When did they change the definition of "partriotic"?

I know what you mean. I heard people call other people "un-american" for not supporting Bush with the war in Iraq. I have heard people say you are "un american" for supporting Prop 8 in california. I have heard all kinds of things said about being unpartriotic or un-american. Basically the word has been turned into a weapon. If you do not agree with a group (be it gov., political party, etc..)than they use that word to try in preasure you into supporting them or at least not speaking out against them. No one wants to be called unpartriotic. So therefore they conform or keep their mouths shut so they won't be called it. It is a form of intimidation in my opinion. It is wrong and it is a shameful. Just ignore them. Believe what you want. Speak how you please. Don't let the bullies win.

A patriot in my own words is someone who supports US ideals...not someone else's. Just because we don't believe or agree on this administration's ideas does not make us a non-patriot. But I do think Obama is just moving too fast on fixing this mess we're in. I mean, isn't the USA still a democratic country where the opinions of the American public should be heard and not a Socialist country where your opions don't count? Why is this administration wanting to change everything in one fell swoop? Next thing you know they'll talk about nationalizing the banks....oh I forgot, they already did start talking about that. Heard something on CNN just a few days ago. It was just talk mind you....or is it?

Have you been around for the last eight years? I'm not calling you unpatriotic for having a differing opinion from the President, but I was called unpatriotic and worse for having a differing opinion from President Bush. There might be some people out there who are appreciating the shoe being on the other foot and are having a joke with you.

I know the feeling. I was called unpatriotic right here on mylot for not supporting the stimulus bill. Main Entry: pa·tri·ot·ism Listen to the pronunciation of patriotism Pronunciation: \'pa-tre-?-?ti-z?m, chiefly British 'pa-\ Function: noun Date: circa 1726 : love for or devotion to one's country http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patriotism I can't seem to find anything about liking the president, supporting a bill you AND those who voted for it haven't read, or anything of the sort. I love my country. I'm devoted to my country. I pay my taxes unlike Obama's appointees so by Joe Biden's definition I'm patriotic and they're not. I wonder what definition people are using these days.

Concepts like patriotism, or being a good-American have become over-hyped ideals. The definitions change with the people that use them. You're un-American if you oppose the war, or you can't say you're a patriot if you don't "shut up and follow" the president. The same stuff is said every year, in every administration. Patriotism is over-rated anyway. I could easily live with not being a patriot. I do it every day.

Certainly the definition of 'patriotic' changes as laws change and presidents change. If the country is doing good and you say you're patriotic, people will agree with you, but if the country is doing band and you say you're patriotic, people will disagree with you. The country changes every year, if not every year. It all depends on how you see the country I guess... do you agree of the definition of the country from centuries ago or now?

Ever since 9/11, or should I say since shortly after 9/11, I've heard people's patriotism questioned. I guess once Bush uttered those words "You're either with us or against us!" the definition of a lot of things changed. It seemed like for a time after the attacks most people went along with everything our government wanted to do; the Patriot Act was for our own good, invading Afghanistan was justified to go after al Qaeda, and all the new security headaches were worth the bother. Then came the Iraq War and when people spoke out against it they were told they were anti-American and that they couldn't support the troops if they didn't support the war or the Commander-In-Chief. In my opinion it really got ugly during the recent Presidential campaign when it was said that some states and areas in the country weren't part of the "real America" and that some of us weren't "pro-American". If someone believed our country to be "imperfect" that somehow meant we didn't love our country. I've always believed that when you love someone or something it's not because you think it is perfect but you do want it to be the very best it could be. You mention that those who weren't for President Obama are being accused of not being patriotic but I've seen another side of that, I'm seeing here on myLot to this very day where some say he's not an American and that anyone who voted for him is anti-American. It's all ridiculous, in my opinion we're all Americans and I don't question anyone's patriotism as long as they're not suspected terrorists! Annie

These days america is either painted as a saviour or a criminal. But I think that being patriotic means sticking to the IDEALS of your country not necessarily the policies of the government. So unless all americans have decided to change their ideals then yes, maybe the definition of patriotic and non-patriotic would change in your country. So if you still believe and fight strongly for the ideals your country was founded upon then you are patriotic doesn't matter what other people or the government says about you. Here's a discussion that would be related to how you maty be feeling right now. Hope it helps... http://www.mylot.com/w/discussions/1909595.aspx

I know how you feel. Suddenly too many people equate love for the country and standing up for the country and defending it with having to completely agree with the policies of whatever bloke we elected president and whoever we elected as our lawmakers. While ideals and what a country stands for can change, it hasn't really changed lately. So what our patriotism stands for shouldn't have changed either. IMO, too many people don't know what being patriotic really means. No, it doesn't mean total and complete submission to Obama, lol. Just wait, a couple months down the road, for some longer, for some less, they will realize that one shouldn't blindly support everything that comes from Washington just because Obama is in charge now. At that point being patriotic will be back to the meaning you know;)

"Patriotic" is one of those words that is misused horribly, like "revolutionary" or "unique". As someone posted earlier, a patriot is someone who loves their country, simple as that. That does NOT mean you have to love whoever's in control or agree with them - in fact, it may mean that you are forced NOT to like them, because they're bad for your country and it's the country you love. Personally, I would never, ever call anyone who was in the armed forces anything other than a patriot. "No greater love can a (wo)man have for their country that they lay down their life to protect it", as the quote goes (yeah, I paraphrased). By the way, "treason" (until it was redefined from it's original meaning) couldn't occur in the US, as it was defined as doing something directly opposing the sovereign. The US doesn't have one.