♦ nivek ♦ Posted May 24, 2007 Share Posted May 24, 2007 Not much of a *rant*.. Just got off an argument with one of my uber-patriot friends who is of the opinion "If you are not FOR this war and STAND for GW BUSH, YER NOT A REAL AMERICAN!!!!!!" Like beating my brains on sidewalk, all that is done is put a few more scars on my hide where thinking ought to have been done.. Rep Paul says what I am oft thinking about Patriotism.. kFL ************** PatriotismLewRockwell.Com by US Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) "Madam Speaker, for some, patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel. For others, it means dissent against a government's abuse of the people's rights. I have never met a politician in Washington or any American, for that matter, who chose to be called unpatriotic. Nor have I met anyone who did not believe he wholeheartedly supported our troops, wherever they may be. What I have heard all too frequently from various individuals are sharp accusations that, because their political opponents disagree with them on the need for foreign military entanglements, they were unpatriotic, un-American evildoers deserving contempt. The original American patriots were those individuals brave enough to resist with force the oppressive power of King George. I accept the definition of patriotism as that effort to resist oppressive state power." (05/24/07) http://www.lewrockwell.com/paul/paul388.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandpa Harley Posted May 24, 2007 Share Posted May 24, 2007 Has nothing happened inthe US since 1776? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
♦ nivek ♦ Posted May 24, 2007 Author Share Posted May 24, 2007 And: Ron Paul can't say that, can he?Dallas Morning News by Rod Dreher "Rudy Giuliani [R-9/11] 'won' -- insofar as a game-show charade like that produces any winners -- the Republican presidential debate last week, thanks to Texas Rep. Ron Paul. When Paul said that prior U.S. military involvement in the Middle East was partly responsible for the Sept. 11 attacks, Giuliani's eyes blazed, smoke curled from his nostrils, and he briefly cut loose on the libertarian gadfly for supposedly blaming America for the attacks. ... In the heat of the moment, this former New Yorker wanted Mayor Giuliani to stalk across the stage and slap Paul silly. But on reflection, I grudgingly concede that Paul did us all a favor. He had the guts to suggest before a hostile audience that America needs to think harder about how projecting military power around the world in our customary manner creates blowback. As emotionally satisfying as Giuliani's response was, indignation is not an argument, and 'How dare you!' is not a response. Paul was substantially correct and deserved better." (05/23/07) http://tinyurl.com/2n6pjh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
♦ nivek ♦ Posted May 24, 2007 Author Share Posted May 24, 2007 Why Ron Paul's answer terrifies themFuture of Freedom Foundation by Jacob G. Hornberger "In one short answer to a moderator's question in the South Carolina debate in which Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul suggested that U.S. foreign policy motivated the 9/11 terrorists, Paul produced an earthquake that is shaking the Republican establishment. The chairman of the Michigan Republican Party proposed banning Paul from future debates. Besieged by adverse public reaction, however, he quickly backed down." (05/23/07) http://www.fff.org/comment/com0705i.asp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
08 hawk Posted May 26, 2007 Share Posted May 26, 2007 Not much of a *rant*.. Just got off an argument with one of my uber-patriot friends who is of the opinion "If you are not FOR this war and STAND for GW BUSH, YER NOT A REAL AMERICAN!!!!!!" Over patriotism is disgusting. I like living here, but when I hear people chant 'God bless America', 'If you don't like it here, you can get out!', and 'We're better than anyone else!', I feel like barfing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Japedo Posted May 26, 2007 Share Posted May 26, 2007 Not much of a *rant*.. Just got off an argument with one of my uber-patriot friends who is of the opinion "If you are not FOR this war and STAND for GW BUSH, YER NOT A REAL AMERICAN!!!!!!" Over patriotism is disgusting. I like living here, but when I hear people chant 'God bless America', 'If you don't like it here, you can get out!', and 'We're better than anyone else!', I feel like barfing. Agree, It's mob mentality at its best. These closed minded people are the furthest thing from "Liberty" that exists. I detest it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandpa Harley Posted May 26, 2007 Share Posted May 26, 2007 Not much of a *rant*.. Just got off an argument with one of my uber-patriot friends who is of the opinion "If you are not FOR this war and STAND for GW BUSH, YER NOT A REAL AMERICAN!!!!!!" Over patriotism is disgusting. I like living here, but when I hear people chant 'God bless America', 'If you don't like it here, you can get out!', and 'We're better than anyone else!', I feel like barfing. Agree, It's mob mentality at its best. These closed minded people are the furthest thing from "Liberty" that exists. I detest it. Lady Liberty, rather like Lady Justice, has a taste for old money and a man in uniform... All too frequently 'Patriotism' is just another method of crowd control as a solid back up to Religion. And generally 'Patriotism' is of the same continuum the 'Nationalist' and we all know where that conga line can