Lets start with a couple revised definitions:

PATRIOT, n. A dangerous tool of the powers that be. A herd member who compensates for lack of self-respect by identifying with an abstraction. An enemy of individual freedom. A fancier of the rich, arousing odor of boot leather.

PATRIOTISM, n. 1) The inability to distinguish between the government and one's 'country'; 2) A highly praiseworthy virtue characterized by the desire to dominate and kill; 3) A feeling of exultation experienced when contemplating heaps of charred 'enemy' corpses; 4) The first, last, and perennial refuge of scoundrels.

[edit on 11-3-2010 by Bahb3]

Originally posted by Bahb3
Lets start with a couple revised definitions:

PATRIOT, n. A dangerous tool of the powers that be. A herd member who compensates for lack of self-respect by identifying with an abstraction. An enemy of individual freedom. A fancier of the rich, arousing odor of boot leather.

PATRIOTISM, n. 1) The inability to distinguish between the government and one's 'country'; 2) A highly praiseworthy virtue characterized by the desire to dominate and kill; 3) A feeling of exultation experienced when contemplating heaps of charred 'enemy' corpses; 4) The first, last, and perennial refuge of scoundrels.

[edit on 11-3-2010 by Bahb3]

This is interesting. Where did you get these definitions from, though? I'm a big nerd when it comes to definitions. And I'm totally for revising these definitions; absolutely appalling! A friend of mine and myself were talking about Patriotism the other day and how it was basically just a tool utilized to incite fear in people. For example I think the second definition hits the nail on the head:

Originally posted by Bahb3
2) A highly praiseworthy virtue characterized by the desire to dominate and kill;

—Chaz Bufe, The Devil's Dictionaries ("American Heretic's Dictionary" section)

A patriot has no relation to the government, only the country.

you know what... now the USA PATRIOT ANTi-TERRORiSM ACT really makes ALOT of sense.. lol
thanks, and sorry about the capitols.
So the act that George W. Bush Signed in 2001 represented not only the definition given here, but the actual purpose of the war itself. The american government wanted to eliminate ant threat at all cost, and get the citizens riled up so that you could not even distinguish them from the government. (strictly speaking on "decision making") so i guess they were successful in 9 11 after all. it just makes me sick to know that our Dumbass Government is Greedy enough to sacrifice the lives of innocent citizens to gain more political control over the people. its actually quite foolish

Originally posted by hippomchippo
A patriot has no relation to the government, only the country.

Hippo, stay with the program.. The times have changed!

These words have been hijacked by the rightwing political movement.