You need more t-shirts. You need some with a positive patriotic message so you can dumbfound all the yokels who think atheists hate America. Here’s the place you can find them: Godless Patriots.
They’re just starting up, and they’re looking for business and assistance — they also have a kickstarter page where they’re trying to raise money to expand their inventory.
They’re nice designs, and this isn’t mindless patriotism. They’ve got shirts for Americans and for the British.
Take a look and pick one up.
I have an ‘Atheists for Obama’ button.
While I appreciate the sentiment, I have two problems with the British one at least:
1)I’m so very sick and tired of these ‘keep calm and…’ t-shirts/ posters/ whatever.
2) They could at least get the shape of the flag right. The red saltire should be at the top of the white saltire in the right-hand diagonals
Hey! What about us “Patriots” from Canukistan?
Actually, that would be pretty silly. We don’t really need that goofy meme to love our country. If you ask most Canadians if they are “Patriotic” (Note the capital “P”) they would look at you like you’re from Mars.
We are, however, unfailingly polite.
It’s progressive, which is good, but personally that overused word ‘patriotism’ still has a tendency (for me) to smack, to some degree, of a certain undeserved ‘specialness’ and exceptionalism of the US, as well as a certain arrogance. I still prefer the idea of a more global loyalty to entire planet, its welfare and the welfare of all.
Odd. I mean I like my T-Shirt with the Union Jack, but then that’s because its one of the most kick-ass flags around, and I was born there. But a patriot? Isn’t nationalism over yet? Isn’t it so “20th Century”?
I like the country I live in(CZ) and am proud to be its citizen. But I don’t consider the interests, efforts or identity of local people or the variety of local culture to be grandly superior to any other worldwide. At least not in principle.
I’d wear flags as primarily a fashion statement, or perhaps a lifestyle badge, but those designs there definitely don’t measure up, let alone fit the “fashion” part of it.
What’s with the gothic-style “A?”
They ought to use the atheist A — like the one on my gravatar. It’s public domain, not associated with any specific group, and becoming more popular and recognizable.
Meh.
Patriotism does more harm than good.
Heh, I emailed them with my suggestion at #6. And discovered that both yahoo and google image searches show a lot of images of the Atheist A. I suspect that, in a few years or so, it will become THE atheist symbol. It’s very elegant and recognizable — even if you draw it in the sand with a stick.
I’d wear it on a flag shirt. If they offer it, I’ll buy it.
patriotism
Nope, patriotism is still stupid and dangerous.
I see no reason to proclaim loyalty to a bureaucracy attached to an area of land. I’m loyal to principles and ideals.
Sorry.
…also, I do hate America. It’s awful and I wish it would go away. That doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of nice people there, like everywhere else, but the bureacuracy and its attached power structures and ideologies make me want to puke.
I like the ideas, but the flag should not have any symbol overwriting it. The flag is supposed to be all-inclusive, so should stand (ironically) alone.
Just because many asshats commandeer the flag and bastardize it for their own petty uses does not mean that we should try to do the same.
kreativekaos:
^^^^This!
Zeppelin:
There are Americans that feel the same way about their country. Not everyone is mindlessly patriotic.
Zeppelin:
1. Have you considered that the same could be said of nearly any other state on the planet? The U.S. isn’t the all evil all the time monster that some portray it to be.
2. And so the solution to any problem in a state is to burn it down and start again? I’m sorry, but that rarely turns out well.
Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel. It’s nationalism pretending to be a virtue. I am not a patriot, and I am deeply suspicious of the motives of anyone who claims to be one, of any country.
So you don’t believe in an invisible man that created the world but you do believe in an invisible, magical essence that bonds together people of a random piece of land?
Congrats?
First definition from google “A person who vigorously supports their country and is prepared to defend it against enemies or detractors.”
I don’t see how that’s a good thing. Even if you leave out often racist movements that come along with rabid “patriotism” it’s nonsensical to attach vigorous support to a land in which you just happened to separate from your female parent or were possibly granted citizenship. Defense against detractors is especially problematic because there are some seriously fucked aspects, about at least my country (USA), that no one of a compassionate and reasonable mind would implicitly support with silence or should be considered an enemy for speaking against. Having a common land of birth or citizenship is not enough to garner support from me. It requires and Other concept and that never ends well.
Fun etymology time…
http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=patriot&searchmode=none
‘patriotes was “applied to barbarians who had only a common [patris], [politai] being used of Greeks who had a common [polis] (or free-state).” ‘
“Meaning “loyal and disinterested supporter of one’s country” is attested from c.1600, but became an ironic term of ridicule or abuse from mid-18c. in England”
Thinking of rallying phrases “for god and country” comes to mind and I’m sure not behind that sentiment.
This thread makes me feel a little bit optimistic about humanity.
Another (British) non-patriot here. But it makes no more sense to hate a whole country than to be patriotic.
My bumper sticker…
http://i1.cpcache.com/product/12182046/secular_humanist_bumper_sticker.jpg
…and CafePress.com and EvolveFish.com have others like it, just need to search a bit. :)
The word patriot makes me cringe. If someone describes themselves as a patriot I get the feeling they will hit me if I say anything they don’t like.
I find this a creepy, ill considered statement. A bit like saying that not all muslims are terrorists but wishing for muslims to wiped off the earth.
My understanding of patriotism is the willingness to further the collective well-being of the people who live in the country of one’s birth or citizenship. This does not necessarily involve loyalty to the existing government of that country, and does not involve antipathy toward citizens of other countries, nor exclusion of the rest of humanity from the same consideration. One can be a patriot, an internationalist and a humanist. I try to be all of these. :)
billhaines
I will help my neighbour up the road unpack when they move in even though I have never met them. I wont do this for someone who lives a kilometre away. It makes sense to work with the people you live amongst. I guess this is what you mean by patriotism. But don’t understand the need to label yourself as a patriot.
I dont live in the US so I don’t come across many people that describe themselves as patriots. Those that do often come across as aggressive and intimidating. They imply they care more because they are patriots. I can accept that there are patriots that are not like this but I am genuinely intimidated by the word because of my experiences.
I don’t have a problem with the word “patriotism”. Just with how some define it. Because I love my country, doesn’t mean I think less of any other. Many other places on the globe have attributes that can’t be found in the U.S. Such is the beauty of a diverse planet, and diverse peoples.
But no matter how beautiful another place is, one is always glad to come home. And that’s really what the word means to me.
@16: Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel.
____________________________________________________
With all due respect to an enlightened but inferior lexicographer I beg to submit that it is the first.
http://www.alcyone.com/max/lit/devils/p.html
Terribly sorry, but I can’t resist the opportunity to quote some Ambrose Bierce. :)
Anyway, a pleasure to read an enlightened discussion about the patriotism meme. I’d say “We Europeans should know better than anyone”, but sadly that doesn’t seem to be the case these days. But those of us that are Europeans should know better than anyone what a very slippery slope patriotism really is; one of the primary driving forces behind two world wars.
I agree with everyone’s posting….
1) The gothic “A”? — stick with the scarlet scipt “A” or as Sastra suggest (which has been endorsed by Atheist Alliance International)
2) What’s up with the red/white British Flag — what next, green/white Mexico Flag? Do not use them — I do live in America, but I identify myself as an Atheist (not an American-Atheist). I like the idea of a global loyalty to the entire planet — My patrioitism is to the entire world. (go back to 1)
….I’ve also visited my countries, this planet is loaded with diversed people and each having their own colorful cultures.