True Patriotism

[JustGeorge]

I was just driving home from the grocery store, when I was passed by an oversized pick up that had a giant American flag painted on it. I'll be honest, this isn't real uncommon in these parts. What caught my eye, though, was the bag of trash he threw out his window, on to some poor sap's lawn, with debris exploding everywhere.

It struck me that unless there was some personal feud going on that I am unaware of, that wasn't real patriotic. He was disrespecting the law of a country he tries to imply he cares for(with the paint job), and disrespected the land itself by loading it full of his garbage.

Regardless of what country a person lives in, what do you feel makes a person patriotic?

(If anyone tries to turn this into a thread about American politics, I will send an overfed brontosaurus to poop on your front steps.)

 

[Viker]

I was just driving home from the grocery store, when I was passed by an oversized pick up that had a giant American flag painted on it. I'll

At one time, that would have been considered abominate and just disrespectful. Times have changed. So has what is considered patriotic.

 

[Wu Wei]

Well patriotism is defined as devoted love, support, and defense of one's country; national loyalty.

But I think this does get confused with nationalism a lot these days, and they are not the same

Nationalism is identification with one's own nation and support for its interests, especially to the exclusion or detriment of the interests of other nations.

Example, I see no aspect of patriotism where throwing trash on another’s lawn is acceptable

However it might be acceptable under nationalism

Now please don’t send an overfed brontosaurus to poop on your front step

 

[JustGeorge]

Well patriotism is defined as devoted love, support, and defense of one's country; national loyalty.

But I think this does get confused with nationalism a lot these days, and they are not the same

Nationalism is identification with one's own nation and support for its interests, especially to the exclusion or detriment of the interests of other nations.

Example, I see no aspect of patriotism where throwing trash on another’s lawn is acceptable

However it might be acceptable under nationalism

Now please don’t send an overfed brontosaurus to poop on your front step

I'll keep the Bronto home, thanks.

Even considering nationalism, I am unable to see how throwing garbage out the window is an acceptable move... How can one be 'the best' if their home is a dirty, messy place?

 

[Stevicus]

I was just driving home from the grocery store, when I was passed by an oversized pick up that had a giant American flag painted on it. I'll be honest, this isn't real uncommon in these parts. What caught my eye, though, was the bag of trash he threw out his window, on to some poor sap's lawn, with debris exploding everywhere.

It struck me that unless there was some personal feud going on that I am unaware of, that wasn't real patriotic. He was disrespecting the law of a country he tries to imply he cares for(with the paint job), and disrespected the land itself by loading it full of his garbage.

Regardless of what country a person lives in, what do you feel makes a person patriotic?

(If anyone tries to turn this into a thread about American politics, I will send an overfed brontosaurus to poop on your front steps.)

He threw trash out on somebody else's lawn? That sounds like it must be personal.

But yeah, I see some vehicles flying the huge flags or sporting patriotic bumper stickers. I recall a number of years ago when my dad was still alive, I would visit his house and see every single house on the block with flags displayed (including my dad, obviously). Anyone who didn't have a flag displayed would have stood out like a sore thumb.

To me, patriotism comes in supporting that which is beneficial for the common people. It's not rooted in ideology or abstract symbolism. If it benefits the people, it's patriotic. If it doesn't benefit the people, then it's not.

 

[JustGeorge]

He threw trash out on somebody else's lawn? That sounds like it must be personal.

But yeah, I see some vehicles flying the huge flags or sporting patriotic bumper stickers. I recall a number of years ago when my dad was still alive, I would visit his house and see every single house on the block with flags displayed (including my dad, obviously). Anyone who didn't have a flag displayed would have stood out like a sore thumb.

To me, patriotism comes in supporting that which is beneficial for the common people. It's not rooted in ideology or abstract symbolism. If it benefits the people, it's patriotic. If it doesn't benefit the people, then it's not.

I wish I could say for sure that was personal, but I've known enough people who do thoughtless things such as throwing trash on a lawn and thinking little of it. They want it out of their vehicle, what do they care?

 

[Viker]

He threw trash out on somebody else's lawn? That sounds like it must be personal.

But yeah, I see some vehicles flying the huge flags or sporting patriotic bumper stickers. I recall a number of years ago when my dad was still alive, I would visit his house and see every single house on the block with flags displayed (including my dad, obviously). Anyone who didn't have a flag displayed would have stood out like a sore thumb.

To me, patriotism comes in supporting that which is beneficial for the common people. It's not rooted in ideology or abstract symbolism. If it benefits the people, it's patriotic. If it doesn't benefit the people, then it's not.

