2008-07-04 Confusing the Public About Patriotism

2008-07-04 \patriotism\authoritarianism\US conservatism http://the-wawg-blog.org/?p=535 Bad Deed for 7-4-2008: Confusing the Public About Patriotism &ldquo;For a people to be controlled, they must first be robbed of honest discourse and open debate. Distorting language and stripping it of real and honest meaning is the first tool and the best mechanism for transforming a democracy into an authoritarian state. ... Nowhere does the term or the idea of patriotism in general require one to believe oneâ€™s country is â€œgreat.â€ Nowhere does the term or the idea of patriotism in general require a ban on dissenting views, on criticism of oneâ€™s government, indeed even of oneâ€™s nation.&rdquo;   