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The assignment is to describe a true account of patriotism (for any nation) that has gone bad, and discuss the negative effects. But I don't think there is such a thing as a bad example of patriotism. I submit there is a difference; a dividing line between patriotism and nationalism, which obviously can be a bad thing. It's like the difference between love and obsession; one is a positive healthy expression, and the other takes it to an obsessive extreme level that can be twisted into evil. I'm interested in the opinions of others on this. Do you think patriotism is ever a bad thing?
1 posted on 11/13/2008 11:02:58 AM PST by Sisku Hanne
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To: Sisku Hanne

why


68 posted on 11/13/2008 12:32:07 PM PST by Red_Devil 232 (VietVet - USMC All Ready On The Right? All Ready On The Left? All Ready On The Firing Line!)
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To: Sisku Hanne

I can’t say if patriotism (in theory) can be bad at all. It is just a sense of loyalty and pride. But, acts of patriotism can be bad. If somebody’s acts of patriotism infringes upon another person’s rights, then that act of patriotism is obviously “bad.”


69 posted on 11/13/2008 12:36:42 PM PST by sagar
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To: Sisku Hanne

The Nazi’s were driven by envy and resentment of their neighbor’s land and wealth, not patriotism. Patriotism is bad when it’s not really patriotism but envy hijacking a respectable false front for cover. Similarly charity is bad when it is used as a false front to take wealth from others.


72 posted on 11/13/2008 12:59:38 PM PST by Reeses (Leftism is powered by the evil force of envy.)
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To: Sisku Hanne

Easy one, Benedict Arnold comes to mind. Patriot for America and then switched sides.

Is that Patriotism gone wrong?


73 posted on 11/13/2008 1:03:15 PM PST by HighlyOpinionated (Psalm 66:7b "He watches every movement of the nations. Rebels will not be able to oppose Him.")
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To: Sisku Hanne

Patriotism places a demand on a person. So a bad form of patriotism is not being able to balance it with the other demands in your life.

This begins with the question, “Do you love your country more than you love your...”

It could be many things. Is patriotism more important than religion? If your beloved spouse wanted to emigrate, would you? If your country became abhorrent and oppressive, led by evil men, would it still deserve patriotism?

Is patriotism love of a place, a people, or a philosophy? A place may have been beautiful, but is now ruined. And as they say about people, “Every one-hundred years, all new people.” And philosophy changes, as does what people think of as their freedoms and liberties.


74 posted on 11/13/2008 1:06:03 PM PST by yefragetuwrabrumuy
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To: Sisku Hanne

The obvious example were loyal Germans and Japanese.


75 posted on 11/13/2008 1:06:47 PM PST by MeanWestTexan (Michael Savage = Tokio Rose of Talk Radio = Purpose is to Demoralize the Right)
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To: Sisku Hanne
William Ayers' entire life is a true account of bad patriotism.

Pick any of his books, or the ones he wrote for Obama.

76 posted on 11/13/2008 1:08:41 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum (Public policy should never become the captive of a scientific-technological elite. -- Ike Eisenhower)
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To: Sisku Hanne

“Mumbly Joe” Biden said during the campaign that it’s patriotic to pay higher taxes.


77 posted on 11/13/2008 1:14:51 PM PST by InvisibleChurch (Grace = unmerited favor; Mercy = punishment withheld)
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To: Sisku Hanne

“Mumbly Joe” Biden said during the campaign that it’s patriotic to pay higher taxes.


78 posted on 11/13/2008 1:15:33 PM PST by InvisibleChurch (Grace = unmerited favor; Mercy = punishment withheld)
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To: Sisku Hanne

Hitler and the Germans is a great example of love of country mixed with pure messianic evil.Charismatic leaders are to be watched - closely.


79 posted on 11/13/2008 1:26:28 PM PST by GOPJ (Election Day... liberals who had spent years praising McCain all voted for Obama - Coulter)
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To: Sisku Hanne

Well, most everyone in the Democrat Party can be safely said to be prime examples of bad patriotism. Of course, their version of patriotism would be perfectly natural and laudable if they lived in Russia, China, North Korea, Sudan, Syria, etc., etc., etc.


80 posted on 11/13/2008 1:28:47 PM PST by WorkingClassFilth ($750 billion is nothing - surrender your children, wealth and gold fillings now to avoid the rush.)
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To: Sisku Hanne

I would agree with your distinction between patriotism and hyper-nationalism. I would feature that comparison in your assignment.

H


81 posted on 11/13/2008 1:29:55 PM PST by SnakeDoctor (Keep Austin Quarantined ...)
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To: Sisku Hanne

G.K. Chesterton said, “’My country, right or wrong,’ is a thing that no patriot would think of saying. It is like saying, ‘My mother, drunk or sober.’”


82 posted on 11/13/2008 1:33:29 PM PST by oblomov
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To: Sisku Hanne

When increases in our already confiscatory tax rates are couched by unscrupulous politicians as “patriotic”.


83 posted on 11/13/2008 1:37:21 PM PST by skeeter (Its Barry's fault)
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To: Sisku Hanne

A good bad example would be DemonRats peeing on the country and claiming it’s patriotism. It is obvious that by the very nature of the assignment that the instructor has no ethics.


84 posted on 11/13/2008 1:38:40 PM PST by CyberSpartacus
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To: Sisku Hanne

Nazi Germany. Imperial Japan.


85 posted on 11/13/2008 1:42:40 PM PST by PzLdr ("The Emperor is not as forgiving as I am" - Darth Vader)
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To: Sisku Hanne

I don’t know if German patriotism in the late 1930’s and early 1940’s, or Soviet patriotism from 1917 through 1992 was such a good thing.

I can’t speak for anyone else, but I love America, because it is eminently lovable. IOW, there are very good reasons for being patriotic in America, they are real, and they are irrational, and anyone who is anti-patriotic in America is irrational, or misinformed.


86 posted on 11/13/2008 1:54:18 PM PST by Daveinyork
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To: Sisku Hanne

Think Nazi Germany as patriotism gone bad.


87 posted on 11/13/2008 1:55:47 PM PST by technically right
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To: Sisku Hanne

Two classic examples of “patriotism gone wrong”: Imperial Japan, Germany .....of the 1930’s-mid 1940’s. In each case, whole populations were whipped into a frenzy of bloodlust by pseudo-patriotic propaganda perpetrated by governments with horrific agendas. Delve into those for your paper.


88 posted on 11/13/2008 2:02:49 PM PST by RightOnline
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To: Sisku Hanne
Are you approaching this essay from solely an American perspective?
Can patriotism be wrong or bad? Yes, the former USSR is an excellent example of wielding patriotism for nefarious purposes, as are China, Iran, North Korea and like nations.

History, since the time nations were formed, is replete with malevolent acts done behind the guise of patriotism.

89 posted on 11/13/2008 2:04:57 PM PST by jla (Sarah - True heir of Reagan conservatism)
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