A citizen of one of the united States who loves his country.
Commonly, "love your country" is incorrectly interpreted as "support your country's government regardless of what it is doing". This is also, consequently, the type of person that people mistake a patriot as.
A true patriot loves his country to the extent that he will work to change it or point out what his country's government is doing wrong.
Most patriots wish to change the government to run the way the constitution describes it should.
Commonly, "love your country" is incorrectly interpreted as "support your country's government regardless of what it is doing". This is also, consequently, the type of person that people mistake a patriot as.
A true patriot loves his country to the extent that he will work to change it or point out what his country's government is doing wrong.
Most patriots wish to change the government to run the way the constitution describes it should.
Wow, Dave is against the Patriot Act, the Real ID act, and a whole bunch of unconstitutional laws. He must be a patriot.
by DaVx0r August 25, 2005
by WhyTheFuckDoINeedAPseudonym February 5, 2012
Originally a word used to describe someone who takes pride in being a citizen of their country. Most recently used to keep down anti-war activists by accusing them of not loving their country because they don't want to send innocent men and women to their deaths for unjust cause.
After being called a non-patriot, it is very likely the person will also be called a terrorist as well. Ironically enough, so-called "terrorists" would be probably be considered patriots by their own people.
After being called a non-patriot, it is very likely the person will also be called a terrorist as well. Ironically enough, so-called "terrorists" would be probably be considered patriots by their own people.
by RobTheReef July 13, 2009
Did you hear there is a group that rules the united states and controls the government?
shhhh, they'll hear you.....
shhhh, they'll hear you.....
by oswald the ninja July 21, 2004
In theory:
Patriotism is a feeling of pride and love for one's country. Common acts of patriotism include erecting a flag of one's country in the home or yard, decorating one's car with as many flags as possible, and singing national tunes!
Criticism:
However, a deeper look into the "patriotic" mentality reveals something more complex and disturbing then the aforementioned phenomena. Why should anyone feel the need to exalt his own country over another? What is so special about his country that makes it so that he is "proud to be a (insert random nationality here)"? And what exactly is he proud of? Is patriotism being proud of one's heritage? If this is the case, then there should be no need to masquerade symbols of pride, for that is just arrogance! It is analogous to a situation where a man is very proud of his personal accomplishments. The man constantly walks around singing about his accomplishments, wearing clothing representing his accomplishments, and even writing books about his accomplishments! Is this not arrogance? Is this necessary? Rather, the man should be inwardly happy about his personal accomplishments, but should carry on with his business without boasting. Just as, in any country, a person should not become "patriotic," but should rather hold an inward respect for his country, equal to his respect for other countries. Because aren't all men created equal? And accordingly, culture, a creation of man, and religion, though somewhat more dubiously, a creation of man, are all equal. And there is no need for the exaltation of any particular nationality in any way, shape, or form.
In reality:
Patriotism is perhaps THE single most effective political tool (though arguably less than religion). This concept of patriotism, of being proud of one's country, is used to control and condition the opinions of the general masses. For just one example of many, consider this:
Sympathizing with a little Iraqi child whose entire family was killed during the US invasion is unpatriotic. And if not unpatriotic, it is at least unimportant compared to the death of a US soldier, because God knows that American lives are more important than any other life!
Politicians will use patriotism to breed resentment to other races and nationalities, and to justify certain actions that otherwise would not be tolerated. It is important to understand that patriotism is also frequently used to "bind" a person to his country, and in doing so, stifle dissent, and make it generally unacceptable. Basically patriotism is a tool to make the general populace have a single opinion that is supplementary to the actions (or future actions) of the politicans in power at the time.
Patriotism is a feeling of pride and love for one's country. Common acts of patriotism include erecting a flag of one's country in the home or yard, decorating one's car with as many flags as possible, and singing national tunes!
Criticism:
However, a deeper look into the "patriotic" mentality reveals something more complex and disturbing then the aforementioned phenomena. Why should anyone feel the need to exalt his own country over another? What is so special about his country that makes it so that he is "proud to be a (insert random nationality here)"? And what exactly is he proud of? Is patriotism being proud of one's heritage? If this is the case, then there should be no need to masquerade symbols of pride, for that is just arrogance! It is analogous to a situation where a man is very proud of his personal accomplishments. The man constantly walks around singing about his accomplishments, wearing clothing representing his accomplishments, and even writing books about his accomplishments! Is this not arrogance? Is this necessary? Rather, the man should be inwardly happy about his personal accomplishments, but should carry on with his business without boasting. Just as, in any country, a person should not become "patriotic," but should rather hold an inward respect for his country, equal to his respect for other countries. Because aren't all men created equal? And accordingly, culture, a creation of man, and religion, though somewhat more dubiously, a creation of man, are all equal. And there is no need for the exaltation of any particular nationality in any way, shape, or form.
In reality:
Patriotism is perhaps THE single most effective political tool (though arguably less than religion). This concept of patriotism, of being proud of one's country, is used to control and condition the opinions of the general masses. For just one example of many, consider this:
Sympathizing with a little Iraqi child whose entire family was killed during the US invasion is unpatriotic. And if not unpatriotic, it is at least unimportant compared to the death of a US soldier, because God knows that American lives are more important than any other life!
Politicians will use patriotism to breed resentment to other races and nationalities, and to justify certain actions that otherwise would not be tolerated. It is important to understand that patriotism is also frequently used to "bind" a person to his country, and in doing so, stifle dissent, and make it generally unacceptable. Basically patriotism is a tool to make the general populace have a single opinion that is supplementary to the actions (or future actions) of the politicans in power at the time.
by For The People August 7, 2004
The 5th most common word in the USA, with "give", "me", "another" and "burger", just beating it to the top 4 places.
by elliot September 22, 2003