Patriotism like many words in our lexicon has been mutated through rhetoric and partisanship.

It’s gone from a willingness to stand up and doing what it takes to support and defend the country with your will and your life into a way to tell those that dissent from popular opinion and tastes “shut up and stand quietly in line.” Nowadays, and regrettably, that line is a now more of a political party line.

Having patriotism and following the president or the values of a political party is not always the same thing. Shutting up and blinding supporting a president or political group makes you no more a patriot than blindly letting a priest in your church touch you anywhere they want makes you more religious. More gullible than principle at work.  Patriotism, like religion, is usually found in following core ideas and doctrine and not the people who claim they have them.

In fact there are many people who will proclaim themselves patriots while simultaneous doing unpatriotic things.

Last month, a Texas group that claims to love America asked the state representatives to secede the state from the US. To claim you love the U.S. so much then try to secede is like a dad who abandons his family but feels entitled to give others parenting tips. And It’d be hard to argue that, like a patriot, you are standing by your country. You’re a spouse that bolts when the going gets tough or doesn’t go your way. The same with people like Alec Baldwin and other associated with the left who threatened to leave the country after President Bush’s re-election. And though most of us don’t like taxes, taxes can be patriotic if it done in support of our country in times to trouble (think the war bonds and contributions America made in WWII).

So what is a real definition of patriot? Or  since today’s definition seems to be centered around the idea of right and wrong acts and beliefs, perhaps the real question is: is it possible for a patriot to say mean, head turning things or unpopular things about the country it claims to love?  Yes.

My golden rule in criticizing my country and still being a “patriot.” “No one makes fun of my brother but me.”

Because like my brother, I may be his biggest critic and fight with him once in a while, but when he’s in trouble, he’ll have no greater defender. Regardless who he’s up against and even if we both get our asses kicked. I’m fully invested in that fight. And that’s willingness to stand by his side is what allows me to criticize or disagree with him.  And as a true patriot, that same willingness is what gives anyone or me the right to “bust Americas balls.”