Conservatives feel personally blessed to have been born in the only country worth living in. I, on the other hand, just feel lucky to have grown up in a wealthy democracy. If it had been Australia, Britain, Ireland, Canada, Italy, Spain, France, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Japan, Israel or one of those Scandinavian countries with more relaxed attitudes toward sex, that would have been fine with me too…
I still think conservatives love America for the same tribalistic reasons people love whatever groups they belong to. These are the people who are sure Christianity is the only right religion, that America is the best country, that the Republicans have the only good candidates, that gays have cooties.
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This article is reminiscent of a famous (and nasty) quote by H.L. Mencken:-
“We must respect the other fellow’s religion, but only in the same sense and to the same extent that we respect his theory that his wife is beautiful and his children smart.”
aengus on December 26, 2008 at 9:18 AM
yeah, well, we’ll see how much conservative “love” their country after a few years of the communist/crook Obama being in office.
Tom_Shipley on December 26, 2008 at 9:20 AM
Stein is a bleep. He gins up these polemical missives once or twice a year to win the hearts of the Kos Kidz to cement himself as the LAT’s “controversial writer” and to tickle the heartstrings of the MSNBC crew and Bill Maher. You’ll remember, this is the jackass who wrote the “I don’t love the Troops.”
So, it’s a business decision from a coward.
AYNBLAND on December 26, 2008 at 9:26 AM
Sean Hannity and Glenn Beck hold the same propositional idea of patriotism that Joel Stein does and it falls just as flat.
aengus on December 26, 2008 at 9:26 AM
Uh-oh. Joel Stein’s about to get reamed a new one by Emperor Misha. I hope.
Tuning Spork on December 26, 2008 at 9:28 AM
If Stein doesn’t love his country as much as I do, then it’s HIS loss, not mine.
Kindly pardon me if I don’t care a whit.
irongrampa on December 26, 2008 at 9:28 AM
Don’t worry, after 1-2 years of Obama, there will be no America left to love…or hate.
angryed on December 26, 2008 at 9:30 AM
To quote Stephen Decatur, “My country…may she always be right, but right or wrong–My Country!”
As for Joel Stein–he’s always welcome to buy a one way ticket to one of the EU countries or Australia or wherever else he chooses–and good riddance to bad rubbish.
Matt Helm on December 26, 2008 at 9:31 AM
He claims “conservatives aren’t leaving the country” as a result of Obama’s election. That may be so; but libertarians are. I know of at least three people who have already fled, or are fleeing, two to Costa Rica.
In fact, my wife and I are seriously thinking of moving to China to wait out the Obama years, until Republicans come back. We may stick it out til the 2010 elections, to see what happens there. But if things get too bad, too quick here, we’re gone.
Remember the smartest Jews got out of Nazi Germany when Hitler took over in 1933/34. We may be looking at the beginnings of the exact same situation here.
You’d be smart to make some plans at least…
ericdondero on December 26, 2008 at 9:45 AM
The America I love would not have elected a Socialist as its President. Would not have elected a foul-mouthed, borderline insane washed-up comedian Senator. Would not have imposed massive taxes on the next generation to bail out failed businesses and labor unions. I.e., the America I love is a memory.
So, the premise of Stein’s article is pretty much gone, at least with people who think the same as I do.
I’ll be he will fall madly in love with America on, say, January 20. I’ll bet he will be more than glad to question the patriotism of anyone who feels differently.
Remember, Joel: Dissent is the highest form of patriotism.
__________
RJGatorEsq. on December 26, 2008 at 9:57 AM
I don’t think it is some tribal thing as this schlep says…
I think it has more to do with the fact I can say what I want (for now), do what I want (for now), while all those other “democracies” mentioned in this schelp’s article are curtailing free speech, free markets, and freedom in general.
I think it has something to do with all the good America has done in the world, all the people that have succeeded, etc etc.
blatantblue on December 26, 2008 at 10:02 AM
heh…
JetBoy on December 26, 2008 at 10:12 AM
There is much truth in the exaggerations of this douche bag but he is still a douche bag.
