S2 E35 Patriotism for our Republic

Episode discussion topics

• We put the spotlight on what it means to be a patriot in our republic. What patriotism looks like in our republic juxtaposition to insurrection. Don't get them confused!
• The ongoing sliding scale of democratic self-rule and why we allow it to oscillate between freedom and authority. Self-rule is a messy business and when times are tough, we tend to sacrifice our civil liberties and create autocracies among the states. That is a fear response that we must resist.
• A recent ruling from one of the initial cases coming to bear against the insurrectionists on January 6, 2021. In Judge Amy Berman Jackson's words while sentencing an insurrectionist, "Patriotism is loyalty to country, loyalty to the Constitution, not loyalty to a head of state. That is the tyranny we rejected on July 4." Read in: King of England be damned, this is the United States!
• The dangers of political parties are showing their colors. Please check out S1 S6 | The Politics of Party. Elections, like court cases, are best designed to bring any contest to a conclusion. It is not always fair, but it should be essentially by the book. When loyalty to a party or one person or the idea of one person is an affront to operating our system of representative government. The founders were leery of kings and irrational laws and sycophants alike.
• Following the rules is very patriotic and if we do not like the rules, it is in our power to change them. It is in fact our responsibility as citizens to sponsor a system that calls foul balls and enforces the strike-outs. This is the same spirit in which we play sports and expect one another to not be a poor loser.  This is how we should view and respect our system of laws.
• Calls to Action:
  • Let us know your definition of "Patriot" in reference to this episode. How do you feel about ours?
  • Before you run off and start defending our system as a patriot, first read your state's constitution! If that's too much to start, go re-read the Constitution of the United States. You should know what you are trying to defend without taking anyone else's word for it.

Your hosts: Michael V. Piscitelli and Raymond Wong Jr.

More info

• MVP wanted to put the message out there that the best way forward for all of us to live freely as Americans is to treat everyone equally under the law and each other with dignity and respect. We must accept the fact that all who are not native are descendants of immigrants and/or slaves. Anthropology teaches us that gene flow comes and gene flow goes, so too does immigration. We need to be steadfast in our principles, as a nation of immigrants, to maintain the United States as a shining light upon a hill with a beacon of promise like no other land on Earth. Sharing is caring and caring brings happiness. Off the soapbox...
• We have transcripts now! Come to the episode page on our site to check it out. It's all AI from Zoom, not us, so forgive us for any mistakes.
• Please feel free to share your thoughts through our Contact Us page or on Facebook.

Learn more and reach out

• Head to Citizens Prerogative for additional information and log in or sign up to leave a comment.
• Don't forget to join our free newsletter and get 10% off at our shop! Go the extra mile by supporting us through Patreon.
• Please contact us with any questions or suggestions.
  

Special thanks

• Our ongoing supporters, thank you!
  
• Our sponsor CitizenDoGood.com.
  
• Graphic design by SergeShop.com.
  
• Intro music sampled from “Okay Class” by Ozzy Jock under creative commons license through freemusicarchive.org.
  
• Other music provided royalty-free through Fesliyan Studios Inc.