The modern American patriot

Back in July 2005, I blogged a bit about my 9/11 conspiracy theory and at the end, I included this snippet:

Over two hundred years ago, this country was formed by a group of people who were known as “Patriots.” These people fought against the rule of a government that didn’t serve its people. What it meant to be “a patriot” back then was to support the revolution in overthrowing the former government. It meant fighting against huge odds because to continue to live the way things are would be far worse than trying to overthrow the government. It was downright treasonous to be a patriot, but these people did it because that’s what they felt was the right thing to do. They risked everything because they couldn’t go on living the way they were — they were pushed past a point.

Today, the words “patriot” and “patriotic” get thrown around, but in the same breath with things like the “PATRIOT Act” and “Homeland Security” — implying loyalty and support of our current government — but when and where did the meaning change? Perhaps it really hasn’t. Perhaps there will be a new generation of patriots who will overthrow this government and install a new one whose interests, once again, lie with the people it represents. They will be fighting against huge odds, and be treated as traitors — maybe even labelled terrorists — and will risk everything for something they believe in. But, how many 9/11’s will it take before the American people are pushed past their point and become true patriots? We will see.

Last week, Wil Wheaton blogs about Glenn Greenwald who started a blog back in October 2005, which lead to a book deal in March 2006. The book, How Would a Patriot Act? Defending American Values from a President Run Amok, sounds like it takes the central idea from my two paragraphs and turned it into a book. I’ll have to read it and find out, I guess. For now, I’ve added it to my Amazon.com wishlist.

Tags:
America,
government,
politics,
conspiracy,
9/11,
patriotism