Lonetown on December 26, 2008 at 10:12 AM
Spot on. I love the America that ended Monarchy, fascism, stemmed the tide of communism for a bit, nurtured the middle class and gave freedom to the average man. The America that changed the world and allowed people to live like no other civilization in history. The America that gave the average man rights for the first time, individual rights, property rights, the rule of law not Kings. People like Stein are incapable of understanding that if it weren’t for America, parasitic states like Sweden wouldn’t be able to prop up their crumbling socialist/feudalist economies so he could drool over them. Of course, with the economic collapse it will be quite evident that socialism can only work if it’s sucking off the back of a rich semi capitalist country. If America turns into Europe then I would be happy to leave and go to some place that would give me the opportunity that my grandparents got when they moved here, because if you take away the very thing that makes America America, then this place would be America in name only.
Ann NY on December 26, 2008 at 10:14 AM
We don’t want him, thank you.
OldEnglish on December 26, 2008 at 10:18 AM
He said it quite well.
AbaddonsReign on December 26, 2008 at 10:23 AM
I love America for what it once was and has the potential to become again if Americans will only grow some common sense and a pair of nads.
Privatestock on December 26, 2008 at 10:35 AM
ericdondero,
I’m thinking of leaving too. I know others who are as well with Costa Rica being an option. I never understand why there is this notion out there that conservatives won’t ever leave. Plenty will.
I don’t want to leave, but I’m not one of these people who foolishly believe that I can change things. I am at the mercy of what Obama wants. If he wants fascism, we will have fascism. Who will stop him, John “Obama is a wonderful man” McCain? Harry Reid? Nancy Pelosi? Mel Martinez? Who will question his motives? Kathleen Parker? The NY Times? CNN? Katie Couric? Matt Lauer? Yeah right.
There is no pposition right now. Obama is for all intents and purposes a dictator with absolute control of government, military and media. What substantive difference is there between the power Obama has and the power Hitler had? I’m not saying Obama is about to start building concentration camps. I’m saying that if he wanted to, there would be nothing and nobody to stop him from doing so.
So many people believe a Nazi Germany type of situation can never happen in the US. Why? Most people didn’t think Nazi Germany could happen in Germany either. There is always a first for everything.
angryed on December 26, 2008 at 10:37 AM
I disagree. In this article Stein defines patriotism in solely political terms–as if America were an ideological state.
He does this by ridiculing traditional notions of patriotism, outdated concepts like love of the land (”birthplace convenience”) and the actual historic culture and makeup of the country (”tribalistic reasons”).
Once you accept the liberal premises of Stein’s argument that you love your country solely because of its political character then the only difference between you and him is that you merely prefer America at the moment whereas he prefers Sweden or wherever. Next thing you know you’re leaving the country like ericdondero.
Thats why I think he sort of tricked Glenn Beck. I mean what sort of person when asked why the love their country starts talking about the 1930s, progressivism etc.? What a weird and creepy response to a question asked in bad faith.
aengus on December 26, 2008 at 10:37 AM
I’m with you, irongrampa.
I love America more than chocolate.
Meryl Yourish on December 26, 2008 at 10:39 AM
So Stein’s measuring stick for how “great” a country is… how easy is it for him to get sex. (Must be an Omega male…)
And not, say, how easy it is for him to write his diatribes… which is just some silly thing conservatives find “great”.
Doofus.
Skywise on December 26, 2008 at 10:41 AM
I don’t love America. That sounds awful, doesn’t it? I love the Declaration of Independence. I love the Articles of Confederation, and the Federalist Papers. I get a tingle up my leg when I read the Constitution, or the writings of Thomas Jefferson, or the Gettysburg Address. I get a little misty when I hear JFK say we will pay any price, bear any burden, in defense of Liberty.
