Last week we started a feature where every Thursday we will simply pose the question “Is it manly?” Here is this week’s question:
Is patriotism manly? Vote. Discuss.
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{democracy:13}
Is Patriotism Manly?
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Jon, agreed. Unconstitutional behaviour is not patriotic nor is it manyly.
LOYALTY is manly. Patriotism is a form of loyalty that can be manly, but itself is not the core of manliness that loyalty is.
Why should it be ‘manly’ to pledge your allegiance to whatever government’s territory you were born under? I prefer to put humanity before governments. I would rather not give my service to any government, especially my service in military matters, because I consider giving up my ability to think and act free of external authorities essential to conducting myself in an ethical manner. Following orders and putting yourself in a position where you’re obligated, under threat, to follow orders, might be manly, but it isn’t wise if you value your own judgment. Far more atrocities have been committed in the name of patriotism, nationalism, order, even ‘manliness’ than have been committed in the name of rebellion.
Patriotism is manly. The Founding Fathers were manly men, and patriots. Yet if they had exhibited “blind patriotism,” they would likely not have begun the revolution at all, being completely loyal to mother England.
Please forgive me for posting on an older thread, and, as I haven’t read all of the comments yet, if this has been brought up before.
Mark Twain said, “Loyalty to the country always, loyalty to the government when it deserves it.” It seems to me if you substitute patriotism for loyalty in his quote, you have a pretty good way of approaching this.
I think it is very “manly” to support the ideals on which our country was founded and which have developed over our history. However, blindly following demogogues and charlatans who misuse these ideals, be they in government or elsewhere, is not.
Hm, a lot of the nay-sayers seem to be coming down on the fools who will stand behind their government even when that government is making terrible mistakes. The thing is, that’s not patriotism — the people doing that might *think* they’re patriots, but they aren’t.
Patriotism is the love of one’s COUNTRY, not its government or its decisions. I live in the US, and I’m proud to live here. I also think our government of late has gotten out of hand with its security theater, its attempts to protect people from themselves, and so on.
My country is the people that live and work in it — so being patriotic means, in part, trying to make my country a better place for its people. Sometimes (a lot, actually), that means speaking out against the current government; and, ultimately, voting in a new one.
Serving your country is manly, blindly supporting your country without questioning anything that goes on is stupid and un-American.
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