Patriotism on the Right and Left

Republicans didn't steal patriotism. Some Democrats just started believing that loving one's country meant trashing it. Being proud of the United States is certainly not a prerequisite in their mind. To the contrary, it is downright unpatriotic to love one's country unconditionally. The definition they most often cite is the Marxist Paul Robeson's: "The patriot is the person who is never satisfied with his country."

Anyone who walks across a college campus will see evidence of this somewhat Orwellian thought-process on a popular t-shirt that reads, "Dissent is patriotic." (Of course dissent should be tolerated, and sometimes it is admirable--but is it necessarily patriotic?) This sentiment was also very much reflected in Obama's decision to stop wearing the American flag lapel pin. Recall what he said:

"You know, the truth is that right after 9/11, I had a pin," Obama said. "Shortly after 9/11, particularly because as we're talking about the Iraq War, that became a substitute for I think true patriotism, which is speaking out on issues that are of importance to our national security, I decided I won't wear that pin on my chest."

Of course, what Obama really meant when he said "speaking out on issues" is opposing the administration.