These ideas happen to have been birthed in America. These are not benign followings into Democracy that we see from Europe, when the aristocracy decided that Democracy would be the opiate of the masses. I don’t know why it happened in the land of my birth, but I consider myself infinitely fortunate that it did…Oh, Hell, I do love America, because the ideas and ideals that founded it are the best, strongest, and most dangerous on the Earth.
Spc Steve on December 26, 2008 at 10:46 AM
There’s a reason liberals barely ever straight out say what they believe.
frankj on December 26, 2008 at 10:46 AM
Stein is your standard issue left wing moron. I only listen to them to find out what kind of vapid morally and ethically bankrupt nonsense these “intelectually superior beings” of the left want to try to jam down the throats of us lesser animals. You have to know your enemy to defeat him.
johnsteele on December 26, 2008 at 10:47 AM
This isn’t just an article.
This stuff is being TAUGHT in classrooms all across this country.
Thousands of classrooms.
artist on December 26, 2008 at 10:51 AM
Joel Stein apparently didn’t have to fight for his country, has never put it all on the line for something he believes in. Like his employer, he is bankrupt, a silly, left-leaning whiner who uses his byline to give him cred among the wealthy “liberals” who make up the last of the LAT’s readers.
Since the first small pockets of communism were formed in the USA — a namby-pamby, intellectually driven version of the force that swept Russia — it has been fashionable for leftards to proclaim a shortage of patriotism as if it were a good thing. Stein, who must have been a “red-diaper baby,” isn’t saying anything a bunch of starry eyed fools looking to Marx for redemption weren’t saying in the 1930s.
Stein, and others like him, are the Pvt. Eddie Slovicks of our times. You can count on them when times are good, but they’ll be AWOL in a crisis.
At least when the LAT goes under, Stein will be history.
MrScribbler on December 26, 2008 at 10:51 AM
Putting aside the content of his opinion, which may or may not have merit, he’s just not a very good writer. Does anyone believe that he’s a great enough thinker, that the power of Stein’s ideas overcome his pedestrian language skills?
Jaibones on December 26, 2008 at 10:57 AM
The comment about marriage at the end is unintentioally spot on. Love is believing in your loved one, and when that belief ends, it is time to leave. Stein loves America the way some angry people love their spouse – splendidly when they bring gifts, but the majority of the time as nagging scolds who live only to point out their flaws.
This also relates to my reaction to Obama’s now-forgotten refusal to wear a small flag pin… he condescendingly explained how it was a trivial gesture. Exactly. Like bringing your wife flowers. A trivial gesture of love that is completely unnecessary for any practical purpose, except to make someone else happy by showing them how much you love them. In that sense, Obama does not love his country much either, which is exactly why so many liberals adore him.
drunyan8315 on December 26, 2008 at 10:59 AM
Just as a for instance – is there a single commenter out there today – whatever your level of agreement with his political viewpoints – who would rather read Joel Stein than Allahpundit?
I would sooner read Allah give directions from Queens to the Newark airport, than to read Stein expound on the origins of the universe.
Jaibones on December 26, 2008 at 10:59 AM
Back on-topic:
Bing. This is one of the three or four main themes of 15 years of the Rush Limbaugh show. frankj – you missed out on a couple hundred million dollars.
Jaibones on December 26, 2008 at 11:01 AM
Liberals are incapable of loving their country in anyway at all. They hate the very idea of love of country. They only have lose of self as there is nothing greater to their empty minds.
Not long ago I wrote a piece titled “Liberals don’t know what patriotism means.” Alan Colmes was not happy with it as he tried to slam me on his liberaland blog. http://tinyurl.com/55gxev
Warner Todd Huston on December 26, 2008 at 11:05 AM
Disagreed, ed. Keep an eye on what Obama has been doing so far. Sure he’s padding the walls for his own future insanity, but he’s picked some people for administration positions that Bush might have picked himself.
You like Abraham Lincoln, don’t you? Obama is trying to tell you that he is Lincoln, not Carter. What’s not to like about that?
