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originally posted by: OpenMindedRealist
a reply to: enlightenedservant
Your enlightenment seems to be in a rut. I will get you going again:
Patriotism is not a synonym for the word charity.
originally posted by: LesMisanthrope
a reply to: Abysha
When an American says they are a "patriot", rarely does a civil rights activist come to mind for most other Americans.
And you know what goes on in the minds of "most other Americans". It's quite telling.
originally posted by: LesMisanthrope
a reply to: OpenMindedRealist
Your enlightenment seems to be in a rut. I will get you going again:
Patriotism is not a synonym for the word charity.
Not even charity, because that would actually mean giving personal wealth to the less fortunate, but governmentally forced charity, or in other words, theft of wealth and the redistribution of it according to bureaucratic choices. It's actually the death of charity.
Honestly Im pretty conservative and don’t subscribe to many progressive ideas. Do I think those people wrong? Yes. Do I think them naive? yes.
But they have a RIGHT in a FREE society to there political views and no one except for a party drone is going to have the same political views on everything.
But in your minds, an American wanting our tax dollars to help alleviate the suffering of other Americans isn't "patriotic". But armed d-bags who're preparing for a war with our country are "patriotic". And an American who wants our government to function better and treat all of its citizens fairly isn't "patriotic" to you; but Americans who constantly threaten to quit the country they claim they love is "patriotic".
originally posted by: LesMisanthrope
a reply to: Abysha
Given that the country was built on the backs of the people you are currently disparaging, it throws your "I'm a Patriot" argument out the window. That was my only point.
originally posted by: BuzzyWigs
a reply to: crazyewok
Honestly Im pretty conservative and don’t subscribe to many progressive ideas. Do I think those people wrong? Yes. Do I think them naive? yes.
But they have a RIGHT in a FREE society to there political views and no one except for a party drone is going to have the same political views on everything.
Hmmm..
I generally agree with everything you post - I consider you a fellow decent human being.....
so, would you please explain how "progressives" are (in your estimation) 'wrong'?
Same for 'naive'......
Who am I disparaging?! Show me where I did that? I said why "patriotism" carries the connotations with it that it does. If you find the current imagery of what the word means to be "disparaging", they are doing that to themselves as I made ZERO value judgement on it other than suggest how I would do it instead.
Again, you are referencing things that either do not exist or that you clearly understand but pretend not to.
originally posted by: ketsuko
a reply to: enlightenedservant
Ah, but you are making this an either/or argument. Most of us want to help our fellow man, but we disagree that government welfare programs are the best, most efficient way to do it. We think it's a waste of resources because, among other things, we are supporting a large, wasteful bureaucracy with every single one.
originally posted by: LesMisanthrope
a reply to: Abysha
Who am I disparaging?! Show me where I did that? I said why "patriotism" carries the connotations with it that it does. If you find the current imagery of what the word means to be "disparaging", they are doing that to themselves as I made ZERO value judgement on it other than suggest how I would do it instead.
Again, you are referencing things that either do not exist or that you clearly understand but pretend not to.
Fair enough. I apologize.
But when you consider the well-being of everyone, it is well-being in your opinion.
originally posted by: LesMisanthrope
a reply to: enlightenedservant
But in your minds, an American wanting our tax dollars to help alleviate the suffering of other Americans isn't "patriotic". But armed d-bags who're preparing for a war with our country are "patriotic". And an American who wants our government to function better and treat all of its citizens fairly isn't "patriotic" to you; but Americans who constantly threaten to quit the country they claim they love is "patriotic".
I never said that, nor did I imply it.
My first post in this thread states that I'm trying to improve the laws and institutions we already have here. That's been the reference point for my other posts (and apparently, the reference point for the other posts that are responding to mine).
trying to improve the laws and institutions we already have here