Examining American Patriotism
“A Thought for Today” is a regular feature of Wordsmith.org. Check this out, if you will:
Patriotism is pride in a country’s virtues and eager to correct its deficiencies; it also acknowledges the legitimate patriotism of other countries, with their own specific virtues. The pride of nationalism, however, trumpets its country’s virtues and denies its deficiencies, while it is contemptuous toward the virtues of other countries. It wants to be, and proclaims itself to be, “the greatest”, but greatness is not required of a country; only goodness is. -Sydney J. Harris, journalist and author (14 Sep 1917-1986) (more…)
Let’s be frank; this guy does have a point: educated people, those who read, write, think, and discuss–in particular, people who learn by questioning what they’re being told, do tend to be liberals. The causation, however, is unclear: does educating people make them liberal, or is there something about the truth of science, math, the lessons of history, or great literature that is “liberal” in and of itself? 
I used to call Trump’s response to COVID-19 involuntary manslaughter, but it actually does appear like second degree murder at this point, as his motive has become clear.
From CREW (Citizens for Ethics and Responsibility in Washington):
Perhaps the saddest single element of American life in the 21st Century is that a solid 40% of Americans appear to have no moral values whatsoever. To be a Trump supporter at this point means that you’re OK with a U.S. president protecting a foreign monarch who ordered the murder-by-torture of a journalist residing here in the states whose writings were critical of that monarch.
One wonders what Trump does with his time when he’s not tweeting, playing golf, or campaigning for re-election.
The year 2020 has been defined by wildfires, the incitement of racial violence, and of course the pandemic, fueled as it is by America’s unique combination of lies and incompetence.
I took some serious guff for surmising that the story here is a joke; the article covers a new cargo ship with rigid, material-heavy sales, and I can’t imagine that this is really happening. Check out this exchange:
