"Jingoistic (mindless)Patriotism"

yes.. that kind of thing is a grasshoppers privates away from grabbing the torches and the rope against the 'non' patriot.

So perhaps this is the place and the time... for we who are sensing the danger, to sieze the opportunity and transform cheap political patriotism into a much more worthy exercise of educated national solidarity based in real threats and realistic assessment of our own blotchy history.

Black marks on our history do not lessen our need or right to survive.
We may be comforted that our accusers one and all ... to the last man, have similar blotches and marks. Self flagellation will do us no good at all.
-Admit.
-Repent.
-Move on.

There has never been a time more crucial for us to build national cultural and social solidarity. I mean never.. as in N-E-V-E-R.

The threat from radical Islam is more grave even than that ideoligy which drove the Nazis. Homicide bombers are not doing it for the Fhuerer. they are doing it because no less than Almight Allah tells them to. (Via their sheiks and Imams). 3 and a 1/2 yr old children are taught to say "I hate Jews, who were born from apes and pigs" (Palestinian Tv... 'Threat of Radical Islam' FoxNews ..find the links)

Anjem Choudary, leading british radical when interviewed about 911 said "Such things/attacks are not legitimate expressions of Jihad" (words_to_that_effect). He was secretly recorded later at a meeting where he said "Now, we look at the glorious 19 martyrs who downed the Trade Centre" (WTTE)

Our political correctness and tolerance is allowing Imam's in America to call on muslims en-masse to march on (storm ?) the White House and make it Islamic. Radicals in the streets of America yelling "Death 2 America".
UK Muslims yelling "This (Islamic) flag will rise over Parliament"

If only 10% of worlds Muslims were 'radical' that would equal 120 million people.

It puts the saying "Most_Muslims_are_moderate" into striking perspective.

911
Madrid
Bali
Kenya
Beruit
London1 (Buses/trains)
London2(thwarted)
London3 plane bombing(thwared)
Beslan
Bali2
Melbourne ? (13 on trial)
Sydney ? (11 on trial)

...continued....

For those among us who feel voicing the threat of radical Islam is just

"Oh.. first it was the chinks, then the wogs daigos,wops and slopes and then the boat people from Vietnam and aah.. now its the 'Muslims' turn, but it will all fade.. just like the others and we will all live and love happily ever after in our multi-cultural utopia".....

I cannot for the life of me find any unifiying force or ideology or global anti western bombing campaign as having arisen from any of the non Muslim groups.

and for the politicallly cynical... the fact that Fox news currently has "Obsession: the Threat of Radical Islam" on its features for the month...

YES....I'm sure the timing DOES have plenty to do with the US election.
NO.....It does not change the reality of the threat one scrap.

The particular version of patriotism being sold to us now is infuriating not because it demands that we love our country, but because it demands we love our country in a particular way.

The idea that there is only one true way to love your country is absurd. Do we necessarily have to get frenzied about Anzacs or is it ok just to appreciate a good ghost gum? Does patriotism always have to be about war or can it be about Vegemite and Hills Hoists?

Give me Uluru, the Top End, wattle, the kangaroo and the platypus, the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House any day. They may be hopelessly romantic and corny but they don't ask me to hate anybody.