Sometimes when liberals get in office, they want to stay there, so they try to mimick Republicans. Yes, he’ll be appointing the worst Federal and SCOTUS judges you ever dreamed possible, but that will be to replace the radical leftists who are going to either resign or die during his first term. No net loss, other than in decades.
Don’t worry – the think I love about America most is that you can’t ruin it. I don’t think.
Jaibones on December 26, 2008 at 11:07 AM
Has he ever been to these countries? I haven’t been to all the countries on this list but I’ve been to some on business, and there is no way I would want to live in any of them. Nice enough places to vacation, I suppose. But live there? No way. I have also had people from many of these countries come and work with us for extended periods, and their reactions were all pretty much the same. They were all amazed at how plentiful goods were, and how low the prices were. These are people from places like Great Britain, Germany, France, the Netherlands, and Japan. When I was in Europe on business I understood why the truly poor countries are “Third World” countries. The U.S. is a “First World” country, and pretty much all of Europe is made up of “Second World” countries.
Buford on December 26, 2008 at 11:17 AM
“our religious fundamentalism”
I’m so tired of this crap. A majority of Americans believe in a god of some kind. But if we use that belief to try to live our lives to a higher standard, suddenly it’s a problem. When an Obama believes in god, he’s expressing his beliefs as guaranteed by the First Amendment. When a George Bush believes in god, we’re just a short step from becoming a theocracy. Yet liberals deny the existence of real fundamentalists who wish us all converted or slaughtered. It’s just their way of bringing attention to their ‘legitimate historical grievances’ – nothing to do with their religious beliefs.
Idiot libs think American Christians are actively trying to bring about Armageddon. But when Ahmadamnnutjob expresses this desire in nearly every speech, libs stumble over themselves trying to rationalize it as just being his flair for the dramatic.
JimRich on December 26, 2008 at 11:23 AM
This fool/sucker still thinks he is one with the lefties, yet he included Israel on the list
JS – clue – your buddies do not like Israel, they look at it like a cancer that must be excised, to the extent they can excise themselves from the money of well to do groupies who think Israel is still on the list of nations that must be allowed to exist
That day is coming. The influence is diminishing. As Jewish offspring rachet down their jewishness to a secular family tradition the willingness to defend Israel dims. Haven’t you noticed the absence of Hava Nagila at leftist parties? Watched any re runs of Exodus with your leftist friends lately?
Oh Vell
entagor on December 26, 2008 at 11:26 AM
I’m no Obama fan…but I find it impossible to believe that one man in the Oval Office will have the capability to destroy the greatest nation on Earth. America is far greater than what one man can possible do to it.
We survived liberal Presidents before, we’ll do it again.
JetBoy on December 26, 2008 at 11:28 AM
Joel Stein clearly has no clue what true love is.
Grafted on December 26, 2008 at 11:30 AM
My Country, right or wrong.
KSgop on December 26, 2008 at 11:30 AM
I agree with Spc Steve. It’s the ideas that shaped our unique country and allowed it to flourish that we love.
Maybe Joel should read the book by gay man who, disgusted by America, went to live in the Netherlands and discovered that America really is the greatest place to live. Can’t remember the name of the author…
PattyJ on December 26, 2008 at 11:30 AM
That’s the difference between you and me. I will stay and fight for what’s right rather than run and hide and hope somebody will “fix it” for me. If and when the crap hits the fan I will take great pleasure in righting some wrongs and will be equally happy to take down the scum that brought us to this point in history.
If we ever do have another Revolution or whatever, I’ll be on the front lines taking America back. Not hiding in communist China for God’s sake. Shame on you and any and all “conservatives” that think like you do.
Guardian on December 26, 2008 at 11:31 AM
I hope you are right, but the maw of history has a habit of gorging itself on sleeping citizenry.
A lot of snoring going on lately…
hillbillyjim on December 26, 2008 at 11:37 AM
Couple of things…
First of all, these are the same group of people who get pissed off when you repeat back to them what they said. “How dare you take me at my word?!”
