Questioning Patriotism
Dean
It's been interesting to see various bbloggers talking about the issue of honesty to the historical record.
I must say this is refreshing. For the longest time I was one of the few people in the blogosphere willing to openly call some people unpatriotic. I heard the "don't question my patriotism" line at least hundreds of times more often than I ever saw anyone question someone's patriotism, but I admit to doing it--and unapologetically so. I've also explained, hundreds of times, what constitutes unpatriotic dissent from patriotic dissent.
Culled from comments I've made in the past, here's a handy list you might find useful:
You might be unpatriotic if:
#1) You think publishing slanderous allegations about American troops based on nothing but hearsay is what constitutes "good journalism."
#2) You believe that news stories which show gloom and doom and pessimism and failure for our troops at war constitutes nothing but good reporting--but that stories of heroism, major accomplishment, building friendships with people in foreign lands, and victory are "touting the Administration line."
3) You refer to the "the President's war" as opposed to "our war."
#4) You think the average American voter is a stupid, unsophisticated idiot who just doesn't know what's good for him.
#5) You think Michael Moore's movie Fahrenheit 9/11 is anything other than vile fascist hate-propaganda.
#6) You find nothing offensive at all about burning an American flag.
#7) When America has an enemy that slaughters our people, your first and foremost reaction is "we must have really offended them--we should figure out why so they won't be mad at us anymore."
#8) You think American foreign policy is the primary explanation for world poverty, suffering, injustice, and terrorism. (We may offend people sometimes, and do wrong sometimes--we aren't perfect after all--but the primary explanation for these things?)
#9) You call those prosecuting the war "liars" when you simply disagree with them.
#10) You believe that any of the sentiments expressed here are "conservative," "right-wing" or "Republican."
http://www.deanesmay.com/posts/1131804246.shtml