Does one hate their own country if they criticize it?

[Shiloh Raven]

Freedom of speech is the backbone of the American spirit unless of course it’s the opposition doing it then it’s anti-American.

I think the opinion is, if it's liberal, (anything liberal at all), then it's considered anti-American.

 

[Ronald]

When millions admire and respect someone, either for a combination of different reasons or maybe just a particular thing: their personality, intelligence, creativity, the way they treat others, loving, generous, or even just a great musician or athlete. They become so special that a biography is written about them, maybe a statue constructed to honor them, remember them. We idolize them and want to be like them sometimes.
They have a life story, a history and people love it, although it isn't perfect and they have their flaws, we cherish it.
So if we like them so much, we don't want to change them, dismantle, deconstruct or change their history. We don't lie about them, we don't dishonor them, we just want to leave them the way they are.

This is how millions of people feel about the U.S.A. It's not perfect and we make small corrections and improvements here and there along the way, but we don't despise her, her history, her greatness. We'll fight for her and die for her but do not try to fundamentally change her Constitution, her form of government, her culture. We look at OUR FLAG, a symbol for who she is, who we are and what we went through to get here. We honor that, we honor and appreciate that men gave their lives for OUR FREEDOMS, FOR OUR QUALITY OF LIFE, which happens to have been at the top of the heap. So because we love her, we don't want to RADICALLY TRANSFORM HER, create a new kind of her... God gave her to us!
"God Bless America, land that I love,
Stand beside her and guide her
Through the night with the LIGHT from above. From the mountains,
To the prairies
To the oceans white with foam,
God Bless America my home sweet home,
God Bless America, my home sweet home


Do you love America? I do.

 

[SummerMadness]

When millions admire and respect someone, either for a combination of different reasons or maybe just a particular thing: their personality, intelligence, creativity, the way they treat others, loving, generous, or even just a great musician or athlete. They become so special that a biography is written about them, maybe a statue constructed to honor them, remember them. We idolize them and want to be like them sometimes.
They have a life story, a history and people love it, although it isn't perfect and they have their flaws, we cherish it.
So if we like them so much, we don't want to change them, dismantle, deconstruct or change their history. We don't lie about them, we don't dishonor them, we just want to leave them the way they are.

This is how millions of people feel about the U.S.A. It's not perfect and we make small corrections and improvements here and there along the way, but we don't despise her, her history, her greatness. We'll fight for her and die for her but do not try to fundamentally change her Constitution, her form of government, her culture. We look at OUR FLAG, a symbol for who she is, who we are and what we went through to get here. We honor that, we honor and appreciate that men gave their lives for OUR FREEDOMS, FOR OUR QUALITY OF LIFE, which happens to have been at the top of the heap. So because we love her, we don't want to RADICALLY TRANSFORM HER, create a new kind of her... God gave her to us!
"God Bless America, land that I love,
Stand beside her and guide her
Through the night with the LIGHT from above. From the mountains,
To the prairies
To the oceans white with foam,
God Bless America my home sweet home,
God Bless America, my home sweet home


Do you love America? I do.

That didn’t answer the question or address the OP.

The Constitution has been altered 17 times, seems like the notion of not changing the Constitution, especially radically, is moot as it’s been done numerous times.

I’m curious to know who you’re referring to when you point to men that gave their lives for our freedom, I hope that includes women and is not only about military service.

I think your statement also represents a conundrum when considering the South and the continued lionization of the Confederacy. They definitely wanted to destroy and radically change the country... yet many of the people talking about how much they love the country while others hate the country say they want to honor the Confederacy.

 

[wing2000]

“Patriotism is supporting your country all the time and your government when it deserves it.”
-Mark Twain

 

[iluvatar5150]

It's worth noting that those complaining most vociferously about "The Squad"'s criticisms are those who, themselves, perceive this nation to be overrun with illegal immigrants seeking to overwhelm their voting power; believe in a shadowy "Deep State" operating within the highest levels of our government; and see the 2nd Amendment's primary function as a means to empower an insurrection against an oppressive government, the tipping point of which we are continually on the verge of reaching.

Limbaugh used to half-jokingly, half-not refer to the Clinton years as "America Held Hostage".

Maybe I don't pay enough attention to them, but I haven't seen Omar et al suggest anything close to the sort of insurrection that the 2A'ers fantasize over.

 

[Always in His Presence]

This says it better than I can

 

[iluvatar5150]

View attachment 259662

This says it better than I can

If that's the case, it doesn't say much for your reading comprehension, because that's not what he said. Your cartoon is a lie.

