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From: wetcw@pyuxa.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: Flag Waver Speaks Out
Message-ID: <416@pyuxa.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 7-Dec-83 10:21:15 EST
Article-I.D.: pyuxa.416
Posted: Wed Dec  7 10:21:15 1983
Date-Received: Fri, 9-Dec-83 04:25:47 EST
Organization: Bell Labs, Piscataway
Lines: 52

Patriotism is defined as a love or devotion to one's country.  Am I
to assume that "Genji" does not love his country?  Patriotism has
nothing whatsoever to do with one's feelings about how the country
is being run.  It is simply the feeling a person has for being able
to participate in the commonality of experiences associated with
being a member of that community called a country.

Further, if there had been no commonality of interests and thus
no patriotism, there never would have been an American Revolution
and we would be driving on the left side of the road.

It is strange how some people equate every emotion to the Vietnam
War.  Even the definition of the word Patriot in Websters has
undergone a change in the past ten years (see older editions).

I must be a very patriotic person because I happen to love this
country.  I don't, however, agree with everything that happens.
This does not diminish my feeling when I stand up for the
National Anthem.  

I also do not think that my country is any more superior because
of my feelings.  I am sure that there are justy as many Russians
who feel the same way about their country, yet do not agree with
their internal policies.

If you want to learn about patriotism, talk to an Irishman, an
Isrealite, or a Japanese.  Whether or not I agree with any
particular war or not has nothing to do with my feeling for
my country.

I know that this is an old saw, but if Genji has no feelings for
this country, perhaps he/she? should move to one that more suits
his feelings.  This would free up a job for someone else, thus
helping with the unemployment problem.  If the Genji person is
only hanging around for the "money", then the Genji person should
keep their mouth shut and let the rest of us get on with the
job of making this country a better place to live for everyone.

Patriotically going off to war is indeed one of the things that
might have to be done in order to perserve Genji's job and
everyone elses.  Thus, if I or anyone else feels patriotically
inclined to go off to war to save Genji's job, I don't believe
it is Genji's place to deride those feelings.

Finally, I believe that Genji should apologize to everyone on the
net for such remarks.  The Genji person does not have to have any
feelings whatsoever about this country, but to cast such unwarrented
derision on someone who does is cowardly and shows a complete
lack of maturity.

		T. C. Wheeler
United States Citizen (active)