...I can't like or agree with this enough!!! - JA Castillo

Look at that. Here we are having a complete argument in one thread and then you post something with which I absolutely and completely agree. - Brad Nickel

I really like this post. Except I think 'Virginia' should read 'America'. - Aaron Hood

@Aaron - "Virginia" is a metaphor for the average American. Thanks though. There's a good quote from Mark Twain on the subject .. I'll attach when I can find it. - Anthony Citrano

I really hope the upcoming generation figures out the answer to this question. Really. - Josh Haley

@Anthony- Understood. @Josh- We're working on it. Or trying to at least. - Aaron Hood

I think it means putting two american window flags on your car. - Scoble, Alex Scoble

But only after some grave national crisis. - Scoble, Alex Scoble

Also requires the use of the magnetic yellow "support the troops" ribbons. I know when I was in Iraq, I only felt better by knowing that so many people supported me by their use of magnetic yellow ribbons. - Michelle M

Yeah, what's bad is that not one dollar made selling those magnetic things ever made it to the troops, unlike all the Live Strong paraphernalia. Those stickers really annoyed me as a former member of the armed forces. The best way to support the troops would have been to vote for someone that wouldn't have sent our troops overseas to an unnecessary war. - Scoble, Alex Scoble

Michelle & Alex- YES! Please stop showing off that you support the troops by having a magnet on your car. Send your money to the USO or to a veteran's fund. We don't need to know that you support the troops. - Aaron Hood

I remember the sense in the days after 9-11 when it was felt that this event was too horrible, too precious to be commercialized. Everyone was doing everything for free or at cost and if anything so much as *smelled* commercial, people were shamed. It didn't take us too long to get from there to the Franklin Mint late-night TV commercials selling "limited edition" $50 coins with a flag and a little World Trade tower on them that "rose" out of the coin... - Anthony Citrano

Yep, Abby, and what did that take, a whole month? - Anthony Citrano

Patriotism is what spiritual link connects you to your country or nation! It's like the kingdom of heaven, it is in your heart!! Those who put stickers on their cars are capable of that much only - appearances. Nationalism, ideals, loyalty are empty but charged words...for those who can do no better. - Hayk

Sounds like hogwash to me, Hayk. I am asking for a more specific definition of patriotism, specifically what Americans mean when they say it. I disagree that the words are empty - so long as we explain what we mean when we say them - because coming from most people they are simply platitudes. - Anthony Citrano

Anthony, you are right. I reread and thought of it as much :) But we put meanings into words. As for definitions, here is one, "Patriotism is a feeling of pride and love for one's country." ....... 'Nietzsche wrote that words with a history cannot be defined. Their meanings are in their stories, their biographies. That is surely the case with "patriotism." Patriotism is as patriots have done.' Source: http://bit.ly/3ZW7bp - Hayk

Dave R using my least favorite say-nothing term “un-American” inspired me to bump this. - Anthony Citrano

You're welcome! - Dave Roth

"Patriotism" is to the average citizen what "Electability" is to the average politician. They are both vague and ever-changing consensus of the population (or media, for the cynics out there.) - Scott Ohlemacher