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Theme of this Zoom meeting: Patriotism
©2020 by Richard E. Gordon Duplication prohibited without author’s permission
email: rgordon118@tampabay.rr.com
Last updated 7/17/2020
Patriotism is a word that brings up a variety of images. Some images are beautiful, inspiring; others may be ugly, even frightening. Perhaps more than ever, patriotism is a good topic to talk about today. And so we together will jump into the pond, lake, whirlpool – or maybe quicksand --- of patriotism. (Question links to be added later. 6/8/2022)
Questions
1. Without referring to the dictionary, what is your own definition of patriotism?
2. For you, has the meaning of patriotism changed over your lifetime? How?
3. If you were called patriotic, would you feel complimented or insulted?
4. Do you consider yourself patriotic? Unpatriotic?
5. If a candidate running for high political was obviously patriotic, would that characteristic incline you to vote for her? Or against her?
6. Shut your eyes and see an image of a patriot. Is your image female or male? Why may that have significance? In your view, do women seem to be more patriotic than men? Give the why for your response.
7. In general, do you think that a true patriot is more likely to be a woman or a man?
8. How may the concept of patriotism have special relevance in today’s political climate?
9. Without mentioning names, tell us about someone you consider especially patriotic? How about the patriotism of your parents? Most of your other relatives? Did their patriotism influence you?
10. Look back in history. When do you think patriotism may have inspired greatness? Evil?
11. Can a nation thrive if most citizens identify themselves as unpatriotic?
12. Do you think that those who identify themselves as being religious are more likely to be patriotic than those who are indifferent to religion? Not affiliated with any religious organization? An atheist?
13. Consider this: How does the religious group you belong to encourage or discourage patriotism? Have you ever heard a sermon on patriotism? Is it a good topic for a sermon?
14. If your weekly bulletin of your religious congregation announced the theme of the next service was patriotism, would you be more likely to attend?
15. Has our discussion of these questions in any way changed your idea of patriotism? What has been that change? Consider the variety of views – even contradictory views – expressed in our talk on patriotism.
Quotes
Feel free to comment on these quotes. To view the
source, just click on the underlined link in the beginning of each quote.
“Loyalty to country ALWAYS. Loyalty to government, when it deserves it.―
“Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the president or any other public official, save exactly to the degree in which he himself stands by the country. It is patriotic to support him insofar as he efficiently serves the country. It is unpatriotic not to oppose him to the exact extent that by inefficiency or otherwise he fails in his duty to stand by the country. In either event, it is unpatriotic not to tell the truth, whether about the president or anyone else.” ―
“The soldier is the Army. No army is better than its soldiers. The Soldier is also a citizen. In fact, the highest obligation and privilege of citizenship is that of bearing arms for one’s country” ―
4.
“Heroism on command,
senseless violence, and all the loathsome nonsense that goes by the name of
patriotism - how passionately I hate them!” -- Albert Einstein
5. “One of the great attractions of patriotism - it fulfills our worst wishes. In the person of our
nation we are able, vicariously, to bully and cheat. Bully and cheat, what's
more, with a feeling that we are profoundly virtuous. “ --
Aldous Huxley
6. “Patriotism is voluntary. It is a feeling of loyalty and allegiance that is the result of knowledge and belief. A patriot shows their patriotism through their actions, by their choice.” --Jesse Ventura