Particularly in the US, that’s what we have to go on. If Stein feels that way, he’s one of the first libs I’m aware of to publicly say it. Which also means that when it comes to what is best for the country, we can probably discount his opinion.
Pursuant to leaving- the furor has been whipped up over some Kristallnacht-type cleansing of conservatism from the country. There are a lot of folks in this country who take seriously the notion of defending the country and Constitution from all enemies, foreign and domestic. I would not leave because of political inconvenience, and would cheerfully take up arms to defend it.
I will not cast aspersions on others- I will simply offer them the alternative to leaving. Is America your home or just a political convenience?
To my way of thinking, there is a right and a wrong answer to that question.
tmi3rd
tmi3rd on December 26, 2008 at 11:38 AM
There’s one thing you have to remember about Stein, the childish ranting idiot he is, he’s desperate for attention. As the bio section on his own website starts out:
At least he’s honest in what I’d wager most liberals feel about America. They dislike the place and could take it or leave it compared to any number of other European countries.
TheBlueSite on December 26, 2008 at 11:43 AM
Here is your mistake: you have missed the fact that the America we have now is the America most Americans want.
We are not where we are by accident: this is what the voters asked for. There is nothing for you to take back. The electorate is moving in the other direction.
I am sorry to say, but we–the ones who believe in personal autonomy, personal responsibility, liberty, national strength, and the role of religious faith–we are the odd ones in this country now.
__________
RJGatorEsq. on December 26, 2008 at 11:44 AM
Bruce Bawer. Except he never said he was disgusted by America. He now lives in Norway.
aengus on December 26, 2008 at 11:45 AM
Stein haiku.
self-loathing liberal
spits on freedom while free
small and sad person
Urban Infidel on December 26, 2008 at 11:51 AM
All I see, reading the verbal excretions of people like Stein is a nose, pressed against a window, looking in. And a total lack of understanding . Pity the fool, to paraphrase–It seems the intellectual capacity is lacking here.
Perhaps he should stand quietly in the corner, and let the adults go about administering the place.
irongrampa on December 26, 2008 at 11:56 AM
That’s all well and good; he can love or not love anyone or anything he chooses. Can he not see that being in charge of a child you don’t love is probably not the best situation for the child?
Ronnie on December 26, 2008 at 12:00 PM
We are not where we are by accident: this is what the voters asked for. There is nothing for you to take back. The electorate is moving in the other direction.
Guardian on December 26, 2008 at 12:01 PM
I don’t care what he is saying. I care about what he has done. And what he has done is have a voting record that is to the left of everyone else in the Senate. He is to the left of Kennedy. To left of Clinton. To the left of Harry Reid. He is to the left of Bernie Sanders for crying out loud. While in the IL house he voted (didn’t say he’s in favor but voted for) the ban of all guns in the state.
We survived Jimmy Carter. Yes. But Jimmy Carter was a bad president with bad policy. He thought his ideas were good. They weren’t. However, he never intended to destroy the country on purpose.
Obama is not Carter. Obama is out to fundamentally chance the country in his own image. Fairness doctrine, card check, decimation of the military, gay marriage, abortion on demand, confiscation of guns, forced volunteering (how quickly you all forget about this little gift from Obama).
And remember it’s not one man. He has a Dem Congres. He owns the MSM which will never question him. He has teacher unions who will indoctrinate the young. He has the UAW which will implement their thug operations nationwide and deal with any dissent swiftly. He has 90% of college professors who will indoctrinate the 18-22 year olds. He has the NAACP which like the UAW will provide muscle. He has the ACLU which will fight for him on the legal front. He has the Black Panthers.
He has a virtual kool-aid drinking army of millions leftists that are ready and willing to execute his plan.
And who do we have on the other side to stop him? John McCain and Mel Martinez.
