The Academic View: Patriotism and war

[James_F]

UPI Article (http://www.upi.com/view.cfm?StoryID=20030324-112241-4509r)

Very evenhanded article about Patriotism and the US.

The words "duty," "honor," and "country" have always exemplified our patriotism as Americans, and inherent in these words is a solemn responsibility to do, speak, and think out of a true conviction about what is good and right for our nation. American patriotism, however, is also a strong passion, and as such is not perfect. Yet in its imperfection lies its glory. While patriotism may be a last refuge for scoundrels, it also remains the source of the strength of the great and unprecedented American enterprise.

I encourage all to read it.

[Danny R]

I wouldn't call it evenhanded at all.In the context of recent events, it has become increasingly clear that every domestic and foreign policy initiative of this administration during the past two years was designed to serve its fixation on ousting Saddam Hussein. ... Domestically, the administration's presumed involvement with problems related to Social Security, prescription drugs and education were all choreographed to generate public support for the war, irrespective of the long-term implications for the nation as a whole.I think its pushing it to say that every Bush policy has been aimed at Iraq and the war effort.The people demonstrating in New York and San Francisco against the war in Iraq are no less patriotic than those who opposing the Vietnam War were dismissed at the time as unpatriotic misguided fools. But history has shown that the people who protested our military involvement in Vietnam were true American patriotsHis history books vary from mine. Those protesting the Vietnam war simply happen to have held the popular viewpoint of the day. Protestors such as Jane Fonda are still held to have actively sabotaged our military efforts and are hardly considered patriots. Likewise protestors today who become violent and disrupt our business are hardly patriots.

I accept anyone's view to protest the war. I do not accept them doing so in a disruptive fashion.

[James_F]

Please, where does he say Jane Fonda? You are comming up with one specific item. Sure she was very unpatriotic, but those who fought to bring the troops home from a war that they were not able to fight were patriots. It wasn't Jane Fonda who sabotaged our military it was our political leaders.