So says the guy with the flag of Arizona for his avatar.

 

[Father Heathen]

I was just driving home from the grocery store, when I was passed by an oversized pick up that had a giant American flag painted on it. I'll be honest, this isn't real uncommon in these parts. What caught my eye, though, was the bag of trash he threw out his window, on to some poor sap's lawn, with debris exploding everywhere.

It struck me that unless there was some personal feud going on that I am unaware of, that wasn't real patriotic. He was disrespecting the law of a country he tries to imply he cares for(with the paint job), and disrespected the land itself by loading it full of his garbage.

Regardless of what country a person lives in, what do you feel makes a person patriotic?

(If anyone tries to turn this into a thread about American politics, I will send an overfed brontosaurus to poop on your front steps.)

The overt, mawkish, in-your-face brand of patriotism has always been shallow and superficial.

 

[Viker]

I wish I could say for sure that was personal, but I've known enough people who do thoughtless things such as throwing trash on a lawn and thinking little of it. They want it out of their vehicle, what do they care?

Regardless of personal or not. It was selfish and rude.

 

[JustGeorge]

Regardless of personal or not. It was selfish and rude.

I agree. I can't think of any reason in which its okay to throw garbage out the window(except opening the bag and finding some kind of venomous critter, and one's lesser instincts simply kick in, though it would be best if one still went back to clean up the mess). Even if its your worst enemy way back from second grade, the garbage is still going to blow into other areas, and cause issue for other creatures.

 

[Stevicus]

So says the guy with the flag of Arizona for his avatar.

That's because I like the design. It's one of the coolest flags ever made. But it has nothing to do with patriotism for Arizona.

 

[Viker]

That's because I like the design. It's one of the coolest flags ever made. But it has nothing to do with patriotism for Arizona.

J/K.

It is pretty.

 

[JustGeorge]

That's because I like the design. It's one of the coolest flags ever made. But it has nothing to do with patriotism for Arizona.

It is a nice flag. I think one of my favorites, simply going off of design, would be South Korea's.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

I'll keep the Bronto home, thanks.

Even considering nationalism, I am unable to see how throwing garbage out the window is an acceptable move... How can one be 'the best' if their home is a dirty, messy place?

It's his neighbors problem to clean it up now.

 

[JustGeorge]

It's his neighbors problem to clean it up now.

Hm. I guess that about pins the mindset...

His "country" is his own property and interests, and he somehow mistakes it for the actual nation...

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Hm. I guess that about pins the mindset...

His "country" is his own property and interests, and he somehow mistakes it for the actual nation...

The guy was probably just beind a prick, but put together they way Wu did I thought was a great summary and metaphor for highlighting the selfishness of nationalism compared to patriotism which would acknowledge there are many reasons (such as just being a good person) to not throw your trash on your neighbor's lawn.

 

[Stevicus]

It is a nice flag. I think one of my favorites, simply going off of design, would be South Korea's.

Apparently, there was a survey back in 2001 in which Arizona's flag was voted the 6th best flag on the continent.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/ClubExpressClubFiles/622278/documents/2001-State-Provincial-Flag-Survey_432284798.pdf?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIA6MYUE6DNNNCCDT4J&Expires=1680657374&response-content-disposition=inline%3B%20filename%3D2001-State-Provincial-Flag-Survey.pdf&Signature=w%2Br92cYgPnidSjLjqSAPpPE7jCY%3D

 

[Stevicus]

It seems the worst flags are those that have the state's name written on it. Seems kind of pointless to do that.

 

[Stevicus]

I wish I could say for sure that was personal, but I've known enough people who do thoughtless things such as throwing trash on a lawn and thinking little of it. They want it out of their vehicle, what do they care?

I've known people who have dumped trash in areas they weren't supposed to, though there's plenty of open areas. It just seems if someone knowingly dumped trash on someone's front lawn, then I would suspect something personal. Do you know anything about the person whose lawn got dumped on? If this guy is a flag-waving patriot in an oversized pickup truck, then I would presume a right-winger. For whatever reason, he may have had something against the person or persons living in that house.

 

[Viker]

Apparently, there was a survey back in 2001 in which Arizona's flag was voted the 6th best flag on the continent.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/ClubExpressClubFiles/622278/documents/2001-State-Provincial-Flag-Survey_432284798.pdf?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIA6MYUE6DNNNCCDT4J&Expires=1680657374&response-content-disposition=inline%3B%20filename%3D2001-State-Provincial-Flag-Survey.pdf&Signature=w%2Br92cYgPnidSjLjqSAPpPE7jCY%3D

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Awww. Kentucky's flag is 66th.