Patriotism

     On this, the weekend of Memorial Day, I'm noticing a lot of people getting all up in arms over patriotism and what it means... so being an egghead, I looked it the hell up. 
pa*tri*ot*ism n. Love of and devotion to one's country.
     Hmmmmm...
     I thought for sure, the way people act that the words blind obeisance to one's government would be included in there somewhere.  Guess not.  Love of and devotion to one's country.  Okay, that seems pretty simple and straightforward.  I have love for and devotion to my mother.  I have love for and devotion to my daughter.  I would not blindly follow either one.  My mother is a Jehovah's Witness (I'm not getting into that, it's a whole series of blogs in it's own right) and my daughter is 17 months old tomorrow.  blindly following either one of them could lead me into some serious problems.  Because you have to know what you're following and why.  The same holds true for government.  I hope nobody blindly follows our government.  The last time we had blind obeisance, hundreds of thousands of Jews were slaughtered to make way for a new world.  Now I don't know about you, but I think that's a travesty.  Besides, Jewish women are hot.
     Anyway, the point... and I assure you I do have one... is that nobody, let me repeat that with emphasis, NOBODY should ever follow anyone or anything blindly.  Ever.  I will never just follow anybody for any reason.  It will not happen.  I demand to know why my country is doing something and who I can hold accountable specifically if it goes wrong.  I will not just accept policies and decisions because my government tells me to.  NO!  I will not bow down.  I will not follow like a sheeple.  not government and not organized religion.  Absolute power corrupts absolutely.
     I'm just saying... nobody has the right to tell anybody else how to be an American.  Nor does anybody have the right to tell anybody else to get out because they disagree with you and what you think is patriotic.
the point is this:
Dear America,
     why must you be so damn stubborn in the way you look at patriotism?  Do you not realize that without our diversity and the freedom to be diverse we are no more than a communist country... maybe socialist.  You get the point.  We all have the god given right to our freedom, it's guaranteed in our constitution.  Which means that when you get right down to it, you have the right, even to disagree with the constitution.  Probably not going to do you any good, but well, there ya go.  Learn to cherish diversity.  It's what makes America the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Even if you choose to remain the ignorant bastiges that you have been lately, I refer you to my favorite impromptu quote: "I may not agree with what you say but I will fight to the death to defend your right to say it."
That's all for me today.  Take care and have a great Saturday night.