People who must constantly state their patriotism, are they disturbed?

[Philosoraptor]

These assholes who always go on in public about how patriotic they are and how unpatriotic you are, are they wired funny?

Do they have some strange mental defect that they call patriotism, or nationalism?

I feel patriotic here and there, but I'm no Uber Patriot.

I suspect that the loudest blowhards about the flag and super duper patriotism are really way past insane.

[rurallib]

1. HOW DARE YOU QUESTION MY PATRIOTISM?

I am a patriot right down to my flag-design underpants. And I am willing to fight with any enemy down to the last drop of your blood.

[Philosoraptor]

2. You couldn't possibly be more patriotic than I.

I just don't see how. And I'm willing to send my own grandchildren to Iraq to prove it.

[jedicord]

3. I don't know, but they sure disturb me. n/t

[Poiuyt]

4. They are jingoists

I don't know if they are disturbed or not. Maybe insecure. Certainly assholes.

(Jingoism is a term describing chauvinistic patriotism, usually with a hawkish political stance. In practice, it means bullying other countries or using whatever means necessary to safeguard a country's national interests.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jingoism

[Avalux]

5. They know not the true definition of patriotism.

Love or devotion to one's country - in my view, the foundations of this country - the Constitution. It does NOT mean love or devotion to individuals in government or one political party. Those who believe Bush's presidency was devinely sanctioned and support him blindly are not patriotic; those who believe this country should be ruled by the bible are not patriotic; those who haven't a clue what the Constituion really means or just don't care are not patriotic. I'd say they are mostly ignorant equating patriotism to religion, and using faith as a barometer for super-duperness. No questions allowed.

[LiberalEsto]

6. Reminds me of men who constantly

display their "masculinity" and talk about how much they hate gay men. Aren't a lot of them masking their own gay feelings?

[Philosoraptor]

7. Or the senators who constantly harp on Christian family values.

They are generally the most perverted.

[liberalmuse]

8. It's not patriotism...

but an expression of belligerent nationalism. I find these people the least patriotic of all, since they do not know their Constitution and rarely tolerate freedom of speech if the views expressed oppose their own. They'd be better off under a facist dictatorship (and I'm not saying we aren't under one now.)

[Sailor for Warner]

9. I wouldnt say insane

But it is hardwired in many americans, I think that since we are so young and our whole identity for our entire history has always derived from feverent nationalism, there seems to be far more here with far greater intensity than anywhere else.

[annabanana]

10. Freedom of choice = Coke or Pepsi?

They have no deeper understanding of the concepts.

[eppur_se_muova]

11. "Methinks thou doth protest TOO much..."

It always seemed obvious to me that the emphasis should be on "too", but I never hear it that way. The implication is that if you were innocent, of course you'd protest, but if you were guilty, you'd be sure to protest even more, hoping to win points for sheer exuberance/volume.

[GreenPartyVoter]

12. Same as the ones constantly chimin abt their religion

[Hubert Flottz]

13. No they just feel guilty because someone died in their place in a

war somewhere, because they were to big of a coward to serve.

[supernova]

14. Deep insecurities

about what they think, ergo the constant need for public stroking about it.

They don't really feel that way deep down inside, or aren't sure, so they seek constant public reassurance. And predictably, they get angry when they don't get the desired response.

[leftofthedial]

15. it's the same kind of disease as religious fundy-ism

and yes, it is mental illness