Israel Bans Omar/Tlaib

[Dill]

(08-16-2019, 02:47 PM)jj22 Wrote: Well I'll take the word from the support I get from the Trump defenders on the board who understand my cause. Just disagree with my approach. Like I said the one thing they say is they can tell I love my country so I respectfully disagree with you if you are being serious with that attack line against me.
And no, I'll never support an attack on our country from a foreign state. No one has before Trump and no one will after him. You are way off on me with this attack line unfortunately.
You've been right with some shots at me before, but this one is out of left field given it seems like my love for the country is the one thing that keeps me in good graces with Trump defenders and supporters (if only on side notes and messages).

Advice from a fellow "America hater."  Don't take that bait.

Rather, stick to principles. One point of distinction between liberal democracies and authoritarian/totalitarian states is that in liberal democracies, the doctrines of free speech and free press not only allow for criticism of policies and politicians and one's own countrymen, but require it for effective government. There is no requirement at all that you have to say nice things or bad things about "both sides." The common goal, ideally, is to get the facts right and rationally align them with values/principles.

In authoritarian/totalitarian governments, the case is rather different. You are either for the government/leaders or against them.  And this decides whether you love your county or "hate" it--because party and leaders are wholly identified with the country. Criticism of policy is personal. The goal is never to appear weak, regardless of facts. We don't have an authoritarian government in the US, but we do have authoritarian personalities who frame political issues in these either/or terms--our current president being the most prominent. For such, the concern is not factual accuracy but strength and noise. Rational analysis is risky, "weak," and boring.

So if someone claims you "hate America" because you criticize racist policies and leaders, you have to ask which principles they are applying to your case. Don't waste time affirming your patriotism or pointing out where you said something "nice" about America. The focus of political/policy discussions such as this should be on principles, whether the facts of a particular case are rightly understood, and whether inferences based upon those facts are logically consistent. Not your patriotism.