Is there really more patriotism?

[MelGrahm]

I live in Lansing, MI. I look around and I see a lot of flags and what appears to be patriotism. Everyone is living the American way, and yet, I feel like we are really missing something here. They say that the 9/11 tragedy has brought us closer together, but I wonder how it has done this. It seems like we are all united in a mutual hatred for those that caused America all this pain. But, since the months have gone by, there seems to be less and less togetherness. Here, it seems to have resumed life as normal. By normal I mean driving side by side with my fellow Americans when one of the decides to cut me off causing me to swerve all over the highway. Then he politely adds the finger to show how much he cares. I work in an office where our main function is to assist those in need (there are other things as well), and yet no one holds the door open for anyone - and forbid that anyone smile or greet each other in the mornings. This is where my frustrations are. I try my hardest to be a good person, to be kind when I am cut off on the highway, to smile and greet people in the mornings - to hold doors for those behind me. I thought with this tragedy that we, as Americans, would finally see that we are not individuals going about our own lives, we are not separated by region, race, religion, sex, whatever. We are all Americans and we need to be there for each other. I wonder where the kindness has gone? Where is compassion? Aren't these part of being patriotic? If not, maybe I don't understand the word.

Ok, that is my rant. I had to get it out! I feel better! You guys are so cool for having this place!

Let me know what your opinion is on this. Am I crazy, or do we seem to have hypocritical patriots everywhere?

[LawyerRon]

Mel,
What you're noticing is that life is getting back to normal. People are being jerks just like they were before.

[christo418]

Mel - there are the same "hypocritical patriots" here in Seattle! Everybody's got their own opinion about what it means to be patriotic, from falling all over themselves trying to prove that they belong, to quietly going about their lives being FREE, compassionate, caring human beings.