Patriotism
PAT'RIOTISM ,n. Love of one's country; the passion which aims to serve one's country, either in defending it from invasion, or protecting its rights and maintaining its laws and institutions in vigor and purity. Patriotism is the characteristic of a good citizen, the noblest passion that animates a man in the character of a citizen.

As with so many words today, patriotism has been diluted of all meaning.  It is thought that all Americans, especially politicians are patriotic.  Any hint that a person is unpatriotic is met with shrill cries of foul play.  All of which begs the question--what is patriotism?  

The above definition (taken from Websters 1828 dictionary) is far more specific than vague modern definitions.  Even more specificity can be found by examining George Washington's farewell address.  Combining Webster's original definition we find several things that define a patriot:

  1.  Patriots love their country.
  2.  Patriots serve their country.
  3.  Patriots defend their country.
  4.  Patriots protect the rights of their country.
  5.  Patriots maintain the laws and institutions of their country.
  6.  Patriots eagerly return to private life.  They do not make a career of government.
  7.  Patriots labor to preserve religion and morality in public and private life.
  8.  Patriots seek a public that is well informed on all sides of issues and one that is well educated.
  9.  Patriots think of themselves as Americans--not as hyphen Americans, nor as Georgians, Californians, etc.
10.  Patriots seek to preserve the union of the United States of America.
11.  Patriots put the needs of the country above personal or partisan desires.
12.  Patriots put the needs of the country above the favor of foreign nations and do not seek to use foreign nations to further partisan goals.

Love of country many would claim as their own, however, it is defined by the rest of the characteristics.  Since liberal politicians are the most apt to claim that they have been accused of a lack of patriotism, let us examine their actions in light of the above characteristics.

In service to country, we will give them credit for their either occupying or pursuing occupancy of public office.  One point

In defending their country, we make note of their marked tendency to decry America both here and abroad--always ready to assume the worst of their country.  Zero points

In protecting the rights of the country, we will use the bill of rights as the barometer.  Many liberal politicians give lip service to freedom of speech.  However, they often seek to deny freedom of speech to those who disagree with them.  They have perverted freedom of religion to be freedom from Christianity.  Recent events in Oakland show that they would allow the right to peaceably assemble only for those who agree with them.  The recent immigration bill shows that they are offended by the People petitioning the government.  They hate the Second Amendment.  Their use of eminent domain to evict the poor and benefit the wealthy shows that they have no respect for private property.   Further, they philosophically look at the Bill of Rights as being a set of privileges given to the People by a federal government, rather than intrinsic limits on the power of a federal government.  Zero points.

In upholding the laws and institutions of the country we again find them lacking.  Perhaps the most recent and compelling examples here are marriage, families, and illegal immigration.  In attacking the institution of marriage, seeking the dissolution of the family, and cynically exploiting illegal immigration for political gain, they again fail a test of patriotism.  Zero points.

In serving for a time and then returning (voluntarily) to private life--virtually no politician, liberal or conservative scores any points.  Zero points.

In seeking to preserve religion and morality: liberal attacks on Christianity abound and the liberal zeal for immorality in the media and personal lives is documented every day.  Zero points.

In seeking a well-informed, well educated public:  the recent attempts to revive the (un)-Fairness Doctrine, secret sessions in Congress,  and the well known failure of the (liberally designed) public education system speak for themselves.  Zero points.

On the self-identity of American citizens:  liberal politicians have consistently attempted to divide America into ever finer special interest groups.  Zero points

On preserving the union of the United States we will give them a pass. One Point

On putting the needs of America above personal or partisan needs:  the Senate Majority Leader's public statements that the war is lost are nothing more than pathetic partisanship.  Zero points

On putting the needs of America above the favor of foreign nations:  liberal politicians frequently desire to subject Americans to foreign judicial theory; subject our sovereignty to whims of foreign nations; and hold up foreign dictatorships as utopias to be emulated.  Zero points.

Thus, on the twelve characteristics of patriotism, liberal politicians score two points out of a possible twelve.  Based on this it  the answer to the question, "Am I Un-Patriotic?"  is:  Yes, you are.