The author makes an error when he talks about the "debate over patriotism". For republicans there is no debate to be had. Loving your country is like loving your mom, you don't think about it you just do it. The only people, according to republicans, who don't do it are ivory tower, egg-head, elitists who also questions peoples love of their mother. Foolishness. The real force behind the divide then is a devide over how patriotism is supposed to work. For republicans it's a feeling you have in your gut, best evoked (especially during an election) by fear. Much the same way that your mom having a car accident reminds you how much you love her. For democrats the issue is far more intellectual (I'm not trying to imply that dems are smarter, just more cerebral). The love of your country is a kind of analysis of it's attributes, pro and con, sometimes weighed against the pros and cons of other countries, hence the accusation that dems want the USA to turn into europe. For democrats the fact that you love the US of A is a conclusion you come to after having thought about it for a while. For republicans it's a visceral kind of feeling you couldn't really stop having even if you wanted too. This is why democrats are so effectively painted as un-patriotic, their patriotism is the kind of thing one could change your mind about, given certain circumstances. This is also why republicans like war (cold or hot but preferably undefined) it allows them to keep your guts in a constant state of tension so that you're too distracted to listen to your brain.

You know, it just so happens that July 4th is my mother's birthday. She'll be 70 tomorrow.

I agree with what you're saying. Republicans tend to equate patriotism with unquestioning obediance to our leaders, but only if those leaders of republicans, of course.

If our founding fathers, men who engaged in an armed rebellion against the prevailing order of the day, saw the attitude of the modern GOP, they'd be the first ones to call for their removal, by force if necessary.

Exactly. Great comments, and happy birthday to your mom.

Thank you. You don't know what it means to be able to celebrate this big day with her tomorrow. My mother is a breast cancer survivor. She had it when I was in grade school. That she's beaten it and is still with us over 30 years since her diagnosis gives me hope that anything is possible.

We have much in common.