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Comments from this article: Obama's Abstract Patriotism.

Excellent article, Mr. Anderson. You have hit upon one of Obama more sinister ideas -- that patriotism requires some sort of forced sacrifice by the individual to the collective (the state). Mrs. Obama, who is less skilled in the art of obfuscation than her husband, encapsulated this plank of the Obama Doctrine thusly:

"Barack Obama will require you to work. He is going to demand that you shed your cynicism. That you put down your divisions. That you come out of your isolation, that you move out of your comfort zones. That you push yourselves to be better. And that you engage. Barack will never allow you to go back to your lives as usual, uninvolved, uninformed."

The phrase "Barack will never allow you..." says it all. She obviously feeds his delusions of grandeur with such gibberish.

Posted by: GnuCarSmell | August 7, 2008 02:56 PM



"Sacrifice" and "service to a larger cause" are not the hallmarks of patriotism, they are those of nationalism. Big difference.

Nationalism is what is distilled from Nazism and Stalinism, the belief that the state is more powerful than any individual and thrives on the collective militaristic pride of the people rooted in ethnicity and culture. Obama probably learned that at the feet of those in his orbit, especially of those who espouse Black Nationalism.

Once the premise is redefined, it joins a long list of other euphemisms employed to the cause of destroying freedom and installing tyranny - all in the name of the 'national good'. Mr. Obama is paving the way for another screening of great and murderous failures of the past. Apparently, he believes, this time it will work the way the theorists said it would.

Beware of those who believe they have the answers that free men are too stupid to figure out for themselves.

Posted by: George S | August 7, 2008 03:38 PM