Patriots? Please Find A Different Word
Everybody calling themselves a patriot should think carefully about what that means.
-
Tools:
by A Reaper
The word "patriot" signifies a person who loves his or her country... and is ready to boldly support and defend it.
Today, everyone is a PATRIOT. Voted for Trump? PATRIOT. Against voter fraud? PATRIOT. Give money to a Conservative Cause? PATRIOT.
Reading “QAnon,” visiting conservative websites, watching endless podcasts on voter fraud and telling people how everything is going to be just fine – Rainbows over the White House fine – does not make you a Patriot. It makes you a lot of things…lots of unique things, but not a Patriot.
Call yourself a Great American or a True American. Anything you want, but please spare me the Patriot rhetoric.
Did you storm the beaches of Normandy? Crawl through the sand at Peleliu? Are you a past or present member of our armed forces or police departments? Then maybe… But those individuals, at least the ones I know, keep a pretty low profile. They're simply happy to quietly serve their country.
Why does it annoy me so much? Because everyone and their sister calling themselves a patriot takes away from those who truly were / are PATRIOTS. It greatly diminishes the word when 60, 70, 80 million claim it. Maybe it makes them feel warm and fuzzy, but it doesn’t make them a patriot – at least not in my book.
And if you point this out to a so-called patriot? Have earplugs ready. Being born in America makes you an American, so they want to be more than just an American. Great, Good or True? Nope. They are patriots! Face it: The word does have a better “ring” to it.
These same knuckleheads will tell you about how we could end up in a Civil War and what they will do to prevent the Far Left from taking over. Settle down there, Tiger; they have watched one too many war movies where the heroes never run out of bullets or get killed.
War is real. People die. They need to watch Saving Private Ryan to get a better idea of real combat.
Are there conservative groups who can stand-up to ANTIFA and Black Lives Matter? Of course: there are multiple organizations, with the Proud Boys being merely the most recognized. But the individuals who “call” themselves patriots and will stand up to Socialists are more than likely not going to do much – at least, not the ones I know and have seen on-line.
Now, don’t get me wrong: Their love of country, support of Trump, giving to Conservative causes and despising Socialism make them an extremely important part of our society. I consider them Great Americans. (Or whatever positive word they want to put in front of American.)
But Patriots? No, those are a rare breed who have bled, died, served and suffered so we can have our freedoms - indeed, the very freedom to use the word "patriot" to describe any pro-American action.
To the True Patriots, I tip my hat. To the others: Find a different word.
-
Tools:
What does Chinese history have to teach America that Joe Biden doesn't know?
I think people are using the word to differentiate themselves from the many Americans who seem perfectly fine with gutting the Constitution and turning this country over to socialists. Although I don’t adopt personal labels, I’d be more comfortable referring to myself as a patriot than as a Great American, which to me implies not a set of beliefs but notable service to our country.
People who want to gut the Constitution are not socialists, they are better known as 'Democrats'. But it doesn't matter what they are since the Constitution does not speak to the kind of economy we must have. But, your point is well taken, nevertheless.
The word 'patriot' was ruined by George W Bush's enactment of the 'Patriot Act' which actually removes four or five of our rights from The Bill of Rights, the first ten amendments to the Constitution.
I have no kind words for George W Bush. Anyone who wraps himself in the American flag and calls himself a patriot is the worst kind of scoundrel.
I’ve know two Patriots!
My Father, Leonard Hasselberg, MIA World 2.
My Cousin, David Kowitz, KIA Viet Nam.
I wasn’t sure where this article was going. Glad I stuck around to read till the end.
It doesn’t bother me that people not ready, willing or able to physically go up against antifa or blm or even verbally against their local dem run town council, refer to themselves as patriots. My friend pointed this out to me about myself a few years ago. After voicing my emotionally charged opinion on some inane thing the Dems were doing to undermine Trump, he said “as long as you have heat in the winter, AC in the summer, can buy food, etc... you ain’t doing nothing”. And he was 100% right.
I imagine it wasn’t much different before the Revolutionary War. Lots of people calling themselves Patriots, but not willing to go first. That’s how I see most of us Patriots, currently. There’s a lot of people waiting and hoping this nightmare that’s become the United States ends and we return to what we consider normal. In my opinion, that ain’t happening and probably won’t during my lifetime.
But we still need ways to identify “us” from “them”, and referring to oneself as a “Patriot” is one way and fine by me.
And regarding the ability of some people, under great duress, to perform heroic or selfless acts; many of those people consider themselves nothing special or out of the ordinary. It was the circumstances, situation and most likely, the company of the people with them that became the catalyst for their selfless behavior.
We’re not there yet. Watching the daily bs on tv and claiming to not like it and voicing one’s opinion is far different from having antifa at your front door trying to kick it down and attack you. Or worse, the compromised fbi.
And back to the Revolutionary War.....I’m assuming there was no cohesive D-Day plan to finally revolt en masse against the British.... but once the spark ignited the reaction in the few, the rest followed and rose up under the brave leaders in sufficient numbers. People are apt to do remarkable, heroic, selfless acts under duress.
I am not advocating for civil war. That said, unless or until we the people make it undeniably clear to the politicians, big tech, and the wealthy elites via consequences, that this is our country and the rule book of how this country operates, namely the US Constitution and Bill of Rights, is still applicable, then we will continue in this us vs them mode until the consequences they apply get too painful and there’s a reaction, or we throw up our hands and say I can live with this.
As I stated in other comments I’ve posted here, migrations, mostly out of blue states into red states, will continue along with the buying and stockpiling of guns and ammunition by all segments of the population. So while we Patriots might not be ready to storm the gates, some subset of the population is clearly making changes to where and how they live, and how they want to live.
I love my country and freedom it allows me. I love the principals it was founded on. I love our flag and what it stands for. Sorry, but this makes me feel like a Patriot and I will unabashedly refer to myself as one.
Wait..what? Words have meanings?
'Heroes work here' signs are everywhere. When everyone's a Hero, no one is a hero. The term becomes a participation trophy.
I guess we will have to say 'Super Hero' if we want to refer to a real hero. At least until that gets co-opted too.
'Robust safeguards are in place to ensure the integrity of our elections'
Ha Ha
The same applies to that other much abused word: Hero.
None of the actual ones
LOL! What a gasbag. I guess you think the men who fought at Lexington and Concord were not “Patriots”?
You’re a Normie. You don’t get it.
Good luck.
The people you're talking about are called heroes. Patriots love their country, love the Constitution, and hate everything opposed to those two. Now, let them prove they are heroes.
Well said Johnny Reb.