lead Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Japedo Posted May 26, 2007 Share Posted May 26, 2007 Lady Liberty, rather like Lady Justice, has a taste for old money and a man in uniform... All too frequently 'Patriotism' is just another method of crowd control as a solid back up to Religion. And generally 'Patriotism' is of the same continuum the 'Nationalist' and we all know where that conga line can lead Don't disagree at all GH. Quite awhile (Year?) ago I posted a thread, signs your country is leaning fascist or a name close to that. Sadly the US wasn't to far off. Wow it's been awhile since I posted it, 2005. Here's the link in anycase, It still applies today. Link here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cracked Posted May 27, 2007 Share Posted May 27, 2007 Here is another link that got my goat about this country. http://www.ex-christian.net/index.php?show...=12438&st=0 I haven't looked at this country the same since I read it. I guess I was in the dark for a long time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Posted May 27, 2007 Share Posted May 27, 2007 Patriotism is your conviction that this country is superior to all other countries because you were born in it. - George Bernard Shaw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cracked Posted May 27, 2007 Share Posted May 27, 2007 Patriotism is your conviction that this country is superior to all other countries because you were born in it. - George Bernard Shaw I don't understand. Is this your opinion that the USA is superior to everyone else? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandpa Harley Posted May 27, 2007 Share Posted May 27, 2007 No, it was George Bernard Shaw's opinion on the reason that Patriotism is simply applying cosmic significance, and thus inherent superiority, to an accident of birth... effectively, to quote Orwell, a man always like the smell of his own farts, and to add my own rider, but it doesn't make them either significant or sweet smelling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Posted May 28, 2007 Share Posted May 28, 2007 Patriotism is your conviction that this country is superior to all other countries because you were born in it. - George Bernard Shaw I don't understand. Is this your opinion that the USA is superior to everyone else? No - it just means that patriotism isn't the result of rational examination. Folks just assume what they have is the best because it's all they know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cracked Posted May 28, 2007 Share Posted May 28, 2007 Patriotism is your conviction that this country is superior to all other countries because you were born in it. - George Bernard Shaw I don't understand. Is this your opinion that the USA is superior to everyone else? No - it just means that patriotism isn't the result of rational examination. Folks just assume what they have is the best because it's all they know. Agreed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HuaiDan Posted May 28, 2007 Share Posted May 28, 2007 Here is another link that got my goat about this country. http://www.ex-christian.net/index.php?show...=12438&st=0 I haven't looked at this country the same since I read it. I guess I was in the dark for a long time Yes, Bruce truly did a magnificent job in this editorial. I would say it should be required reading for everybody of voting age in the US and Britain. I'd have posted it here, but they're Bruce's words, not mine. Check it out, it sums up just about everything on the topic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarthOkkata Posted May 28, 2007 Share Posted May 28, 2007 Ron Paul Rules. There's another thread on him in News with links to some video and text on some of what he's said. http://www.ex-christian.net/index.php?showtopic=16872 He's awesome. I'm pretty sure he's got my vote in '08, even if he is Republican. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandpa Harley Posted May 28, 2007 Share Posted May 28, 2007 I keep reading this as Ru-Paul... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandpa Harley Posted May 28, 2007 Share Posted May 28, 2007 Patriotism is your conviction that this country is superior to all other countries because you were born in it. - George Bernard Shaw I don't understand. Is this your opinion that the USA is superior to everyone else? No - it just means that patriotism isn't the result of rational examination. Folks just assume what they have is the best because it's all they know. I thought I said that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valgeir Posted May 29, 2007 Share Posted May 29, 2007 Patriotism is foolishly misplaced passion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yaoi Huntress Earth Posted May 29, 2007 Share Posted May 29, 2007 When I think about stuff like this, I can't help, but to think of a manga called Barefoot Gen. Even though it focuses on the hyper-patriotism of Japan shortly before the bomb hit Hiroshima, there are some fairly disturbing similarities between it and what is going on today such as how the patriots exaltation of Hirohito lead many to literally die (and take their children with them) for the guy and compare that to the neo-cons and fundies exaltation of President Bush (anyone remember the infamous scene in Jesus Camp where the speaker blessed a cardboard cut-out of Bush and asked the kids to prey for another "Christian" president like him to come into office). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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