Good luck with that.
angryed on December 26, 2008 at 12:06 PM
Not wanting to get into a spitting contest with you, but, I disagree. When you think about the other players on the stage; Pelosi, Reid, Schummer, Dodd, Frank, Clintons, etc., I think he has a big enough supporting cast to do anything he wants to.
cjs1943 on December 26, 2008 at 12:06 PM
You misunderstand.
What proves America is not America anymore is that nobody much cares. We all know about the dead voters, the Acorn voters, the fraud, etc. And there is no outrage. People are way more interested in Obama’s pecs than they are in massive, Dem-sanctioned Acorn vote fraud.
Most Americans WANT this bailout. They WANT government to take care of them. They WANT hardworking, wealth-generating people punished. They WANT people of faith ostracized. Where have you been lately?
Happy Hopey Changemas.
__________
RJGatorEsq. on December 26, 2008 at 12:12 PM
Bull. You’re far too cynical about Americans, and your cynicism is misplaced. Most Americans did not want a bailout.
MadisonConservative on December 26, 2008 at 12:16 PM
That’s an old poll. The last one also done by CNN about a week ago showed 63% in favor of the bailout.
angryed on December 26, 2008 at 12:20 PM
As bad as things are in the USA, THIS American wants to come home ASAP. Hey Mr.Stein, come to Europe for awhile then write about love of the red white and blue.
Can’t wait till school is done and I am home watching NASCAR!
pabo on December 26, 2008 at 12:21 PM
A couple of weeks ago, on Hot Air, Ed posted an article that showed 56% of the
victimspeople polled agreed with the bailout.But you know what? Even if the majority did not want a bailout, so what? The vast majority of people don’t care. They simply want the problem to be somebody else’s problem.
There is no accountability. If there were accountability, Barney Frank would have gotten $0.35 worth of lead between the running lights. Instead, he was re-elected.
America is not our country anymore. It is now a budding socialist state. It is not an aggressive capitalist democracy. You can build a blanket fort and tell yourself it is a real fort. That doesn’t make it so.
__________
RJGatorEsq. on December 26, 2008 at 12:28 PM
Are you saying Obama IS intent on destroying America…on purpose?
Even if every single member of the House and Senate were Obama Democrats (what a thought, huh?) they and Obama couldn’t do “anything he wants to”. There’s a little roadblock called the US Constitution in his and their way.
The US has survived every president for over 200 years. We survived through multiple wars, including a civil war, and various economic crisis’ that make today’s crisis seem insignificant. We’ll survive Obama just fine. Damaged perhaps, but still here, and still the greatest the world will have.
JetBoy on December 26, 2008 at 12:28 PM
Do not conflate love of one’s country with love of one’s government. I’m more libertarian than anything else, but I love my country. And it is not because Reagan was president nor will I hate it because Dear Leader will be president. I love it because of the peaceful, orderly transition between governments. I love it because of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights which acknowledges certain of our rights and is not the source of those rights. I love the people and the land. Are we perfect? No. For example, has there been racism in this great country? Yes. But we have also acknowleded it and tried to rectify it and although at times difficult, we have welcomed new citizens from every corner of the globe, every “race,” ethnicity, and religion. Moreso than any other place in the world, considering how many we accept in. (France may have loved Josephine Baker, but look at how accepting the French are of Arabs today).
Every time the far Left demonstrates about how this is a fascist state, and nothing happens to them, it belies their argument. And is a further reason I love this country. And at the end of the day I love the Second Amendment and this line from the Delcaration of Independence:
“That whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it. . .”
Goverment is our servant, not our master. That is what makes the United States of America different. And best.
rbj on December 26, 2008 at 12:30 PM
Stein is an arrogant douche, but he actually touches on some of the fundamental differences between conservatives and liberals in this country.
Most conservatives believe that through a combination of faith and rugged individualism, each of us can become exceptional, and the aggregate of that individual exceptionalism is a national exceptionalism that we are rightly proud of.
