It’s true that Americans aren’t very bright (blanket generalization here sorry), seem to tune out on complicated subjects such as anythign to do with banking or oil or politics in general, and are easily manipulated as a result.

All we can do is try to keep our minds free of mental chains they thrust upon us and not believe all the misconceptions as gospel.

The pledge of allegiance really took hold when the American public wanted to show those commie bastards, what America is all about. It didn’t become a requirement in the U.S. until 1942. And even back then it rubbed some people the wrong way (see Minersville School District v. Gobitis).

“Under God” didn’t come into it until 1954.
Similarly, “In God we trust” became the national motto 1956.

Those years are rather interesing aren’t they?

The right to bear arms, at least in its original context where defense from the government was the issue, is a logical fallacy in today’s terms.

I’d like to invite someone to investigate the odds of survival for even 100 – 200 heavily armed citizens against just one Apache gunship.

As for the founding fathers and their religious views…

I think Jefferson probably put it best :

Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call to her tribunal every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blindfolded fear.

And for the record… Note to all Christian zelots:
God does not approve of “murder”; not “killing”. God has, on many occasions in the past, given his blessing for the destruction of life. Including, pregnant mothers and their unborn, women, children, the elderly and the infirm. But it’s all cool, because they deserved it.

“When you love a thing, its gladness is a reason for loving it, and its sadness a reason for loving it more. All optimistic thoughts about England and all pessimistic thoughts about England are alike reasons for the English patriot.” -G.K. Chesterton

Just like loving a person, loving a country doesn’t mean a certain set of beliefs. It means really caring. An interest in politics at all is probably a sign of patriotism, regardless of your “side.”

It’s mostly Republicans that use the word in an underhanded way. Liberals tend to use a different word, though, for similar purposes: “progressive.” Progressive implies not only change but improvement. Therefore it implies conservatives must be “against things getting better.” An idea which is equally silly and manipulative.

The first other misconception that came to mind for me is that many people believe that you have to have strong convictions directly in line with a certain political party (it’s usually Republicans, who think you’re not a patriot unless you support their ideals, but I’m sure there’s at least one example from the left that someone could use to make me look like an ass) in order to be a patriot. Many seem to think that Democrats and Republicans were always around and have been a staple of America forever when it’s actually a more recent thing, comparatively… Most people know that George Washington opposed the idea of political parties, but mentioning any other party (Whig, Populist, Democratic Republican, etc.) to the average person gets a priceless expression of complete befuddlement.

I found your blog recently through your comments on another and I really enjoy your take on politics and feminism. Keep up the good work!