Relayer wrote: >It seems to me that the positive side of >patriotism means being able to stand up for >and support everyone's right to free speech >and freedom of expression.
I would attribute this to being a positive American rather than to the concept of "patriotism," which apparently can be defined by people in different ways. > Isn't that what the constitution sais?That we >have the right to protest, to disagree, to >express our viewpoints? It absolutely does. >I get the feeling that this extreme form of >patriotism that has developed since >September 11 wants to silence dissent, and >any views and opinions which differ from the > conventional opinion of the moment-and this >narrow mindedness seems to me > VERY un-American... While I'm sure there may be some who would wish they didn't have to hear some of the dissent, I would also bet everything that the people who you would characterize as "extreme patriots" would be the same ones fighting the hardest to defend and secure your right to dissent. I also find it strange that you characterize the overwhelming sense of unity that Americans have felt since Sept. 11th as "extreme patriotism" like it is some "movement" that people consciously decided to create sole for the purpose of making dissenters feel uncomfortable or to "silence" the views of dissenters. It troubles me that perhaps some people can't just look at American people coming together in a time of crisis as simply hearts and souls showing solidarity with each other. To me, it is really more about hearts and spirits feeling protective and supportive of each other than "nationalism" or some kind of "political" statement. My motivation to put a little flag on my car after Sept. 11th had nothing to do with feeling like I had to be in someone's face with my nationalism. People probably have varying motivations for displaying a flag, but to me (someone who by the way has never displayed an American flag for any purpose ever before in my life) it felt like the only way I could send a signal to others around me that I shared in our national grief - to me it was the only way to outward indicate empathy for the victims and each other at that point. The flag should mean many things to people because it stands for many things, most of all our collective heart. Kakki
