Why Are Americans So Patriotic, Yet..............?

gunpaq

"Why are Americans so patriotic, yet so mistrust their government?", was a question posed to me by a Canadian citizen who was impressed by the patriotic zeal they observed in every day life during a recent visit.

They felt that if one loves their country and is patriotic then one must certainly trust their government as in Canada.

Are we as Americans who are patriotic but mistrust our government an example of upside down logic or are we unique in a world of less than free peoples?

Pack slow, fall stable, pull high, hit dead center.<BR>

dheffley

I love the country, not the career politicians in Washington.[}:)]

Measure twice, cut once.

Empty the clip!

susie

Not so much a paradox as to the why of it all. Patriotism is the support, respect and love for our country, it's various and sundry peoples and it's numerous freedoms spelled out in our constitution. The mistrust for the government stems from that same patriotism as the politicians are slowly chipping away at our constitutional rights/freedoms and dividing our country into many small factions in the true sense of socialism/communism thinly disguised as liberal democracy, eroding the pride our forefathers instilled in us as they blazed new trails as individuals and not a collection of "it's for the children" group mentality morons.

***KATN!***

DancesWithSheep

quote:

"Why are Americans so patriotic, yet so mistrust their government?"
That mistrust is as patriotic as parades and flag waving. Well said, susie.

nitrouz

For the Iraq War we showed patriotism for the Soldier's going to battle and possibly losing their life. If they die it is our fault because we elected the officials that made the decision to send them to battle.

Thus Patriotism and Hatred...



"He that hath no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one."
- Jesus Christ in Luke 22:36

rldowns3

Because Americans (well the normal ones like us anyway[:D]) are patriotic and supportive of our constitution and bill of rights, just not the * in the government trying to take them away.

shooter4

Very well said, Susie!

redcedars

The country is not the government. The government is not the country.

This distinction escapes most liberals and democrats, and is viewed as treasonous heresy at the United Nations.

Some Canadians have apparently not progressed beyond the notion of the divine right of kings. (In this theory, the country, the land and its people, are the property of the king, as the divine representative of God on earth.)

Government is an inflamed boil on the buttocks of humanity. It is a monument to human frailty and man's inhumanity to man.

redcedars

TrinityScrimshaw

He may be a bad dog, but he is my bad dog, and I'm the only one allowed to kick him![;)]

Trinity +++

"Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it."(Proverbs 22:6)

jjmitchell60

I for one love the country and the flag that flies over it. I love the ideas of freedom that the flag stands for and the ideas our founding fathers formed this nation on. What I hate and mistrust are the crooks that politicks has created. These crooks are our present government.

kissgoodnight

Yeah, Right!! The stupid Canadians trusted their government right into never having rights to own guns again. What rights are they going to trust to their government next? The right to vote? I like one of those jerks commenting on our lack of trust for politicians.

625

My emotions for the United States, and it's flag run as deep as those I have for my children. Like my children, I feel pride and a need to guide them now and then. Those who simply pay lip service to "patriotism" without being willing to assist in the guidance of this country have little basis for complaint. Those of us who have served the United States, have gone a long way to enable all of her citizens to have the freedoms we all enjoy. It's a shame that some of our leaders and citizens forget about the sacrifices that have been made to preserve those freedoms. Politicians need to be reminded that the part of their oath of office that says "....to protect and defend the Constitution...." does not mean to twist and bend it to their own points of view. The government of the United States does NOT guarantee my rights and freedoms, the Constitution does. My trust is given cautiously, and only I decide who gets it, and how much they get. Those in office that I trust, get my vote. If you don't vote, then keep your complaints to yourself.

Soap box has been disassembled......for the time being...

Jay

"For those who fought for it, freedom has a flavor the protected will never know."

Some of my pics
http://personal.swayzee.com/jayb/index.html

Rhonda

Loving my country and being patriotic does not necessarily mean I love, care for, or support politicians like Kennedy, Clinton, Feinstein, Schumer, Daly, etc. I did not elect any of them and therfore will exercise my right to legally oppose them with every vote and dollar I can spare. Love America, you bet and my wife, a native Aussie, can hardly wait to become one of us. As a note, in OZ you are required to vote and if you don't "they" will come looking for you. A real twist from the USA where the living majority never make it to the polls, yet the dead still vote.

mark christian

I think you Canadian friend may be more the exception than the rule. I keep hearing that tens of thousands (or hundreds of thousands) of Canadians are refusing to comply with the most recent government mandated firearms registration sceme. I guess folks to our north don't trust their government enough to enjoy the idea of having their personal firearms inventory in a data base in Ottawa. I trust the government exactly as much as the government trusts me. As a firearms dealer I've had to sign PLENTY of documents under penalty of purgery and submit lots of fingerprint cards to the folks in DC and Sacramento and they still come out to do compliance inspections...where is the trust?

Mark T. Christian