graphic pictures of detainee abuse at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison must be released over government claims that they could damage America's image.

Someone should tell them that bad press can be prevented by not abusing prisoners in the first place. Censorship is only needed to preserve the good reputation of those who have tortured and/or murdered already.