On Thu, May 6, 2010 at 11:11 AM, G Money <gm0n3...@gmail.com> wrote: > > On Thu, May 6, 2010 at 1:05 PM, Judah McAuley <ju...@wiredotter.com> wrote: > >> I guess that I just don't see it as an honest attempt at patriotism. >> Patriotism doesn't need to be flaunted. It isn't about "I'm a better >> American than you". Just like you don't go around flaunting charity. >> You do what's right and lead by example. Patriotism isn't about what >> you wear, it is about what you do. And, to me, people wearing flag >> crap don't seem to understand that and that bothers me. >> > > Well, certainly. I mean, it doesn't make you patriotic just because you wear > a t-shirt with the flag on it....but it doesn't make you UNpatriotic either. > If a true patriot's worst sin is that they aren't wise on the most PC ways > to display that patriotism, then, well, I can live with that, ya know?
That's true on the surface, but my experience tells me that when people are flaunting something and making flashy displays of whatever (patriotism, piety, charity, green living, etc) that usually means that their actual experience/belief in that thing is very shallow. I know some great Christians who really try and live the ideal. Like a family I know that runs an animal shelter at their farm for horses, dogs, cats, squirrels, ducks, snakes...seriously, a total Francis of Assisi gig going on. And they do it because they feel that, as Christians, they are called to take care of the weak and defenseless. They go to church and all, but they don't proselytize, they don't put bumper stickers and magnets all over their minivan, they don't get political about it. They'll certainly talk to you about their beliefs if you want to, but what they do is more important than shouting about their beliefs to the world. I just can't shake the feeling that people who are into conspicuous displays of a supposed ethos, whether wearing American flags on everything or spending $300 on a designer recycled hemp direct trade shirt, don't really have a clue about what they think they are honoring or otherwise they wouldn't be doing what they are doing. Judah ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Order the Adobe Coldfusion Anthology now! http://www.amazon.com/Adobe-Coldfusion-Anthology-Michael-Dinowitz/dp/1430272155/?tag=houseoffusion Archive: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/cf-community/message.cfm/messageid:317619 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/cf-community/subscribe.cfm Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/cf-community/unsubscribe.cfm
