Jeremiah Wright (via azspot) (via marco)
Patriotism is one of those characteristics that seem peculiarly American, like bipartisan respect for POTUS. Here in the UK, being patriotic is like being able to pat your head and rub your stomach at the same time: mildly diverting, but it won’t win you any job interviews.
The other thing that puzzles me, especially these days, is the way that “patriotism” is conflated with miltary service. Why do invaders of foreign lands have a special claim to patriotism? Surely, given the nightmare of Iraq for all concerned and its undermining of prospects for US “security”, the patriots are those who oppose the war?