Liberals do not generally believe that America is or should be exceptional, but rather just another country in an international sea of mankind. Thus, contrary to Stein’s suggestion that the left finds it unfortunate but necessary to point out our national flaws, they in fact revel in it; indeed, they need our flaws to outweigh our good deeds in order to validate their cynical belief system. So, instead of truly constructive criticism, they instead rejoice in our failures — they dip their balls in it as Ace might say — and do everything they can to attack the underpinnings of conservatism and national exceptionalism.
In particular, they attack our faith by substituting secular humanism whenever possible, and by using liberal judges to decree newly discovered constitutional rights intended to protect them from feigned offense. Our sense of rugged individualism is attacked by dogmatic screeds about fairness and equality, and socialistic distribution schemes that emphasize universal mediocrity rather than advancement and wealth obtained by merit.
Blacksheep on December 26, 2008 at 12:37 PM
Sure, Joel, but the more important point is that you don’t reason as well as conservatives do.
corona on December 26, 2008 at 12:51 PM
You’re kidding right? You know the USSR had a constitution that among other things guaranteed free elections.
I ask again, who is going to stop Obama if he says screw the constitution, I’m not holding elections in 2012. Who will stop him? John McCain? Mel Martinez? And who in the MSM will question the move? CNN? NY Times? Newsweek? Chris Matthews? Slate? They would all cheer with approval as the first ever African-American dictator and the 55% of Americans would too.
angryed on December 26, 2008 at 12:54 PM
Ignore the Paulnuts. That’s why they are really talking about leaving. They are pissed that Americans didn’t vote for a guy who courts Truthers.
DethMetalCookieMonst on December 26, 2008 at 1:07 PM
I was born in England and emigrated to the US in 1974 (at the age of 7). I am now a citizen and I vote and I love this country! I tear up every time I hear Lee Greenwood’s song “Proud to be an American”. I sing it at the top of my lungs (if I am alone). The best gift my Father ever gave me was picking up my 7 yr old self and heading west for a better life. Everytime I read an article about the increasing Islamification of England, I call my Dad up and thank him again! God Bless the USA!
HawaiiLwyr on December 26, 2008 at 1:22 PM
Exactly. They do not want to love America, because people who love America are disgusting to them, and they see themselves as their natural superiors.
And as for whether Americans really want what Obama is pushing, I have to ask… how can we tell anything about what Americans want or think – read the newspaper? We have been thoroughly propagandized by an elite that controls “professional” news reporting and commentary, and is now hell bent on controlling the citizen reporters and commentators. The internet arrived in the nick of time for us, and at just the worst time for them.
drunyan8315 on December 26, 2008 at 1:22 PM
I look at a little thing I like to call “election results.”
__________
RJGatorEsq. on December 26, 2008 at 1:28 PM
As a progressive I take issue with this statement. For myself, and I think alot of progressive people out there the better sentence is “I don’t love America the same way conservatives do.” Now you may accuse me of Clintonian parsing, but here’s the distinction.
There are few people in my life, outside of my family, I truly love. My boyfriend and a circle of close friends. And if any of those people were doing something truly self destructive or damaging I would call them out. If my sister started smoking crack, there’d be an intervention. I’ve ended friendships because a friend was marrying someone so very wrong for them (and abusive) only to have the friendship return when they came to their senses and divorced. It’s your DUTY as a loved one to call out the person you love when they’ve taken a wrong turn, because no one else cares enough to do it.
That’s how I view my relationship with America be it the government, our culture or our history. There is nothing oppositional about saying, “I love you…and that’s really f*cked up, get your act together.” Conservatives on the other hand, and this is where I agree with Stein are more interested in being blindly loyal to America, which isn’t the same, in my eyes as being love. You don’t explain away a loved ones drug use because you care for them or don’t want to hurt their feelings. And you shouldn’t try and explain away the occasionally screwed up things our country does or has done to its own citizens and to folks in the rest of the world. Doing so makes you loyal, but it’s “love” in the way I understand it.
DeathToMediaHacks on December 26, 2008 at 2:29 PM