Do liberals hate America?
Posted 29 weeks 6 days ago by
Jonah Goldberg says the left has a "patriotism gap." But wait -- there's an explanation:
Patriotism is a species of unity that has some moral and philosophical substance to it. In America, patriotism -- as opposed to, say, nationalism -- is a love for a creed, a dedication to what is best about the "American way." Nationalism, a romantic sensibility, says "my country is always right." Patriots hope that their nation will make the right choice.
These are fine distinctions. Would that they were embraced more thoroughly by the right.
It isn't "the left" after all, that coined the phrase "objectively pro-terrorist" to describe the left. It isn't Democrats who suggest terrorists love Democrats. And it's not people on the left who routinely suggest -- overtly or subtly -- that their opponents "hate America."
Goldberg's distinctions, actually, are telling. "Patriots," he says, "hope that their nation will make the right choice." But if it doesn't make the right choice, we've been made to understand in recent years, real patriots will just shut up.
I believe that most liberals are patriots, but are careful about the concept precisely because so few people make the distinctions that Goldberg suggests. Liberals think we should be the good guys; but they don't assume that we always act in accordance with our ideals. That's not being unpatriotic; that's being humble, vigilant and mindful of history's lessons. Not everybody sees it that way.
Which is too bad, because Goldberg is right that Democrats won't appeal to a broader swath of Americans unless they can comfortably embrace their patriotism -- and not let Republicans control the definition of the word.
For the record, I love America. I love it because of the ideals expressed in the Declaration of Independence -- a dissenting act, if there ever was one -- and the U.S. Constitution. I am a liberal; I am patriotic.
UPDATE: The conversation continues here.
Photo by Flickr user psilver.
Thoughts
Of course liberals hate the
Submitted on July 13th, 2008 by AnonymousOf course liberals hate the United States. The evidence is in their constant whining and sniveling about the folks the rest of us (whom liberals also hate) elect to public office, and in their current/ongoing rallying cry of "Change!"
Change what? Why, the United States, of course!
Liberals hate the United States, and want to change it into something else...perhaps a carbon copy of France will suit them.
What I always wonder is why libs are constantly working to turn the United States into something it never was, and never was meant to be, when there are so many wonderful choices of nations they could move to now, and reap full benefit of the utopias they praise today.
Maybe it's just that libs are really merely busybody wanna-be social engineers who have no clue what they are doing, but always need something to do.
I suggest relaxing a little and enjoying the benefits of the United States as it is, because the U.S. is the finest nation ever to grace the face of the planet..and you can even find cool stuff to do in your own neighborhood if you don't want to travel far.
A Question for so-called patriotic conservatives
Submitted on March 12th, 2008 by CORNFINGER66If conservatives are so patriotic, and the ultimate patriotic act would be to inlist in the military? Why are so many young conservatives hiding out in college, is cowardness patriotic?
Looks like we can finally explain why the Right has so many Chicken-Hawks.
Hey, I can babble as good as Chuck!
Cornfinger went too the school of hardknocks, if and when I went to college. I'm not so full of myself that I need too post it here.
A question for so-called patriotic liberals
Submitted on March 11th, 2008 by Chuck_JohnsonIf dissent is patriotic and the ultimate form of dissent is treason, is treason patriotic?
Looks like we finally explained why the Left is defending terrorists like Jose Padilla.
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Chuck Johnson is a student at Claremont McKenna College. Feel free to contact him.
Re: Do liberals hate America?
Submitted on March 11th, 2008 by Jim LakelyGlad to hear it. And I know you mean it, Joel, in the traditional "love of country" sense -- and not in the "dissent is the highest form of patriotism" pabulum mouthed by those who get the willies at the suggestion to love their country over others. But I think you protest too much here.
If Jonah was as familiar with you and your work as I am, he would make clear you are not the type of liberal he's talking about. You may blame America for its faults, but your instinct is not to blame America first and every time. The latter are the liberals -- hard leftists, really -- that Jonah is talking about. And the hard left undoubtedly has an influence on prominent liberal politicians -- at least on how they present themselves and express their patriotism. I think this is undeniable.
Now let me attempt to gently unpack some of this stuff without getting my cheek hooked too deeply. (You've thrown out quite a bit of chum out there for me.)
I will not defend the indefensible: Sweeping calumnies that the left is "objectively pro-terrorist" or that the left "hates America." But I will point out that some prominent leftists -- the hard left -- do hate America. Howard Zinn, whose anti-American diatribes are used as text books on some college campuses, objectively hates America. He finds nearly nothing of value in this country. So, he'll have to wear the Hate Crown.
And I, as a righty, don't think terrorists "love Democrats." They will as happily decapitate a Democrat's head as a Republican's head. But it is hardly dirty pool to point out that withdrawing from Iraq prematurely would hand an unearned victory to our terrorist enemies that would be devastating to America. The fact that Democrats advocate that position is ... inconvenient.
Frankly, I don’t think principled liberals like yourself, Joel, need to either be offended by Jonah’s column or bother defending his real target – the genuine America-loathing hard left.
exactly
Submitted on March 11th, 2008 by alicescheshirecatCornfig is right. This is the same old song and dance we saw in 2002 and 2004.
If you're not with us then you're against us and if you're against us you're a traitor and then eventually you're a terrorist.
I think Americans are sick of this. And suddenly a majority of Americans are against the war in Iraw are Republicans saying that a majority of Americans are actually terrorists or traitors?
Patriotic
Submitted on March 11th, 2008 by CORNFINGER66Jonah is a patriot because he is a conservative, and a cheerleader for the Bush camp.
Anyone who does not agree with Bush is a liberal and a traitor. I've read Goldberg enough to get where he is coming from.
What I would like too know is. He is in his middle twenties. Perfect age for military service. Why is he safe in the USA, instead of putting his butt on the line Irag? I have read many of his articls in support of the war. Oh yeh, he is a cheerleader. Cornfinger