A simple phrases which so easily captures the essence of American patriotism...political dissent. Dissent is what helps a country develop democracy; it is the crucial expression of one's love for their country in the form of healthy disagreement.
As a fellow citizen of
planet earth, I take today, the 4th of July, 2007, the 231st anniversary of independence of this country, to
pledge my allegience to and display
my dissension for [the policies of] America
the great; America
the free:
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Patriotism in its most common usage is best defined as the last refuge of scoundrels, who label every infamy and abomination as patriotism. Let me list some of the things these above-mentioned scoundrels define as patriotism:
* Fighting wars of aggression thousands of miles away.
* Fighting wars of colonial oppression.
* Poisoning the atmosphere with auto emission and pollution and acid rain.
* Ruthlessly destroying the forests.
* Promoting racism as a means of winning elections.
* Cutting away at civil rights.
* Lying about every question of the public good.
* Bleeding the people dry and destroying all that America stands for with an armaments industry large beyond reason or need.
* Spending our wealth on armaments while our cities crumble, our infrastructure disintegrates and our schools are left without teachers.
I could go on and on, but what the hell! What they call patriotism down there in Washington stinks to high heaven of brainlessness, racism, greed, fear and hatred of the common people. Internationalism, brotherhood, a left-liberal approach to life--all these can only enhance the well-being of any and all countries. Patriotism, however, as a word, applies to true love of one's country and a code of conduct that echoes such love.
~Howard Fast
Novelist; columnist for The New York Observer
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"I am a citizen of the world first, and of this country at a later and more convenient hour." ~Henry David Thoreau
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October 2009 
thinq4yourself
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