| I think that you've misunderstood me. Generally, the "I'm a patriot" line is utilized by the left/liberal - who is usually the more rights, humanitarian, privacy, social healthcare minded of our two parties.. It's used to preemptively dismantle a favored attack employed by "the right" - who are our conservatives, which favor fewer social services, lower taxes, security being valued over liberty/freedoms (generally, they supported the Patriot Act and similar such things)... Consider this contrived example, as it clearly isn't evident from my previous anecdote... Liberal: "It's our duty to ensure we don't do damage to human rights for a little temporary security via overreaching surveillance programs..." Conservative: "You're a freaking liberal nutjob who would bring harm to America! YOU LOSE!" Then... Liberal: "I am a patriot and love 'Merica, but I feel that it's our duty to ensure we don't do damage to human rights for a little temporary security via overreaching surveillance programs..." Conservative: "Ah. Well.. 'A patriot', you say? I can't argue with that.. [more 'civil' discussion may ensue]" This has just been my experience.. The general 'caricatures' of our two main political mindsets could be summarized as:
Conservative - Religion over Education, Christian Government, Guns, Moral Laws, Military, Exclusionary ("If you don't like it, you can get the hell out of MY country!")
Liberal - Education over Religion, Separation of Church and state, More Restrictive Gun Laws, Support of Social Services (healthcare), Higher Taxes, Diplomacy over Military Aggression, Inclusionary ("While I may not see eye to eye with you, there is room here for us all... That's what makes America great - we don't have to be of the same faith or belief, yet we can both call this home...") Again, these are the far ends of the spectrum.. These are stereotypes.. These are broad generalizations made for the purpose of demonstration - I don't mean to offend anyone who identifies with either side. One final bit, using your rebuttal: Person 1: "No. Really, I have absolutely no loyalty to America or any other country for that matter. I'm loyal to humanity, and you should be too." Person 2: [Whips out knife and waves at you aggressively] "You're a communist puppy hating hippy! You lose! Get out of my country!" |