 

[SummerMadness]

View attachment 259662

This says it better than I can

You can try to respond to the OP when you're ready.

 

[JackRT]

View attachment 259662

This says it better than I can

It also says a whole lot about you.

 

[98cwitr]

Does one hate their own country if they criticize it? What makes one person's criticism patriotic and the other hateful? There seems to be a group that calls any criticism of the current government hateful, yet when these same people criticized the government as little as 4 years ago, they considered themselves patriots. Can you anyone explain this without exposing the abject hypocrisy of this attitude?

Our country is not our government, which is not our country. Very different things. I think we should always be critical of our government, and even if you're a staunch Trump supporter, should be critical of policies of his you don't agree with; and that coin has two sides btw. But as for the country; to be critical of it is to be critical of the individuals who are not in power, who are not your representatives, and I think that really isn't fair. Be critical of movements and factions within the country itself, but to to be critical of the whole country is a gross over-generalization of its people; The People.

 

[Always in His Presence]

You can try to respond to the OP when you're ready.

Just did

It also says a whole lot about you.

Thank you. As everyone’s posts says a lot about them.

 

[SummerMadness]

Just did



Thank you. As everyone’s posts says a lot about them.

No you didn't you posted a cartoon that does not respond to the OP. Please try again.

 

[SummerMadness]

Our country is not our government, which is not our country. Very different things. I think we should always be critical of our government, and even if you're a staunch Trump supporter, should be critical of policies of his you don't agree with; and that coin has two sides btw. But as for the country; to be critical of it is to be critical of the individuals who are not in power, who are not your representatives, and I think that really isn't fair. Be critical of movements and factions within the country itself, but to to be critical of the whole country is a gross over-generalization of its people; The People.

A country is defined by its institutions, i.e., the government. The United States is defined by its institutions and founding documents, so criticizing the institutions and calling for reform of those institutions is something that has happened since its inception. However, now some people are being told that criticism is equated to hate.

 

[Always in His Presence]

Elected members of Congress are considered vile people and need to "go back" to their countries.

These are fine people:

just like these?

 

[98cwitr]

A country is defined by its institutions, i.e., the government. The United States is defined by its institutions and founding documents, so criticizing the institutions and calling for reform of those institutions is something that has happened since its inception. However, now some people are being told that criticism is equated to hate.

Don't see anything listed about "government" in the definition (especially as per the definition in 'c' it explicitly differentiates country from government):

Definition of COUNTRY


country
noun
coun·try | \ ˈkən-trē

\
plural countries
Definition of country
(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : an indefinite usually extended expanse of land : region miles of open country
2a : the land of a person's birth, residence, or citizenship left their country for America
b : a political state or nation or its territory the country of Italy
3a : the people of a state or district : populace Most of the country voted to end the death penalty.
b : jury
c : electorate sense 2 The government will go to the country with this issue.
4 : rural as distinguished from urban areas prefers the country to the city
5 : country music
6 geology : country rock sense 2


Governments create some institutions, and individuals create others (religious institutions, fraternal orders, educational, etc etc)

 

[iluvatar5150]

Don't see anything listed about "government" in the definition (especially as per the definition in 'c' it explicitly differentiates country from government):

Definition of COUNTRY


country
noun
coun·try | \ ˈkən-trē

\
plural countries
Definition of country
(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : an indefinite usually extended expanse of land : region miles of open country
2a : the land of a person's birth, residence, or citizenship left their country for America
b : a political state or nation or its territory the country of Italy
3a : the people of a state or district : populace Most of the country voted to end the death penalty.
b : jury
c : electorate sense 2 The government will go to the country with this issue.
4 : rural as distinguished from urban areas prefers the country to the city
5 : country music
6 geology : country rock sense 2


Governments create some institutions, and individuals create others (religious institutions, fraternal orders, educational, etc etc)

2b: "a political state"

 

[98cwitr]

2b: "a political state"

Yeah, our "state" is the United States of America, as definition by the several states and their boundaries, per the definition. Still not the government. Even gives you an example in 2b to go on.

 

[TLK Valentine]

Accusing someone of hate is against the rules, so its not possible to answer the op..

Speak in hypothetical terms....

 

[FreeinChrist]

Advisor hat



This is closed for review.​

 

[Bumble Bee]

MOD HAT ON
This thread has been permanently closed due to an excess of flaming and goading.
MOD HAT OFF​