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Real Patriots Criticize the Government

American ideals more important than scare of the minute

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 4, 2008 6:50 PM CDT

(Newser) – Patriotism is the word of the day, but what does it mean? For Cynthia Tucker of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, it means fighting for your country’s ideals. "I believe I'm lucky to be an American because our founding document embraces the revolutionary idea that any citizen should be able to criticize his government without fear of retaliation," she writes.

We have a First Amendment for a reason, she argues. “Perhaps mine is a peculiar view, but I believe patriotism encourages citizens to criticize their country when they believe it has gone astray,” Tucker writes, “when it betrays its principles by using torture against suspected enemies or when it eavesdrops on its citizens without a warrant.”

U.S. flags are seen during a naturalization ceremony in Philadelphia, Wednesday, July 2, 2008.
U.S. flags are seen during a naturalization ceremony in Philadelphia, Wednesday, July 2, 2008.   (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
A ground crew member tries to steady a 53-foot-tall American Flag hot air balloon in the wind as it is inflated at Dobbelaar baseball field Thursday, July 3, 2008, in Hoboken, N.J.
A ground crew member tries to steady a 53-foot-tall American Flag hot air balloon in the wind as it is inflated at Dobbelaar baseball field Thursday, July 3, 2008, in Hoboken, N.J.   (AP Photo/Mel Evans)
Hilary Wiggins, of Norwell, Mass., distributes small American flags before the start of the Boston Pops rehearsal at the Hatch Shell on the Esplanade in Boston, Thursday, July 3, 2008. The annual Pops concert and fireworks display will be broadcast nationally on July Fourth.
Hilary Wiggins, of Norwell, Mass., distributes small American flags before the start of the Boston Pops rehearsal at the Hatch Shell on the Esplanade in Boston, Thursday, July 3, 2008. The annual Pops...   (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
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