this post was submitted on 07 Jul 2024
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[–] [email protected] 46 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (3 children)

Since that quote in 1875, "patriotism" has wandered over to the other side of the line, inbred with superstition, ambition, and ignorance, and turned into nationalism.

That just leaves intelligence, by its lonesome, on the other side.

[–] [email protected] 46 points 1 month ago (1 children)

That’s not patriotism. Being patriotic is like being honest; if someone has to stress how honest they are, they’re not.

[–] [email protected] 28 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (3 children)

Put another way: patriotism is shown through actions, not through words.

[–] Ashyr 14 points 1 month ago

I show my patriotism by voting and ensuring the rights and autonomy of others is protected. That's theoretically why nations exist. I can be proud of mine when it fulfills that promise.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 month ago

Or flags. Especially with blue lines.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 month ago

Patriotism is loving your country by loving its foundation. It's people. Loving your neighbor. Loving your brothers and sisters. I feel no love from the GOP.

[–] [email protected] 30 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Grant isn't referring to "ruh ruh 'Murica" as patriotism, he's talking about appreciation of what we have. Different political alignments just appreciate different things; the left, liberty, and the right, supremacy of rich, white males.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 month ago (5 children)

Yeah, I get that. But in 2024, when you hear the word "patriot" who do you think of?

[–] [email protected] 46 points 1 month ago (2 children)

We should not allow terms like this to be coopted. It's a pretty standard tactic: dilute the language of your opposition so it becomes harder for them to communicate effectively with an audience. Trying to constantly change your position's vocabulary is a losing strategy as the intended audience can't keep up. Instead, we must take back the words that are important and, for example, clearly state that it is the oppressor who is unpatriotic.

A flag doesn't make you a patriot. Loving guns and blind faith to Constitution doesn't make you a patriot. It is care for your fellow American, defending the weak and disenfranchised, and protecting the ideals of self-determination and opportunity that make someone a true patriot

[–] [email protected] 18 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I really appreciate this take. In the pursuit of better language, some groups also hamper their own ability to communicate - not a slam against the attempt, but between that and the other side diluting the group's words, it's an uphill fight

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 month ago (1 children)

not a slam against the attempt, but between that and the other side diluting the group's words, it's an uphill fight

And they are absolutely doing it on purpose. Stripping meaning from words benefits them, because their side doesn't care about truth, or facts, or policies. As long as they can make the Other suffer, their base will scream whatever the word of the day is, and every time they steal a word, it makes matching their organization a little bit harder

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago

Stripping meaning from words benefits them, because their side doesn’t care about truth, or facts, or policies.

"Insurrection" and "impeachment" have both been getting this treatment lately.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 month ago

Just like National Socialist party wasn’t socialist, or the Democratic People’s Replubic of Korea isn’ta democracy, the patriotic republicans aren’t patriotic

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 month ago

So, the ignorant people don’t understand what patriotism is. It supports Grant’s thesis.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 month ago

Definitely not the Russian shills that are going at our democracy with a weed whacker

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Benjamin Martin, but not the actor that portrayed him

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 month ago

... Grant wasn't writing in 2024.

[–] [email protected] 18 points 1 month ago

The most patriotic thing an American can do is criticize politicians and hold the ones they vote for accountable.

Blindly insisting your country/party is perfect and excusing every fault is nationalism.

That's what the nazis had, the Republicans have, and I swear moderates want Dems to adopt.