I have spent the last couple of decades being really pissed off by the "patriotism" displayed by a substantive portion of the Right. It has spiraled downward over time.
I have always considered myself a patriot. I served out of a combination of patriotism and self-interest (there is almost ALWAYS some of that involved). I was and am proud…
I have spent the last couple of decades being really pissed off by the "patriotism" displayed by a substantive portion of the Right. It has spiraled downward over time.
I have always considered myself a patriot. I served out of a combination of patriotism and self-interest (there is almost ALWAYS some of that involved). I was and am proud of my service. I live in what is potentially the best country in the world (I say potentially because we often do not live up to what we preach). Even though we don't live up to things, by and large we have done a lot better than a lot of other countries, even if some of it arises only out of enlightened self-interest and a sense of (by some leadership) noblisse oblige.
I despise to the depths of my being the flag-huggers and lapel-pin wearers, the pickup trucks with the yuge Amerian flags (that coincidently have a sign saying F the President of the US). Far too much virtue signaling of things that are not even virtues, because there is no us, no community, no intention of sacrifice or service. Because our culture is actually about almost ANYTHING other than sacrificing for others... and Trump is actually kind of the epitome of American culture--which is one of the things that led to his election and re-election.
When ever one of these people gets in my face about my patiotism, the first question I ask them is, where and when did YOU serve. That tends to shut them up.
People do not display or act on virtue if they have not been taught what virtue is. Virtue is a learned and habituated thing, not a natural thing. If virtue was natural we would not need commandments or laws.
CINOs (Christians in Name Only) piss me off too. The level of hyprocrisy there is worthy of being used as a modern-day exemplar in one of Christ's teachings... and this is coming from an atheist--admittedly, one well-versed in religion and scripture (which is why I am an atheist).
Because I am a teacher, I have great forbearance for ignorance and lack of education--in children. This can be potentially remedied. I do not have much forbearance for adults. They should know better.
In no RATIONAL universe, could someone like Donald Trump (or any of a number of similar people) get elected, which stands as proof positive that we do not live in a rational universe--at least that part of the universe built on human behavior.
"People do not display or act on virtue if they have not been taught what virtue is. Virtue is a learned and habituated thing, not a natural thing. If virtue was natural we would not need commandments or laws."
And it's something that, if not practiced and nurtured, will atrophy and die. I think this is what contributes to the decadence that precedes the collapse of some civilizations. Life becomes so "good" that they're freed from the obligations of keeping society healthy. It seems like everything's working fine, but like termites eating away at a house's frame, the absence of practicing civic virtue leaves a hollowed skeleton of what looks like a functioning society. Eventually, the house will succumb.
I have spent the last couple of decades being really pissed off by the "patriotism" displayed by a substantive portion of the Right. It has spiraled downward over time.
I have always considered myself a patriot. I served out of a combination of patriotism and self-interest (there is almost ALWAYS some of that involved). I was and am proud of my service. I live in what is potentially the best country in the world (I say potentially because we often do not live up to what we preach). Even though we don't live up to things, by and large we have done a lot better than a lot of other countries, even if some of it arises only out of enlightened self-interest and a sense of (by some leadership) noblisse oblige.
I despise to the depths of my being the flag-huggers and lapel-pin wearers, the pickup trucks with the yuge Amerian flags (that coincidently have a sign saying F the President of the US). Far too much virtue signaling of things that are not even virtues, because there is no us, no community, no intention of sacrifice or service. Because our culture is actually about almost ANYTHING other than sacrificing for others... and Trump is actually kind of the epitome of American culture--which is one of the things that led to his election and re-election.
When ever one of these people gets in my face about my patiotism, the first question I ask them is, where and when did YOU serve. That tends to shut them up.
People do not display or act on virtue if they have not been taught what virtue is. Virtue is a learned and habituated thing, not a natural thing. If virtue was natural we would not need commandments or laws.
CINOs (Christians in Name Only) piss me off too. The level of hyprocrisy there is worthy of being used as a modern-day exemplar in one of Christ's teachings... and this is coming from an atheist--admittedly, one well-versed in religion and scripture (which is why I am an atheist).
Because I am a teacher, I have great forbearance for ignorance and lack of education--in children. This can be potentially remedied. I do not have much forbearance for adults. They should know better.
In no RATIONAL universe, could someone like Donald Trump (or any of a number of similar people) get elected, which stands as proof positive that we do not live in a rational universe--at least that part of the universe built on human behavior.
"People do not display or act on virtue if they have not been taught what virtue is. Virtue is a learned and habituated thing, not a natural thing. If virtue was natural we would not need commandments or laws."
And it's something that, if not practiced and nurtured, will atrophy and die. I think this is what contributes to the decadence that precedes the collapse of some civilizations. Life becomes so "good" that they're freed from the obligations of keeping society healthy. It seems like everything's working fine, but like termites eating away at a house's frame, the absence of practicing civic virtue leaves a hollowed skeleton of what looks like a functioning society. Eventually, the house will succumb.