Purveyors of hate
Attempt to intimidate those of unlike minds–
Turning to violence and angry rhetoric to force their points-of-view.
Reality eludes them as they long for their diluted utopia.
I do not despise my country nor my brothers,
Only those despots among us that desire to bastardize it in their image.
They and they alone are treasonous,
Ignorant and insidious,
Corrupting all that is good in the name of the flag.
~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~
Dom DiFrancesco 
Sad that patriotism seems to have become a reason to hate fellow citizens. It’s like the simple act of disagreeing with someone translates to them hating a country where ‘Freedom of Speech’ is one of the first rights.
Very true. Patriotism in and of itself is not a bad thing…I love my country (I don’t like much of what it does), but that doesn’t give me the right to behave badly while waiving the flag.
Exactly. There’s a fine line between showing pride in your country and hiding behind it while being a jerk.
My point exactly and let’s be honest, there are plenty of jerks out there. 🙂
It’s like they outnumber the rational people.
Well said! Well said!
Thank you very much. 🙂
Hmm. In my experience it’s the unpatriotic liberals and feminist who turn to violence and angry rhetoric. Remember, ‘Earth First’ and ‘Earth Liberation Front’. Those are two examples of groups that are NOT patriots that are extremely violent. There are plenty others. Also, remember that without the patriotic mentality you would not be able to write what you like.
Hopefully we can agree that there plenty of examples in our history on both sides of the political spectrum that could be held up as examples of those claiming to be patriotic, wrapping themselves in the American flag all while using it as an excuse for their bad behavior. The ELF certainly is a great example on the liberal side, but there are individuals and groups of extremists on the conservative/right-wing side of the aisle as well such as the Georgia militia group that in 2011 plotted to bomb a federal building and release ricin in Atlanta or more generally white supremacist groups that claim to be all for America. Going back in time you could certainly hold up Joseph McCarthy as an example of a so-called patriot that did a tremendous amount of damage to our nation. My poem was not an indictment of either political party or one extreme faction or another in particular, but a general indictment of the use of the words patriotic, patriotism or patriot for the purpose of justifying ones hatred and/or persecution of another member of our society that does not fit their ideal. Love of country does not give one the right to act the way these people act and I certainly wouldn’t give them any credit for allowing me to write what I like, true honest patriots maybe, but not these people. Anyway, enough of my ranting. I do appreciate and thank you for your thoughtful comment and hope you have a great day. Thanks again.
🙂 well explained. Thank you sir and have a wonderful Friday!
Thank you very much and you do the same. 🙂
Hmm. In my experience it’s the unpatriotic liberals and feminist who turn to violence and angry rhetoric. Remember, ‘Earth First’ and ‘Earth Liberation Front’. Those are two examples of groups that are NOT patriots that are extremely violent. There are plenty others. Also, remember that without the patriotic mentality you would not be able to write what you like.