Patriotism and the American flag

What is “Patriotism?”
According to wordnet.princeton online, it is the love of ones country and the willingness to sacrifice for it.
According to Wikipedia, it is the love and devotion for ones country.

There is no doubt, according to who you talk to that “Patriotism” will mean something different.

Is it acceptable to say that “patriotism” is “relative?”
I wonder what our founding fathers thought about patriotism, Should we learn, acknowledge and accept what they said and what they thought true patriotism means? Probably so, since that is how “patriotism” began in this country.

Thomas Jefferson said, "Patriotism is not a short, frenzied burst of emotion, but the long and steady dedication of a lifetime."

Patrick Henry said,”It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace--but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death! March 23, 1775


Theodore Roosevelt said: To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public. (1918)
Thomas Paine said: "It is the duty of the patriot to protect his country from the government." Samuel Adams said: "If ever time should come, when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in government, our country will stand in need of its experienced patriots to prevent its ruin." Edmund Burke said: "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."
President Abraham Lincoln said:"This country, with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit it. Whenever they shall grow weary of the existing government, they can exercise their constitutional right of amending it, or exercise their revolutionary right to overthrow it." President Theodore Roosevelt said: "Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the President."
and Mark Twain said: "In the beginning of a change, the patriot is a scarce and brave man, hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds however, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot."
It takes only a moment of time in reading the framers documents to realize that “Patriotism” is something that very few people understand today. There is no mention by them stating that paying taxes is patriotic, nor bigger government is patriotic etc as said by today’s leaders of our country and yet we have entrusted them to run this country for the next term?
What do they know about the law they have sworn to uphold? We, today, cannot speak against our new president or we will be punished and so on. Sounds more like the beginning of a dictatorship that a president of the free world.
What do the citizens of this country know about history or patriotism to know when it is being violated, evidently not much.
I read articles and heard on the radio today that people around the country are flying the flag upside down and some others complained because they say it is “unpatriotic.” The flag being flown upside down is a signal of distress of life and property as stated here: http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/flagetiq.html#4
There are few laws in place that include how it is to be treated or flown, there didn’t need to be, it was in the heart of every American. There are rules and regulations but nothing that is punishable by law. The rules and regulations state the treatment and the reverence for it because of what it stands for.
Most Americans who love this country revere the flag, we honor what it stands for and we are prepared to were defend it. Anyone who didn’t was considered un-patriotic and un-American.
In this world of “Moral relativity” if one can say that “patriotism” is relative then can we also say “distress.” is as well?
I feel it is about time Americans flew the flag upside down due to the condition of this country and I am excited to finally see people wake up to the condition we are in. I realize that some may not feel it is time but I guess it all depends on what the individual considers “distress.”
Let’s take a closer look. The flag regulations state that the “only time to fly the union upside down is in instances of extreme danger to life or property.” There is no such verbiage stating at anytime that it is unpatriotic!
America is in a state of “distress.” The reason simply is that many people do not see how bad the condition of this country is.
“In instances of danger to property:” The government is taking our right to own property away by purchasing it through bailouts and or raising property tax to where we cannot afford it and eminent domain.
“In instances of danger to life:” Our nation kills on the average of 5500 babies a month. In addition to their lives, look at what we as a nation are doing to our own. The government is involved with stem cell research, instances where they can now take lives away, like Terri Shivo, where they can starve and thirst someone to death. How can we put someone like Dr. Kavorkian in prison for doing something the government already does?
Since removing God from school the government has the right to give life and take it away?
In addition, how is it possible that people could face charges of “unpatriotic behavior” when our new president elect refused to wear his flag pin and it was considered acceptable?
We have people burning and desecrating our flag and no one rises up against the extremists because now it is their “right to freedom of expression?” Forgive me but can anyone see anything wrong here?
We have blinded ourselves with “Moral relativism” so badly it is no wonder our country is like a fast moving freight train going straight toward a cliff…only thing is that we have destroyed the only safety net that was in place to catch us once we get there.
In case you do not know what I speak of, I speak of God. I speak of His only son Jesus Christ. As I have said before if we refuse to turn to Him, we will be forced to do so when that time comes, whether we like it or not.