Patriotism: When are you considered as being traitors to your own country?
By naokokensaku
@naokokensaku (529)
Malaysia
July 13, 2007 7:20am CST
There are many who say that Patriotism is loving your country. No one denies that. But if you stood up and criticised your country, are you considered a patriot, or a traitor? If you love your country, shouldn't you be pointing out her flaws? If you had to, would you compare her to a neighbouring country to point out her flaws and deficiencies? Would suggestion of change in the ways things have ALWAYS been done mean that you're a traitor?
3 responses
@sugarfloss (2139)
• Malaysia
13 Jul 07
Patriotism is no doubt,loving your country but isn't it only human to be inquisitive about everything without any intentions of criticizing but to better the system?If someone stood up and criticized his/her country,he/she wouldn't count as a traitor.I compare my country to a neighbouring country all the time but that doesn't diminish my love and respect for our country?besides,where can you get nasi lemak and a glass of teh tarik at 3am anywhere in the world?exactly my point;)
@naokokensaku (529)
• Malaysia
13 Jul 07
Malaysian ka? WOOT! *Glomps and tackles*
Exactly my point. A friend of mine is being bashed on his blog because he basically spoke about several features of Singapore that was better than Malaysia. There are those who think that being patriotic means being dumb.
Then again, with certain political parties in Malaysia being like that you can't quite blame them now, can you?
@Married2aMarine (1273)
• United States
15 Jul 07
This is because Malaysia doesn't really have freedom of speech...or religion...even though it pretends to be. Has it pros and cons. I live in the States now. Here, there is total freedom of speech and religion but a lot of people abuse it as well. But better to have this freedom than none.
@Married2aMarine (1273)
• United States
13 Jul 07
Unfortunately, we are all humans and prone to error. As such, is no such thing as a perfect government or perfect country. There will always be flaws. But people always like to compare. Think the grass is greener on the other side of the world. But I don't think you can refer to someone as a traitor when they criticize their own countries.
@Married2aMarine (1273)
• United States
15 Jul 07
Thanks for your concern. He just came back from a deployment earlier this year and will be deploying again end of this year.
@naokokensaku (529)
• Malaysia
13 Jul 07
Thank you. I hope your spouse comes home safe to you if he's on assignment.
@Aussies2007 (5336)
• Australia
25 Oct 07
Patriotism is generally a term used when you are at war. It is about serving and protecting your country at all cost from the ennemy. Not doing so makes you a traitor.
But some extremists have taken patriotism to a whole new level... where you are not allowed to criticise anything about your country.
That sort of patriotism is like religion.
It is blindfaith in anything your government tells you. It is about censoring the truth and freedom of speech.
