Wes Clark makes the word "Patriot" sound like something I could call myself with a straight face...

I think a lot of us lefty-types (I speak of Max and myself here, I don't think anyone would call my dad a lefty-type --although maybe he'll correct me?) have a hard time with the sound of the word "patriotism" in our mouths. After 9/11 we all felt pretty patriotic, but then John Ashcroft started telling me that criticizing the government was giving aid to the terrorists, and patriotism started feeling like jingoism again.

I love my country. But I'm not sentimental about it. So many people who are patriotic in a saccharine way are certain we live in the best place in the world, but having never left the country nor learned much about anyplace else, they really have nothing against which to compare. I've seen what's out there, at least some of it, in the rest of the world -- the crappy roads, the legless beggars, and the shantytowns. But I've also seen far better public transport, higher quality food, more respect for workers, and universal health care.

We enjoy staggering wealth and freedom here, and that's something to be happy about. But we're not perfect. Saying that shouldn't make me un-American.

And then comes along General Clark, and he says:

The New American Patriotism I've talked about is emerging strongly around the country. These are people who want to pitch in and help, not just wave flags. And these patriots also understand that what we're protecting isn't just our borders against an invasion but also our rights and ideals against their compromise. That's why one of the strongest reactions I get is in pointing out that in a democracy in time of war, dialogue and debate, disagreement and dissension are the essence of patriotism - not a failure but a celebration of who we are as a nation! No Administration has the right to say that if you disagree, it's unpatriotic!

Wait! You mean, I can be a patriot even if I---

• like France and buy their cheese
  
• Don't like going to Fourth of July picnics and don't get teary-eyed at the Boston Pops rendition of the 1812 overture...
  
• Don't like waving a flag
  
• Think socialized medicine is a good idea
  
• Hate a lot of things about American consumer 'culture'
  
• don't particularly like the look of red, white, and blue together (too primary for me)
  
• vacation regularly in other countries

Hey, maybe loving your country is kinda like loving your family: you love 'em, you hate 'em, you complain to your shrink about 'em, you wish you didn't have to deal with them, you think they're crazy, why'd they do that? remember when they did such-and-such and how terrible that turned out? but in the end you're stuck with them, and when you look at other peoples' families you realize yours is actually pretty good after all, and you're proud to be a member of your family, for about three seconds until something else about them ticks you off and there you are again, complaining.

Some of us are just complainers. It doesn't mean we don't love that about which we complain so heartily...

Hey, maybe I'm a patriot after all....