Caring enough to stand up and make yourself heard when you see it veering down the wrong path, & working hard to make it a 'more perfect union' - then Yes.

...was used by the right wing to quell dissent. Sort of like, 'My Country, Right or Wrong".

At a very young age, I knew it was a very, very ignorant way to think.

I sense a strain of the same sentiment here on DU sometimes, but not exactly saying those words...

Personally, I don't care about Snowdon. I didn't think the NSA's activities were acceptable ten years ago, and I don't like them any better today.

Well done.

Frankly this is one of the more inane and ridiculous things I have seen posted in a while. Certainly people can seen that shades of gray exist in even a black and white world.

I'm sorry you misinterpreted the meaning of the post.

That old saw has been used for decades now to try to shut down reasonable political discussion. It promotes the idea that someone who does not see something identically to the speaker's point of view is somehow lacking in love for the nation because their views do not sufficiently meet that persons's standard.

If you are not intending to say this then I would suggest that perhaps more direct way of communicating your point could be employed.

...it is about free speech - it is not about how much you might love your country. I think this is important when we are discussing the NSA matter and terms such as "traitor" and "hero" are used by opposite sides to express their opinions. I just happen to think that sometimes you have to mix a little bit of hot peppers in the omelette before people can actually taste it...

plain wordswould serve your purpose better because having already stated your position on a number of issues, the implicatio for the reader who doesn't totally agree is that you are at once casting them as unworthy of even being on the same geographical plain.

I may disagree with people here sometimes but I would never give someone that choice even in jest. BTW I also don't "plonk" people and generally work to be civil. I have found it interesting that some ntof the most strident defenders of the constitution in this latest set of issues have been so quick to shut other voices down.

That is not my intent but I do try to get people to think a little deeper.

This time from ca. 1968. It was stupid back then and it's stupid now.

I want to continually improve it.

Very often they don't want to hear what you have to say.

Interventions are seldom enjoyable for either side.

... of one kind or another.

Mostly here, we're looking for some kind of savior or perfect leader,
when in truth, the answer lies within US and our ability to cohere and
organize.