The Left and patriotism

[John Bonine (U of O)]

Eugene, 

> 	Many on the Left quite properly bristle when others suggest that
> they're unpatriotic.  . . .  One can oppose aspects of our Constitution
and still be
> patriotic.  

I had a hard time getting past your first and third sentences.  Maybe it's
just me. 

This isn't a question of whether the Left opposes part of the Constitution,
is it?  Or is that your point?

Or did you mean to say simply that one can oppose some things and still be
patriotic, but cannot oppose reducing any part of the territory and be
patriotic?

Assuming the latter, Barry Goldwater was not patriotic when he proposed that
New York "be sawed off and allowed to drift out to sea"?  A whole bunch of
Westerners thought that he was intensely patriotic.

And what about letting Puerto Rico go if it chooses?  Patriotic, not, or
don't know?

Finally, what about encouraging some Americans to leave (you know, "America,
love it or leave it!" from the 1960s)?  Surely not patriotic at all, because
to want some Americans to leave would surely be as bad as wanting, say, New
York to leave.

Now, about ADDING territory or Americans, I am still trying to figure out
what the patriotic position is on that.

John

> -----Original Message-----
> From: conlawprof-bounces at lists.ucla.edu 
> [mailto:conlawprof-bounces at lists.ucla.edu] On Behalf Of Volokh, Eugene
> Sent: Friday, January 27, 2006 1:43 PM
> To: conlawprof at lists.ucla.edu
> Subject: The Left and patriotism
>