I found an interesting article in the Examiner this morning which contrasts the patriotic tendencies of both liberal/democrats and conservative/republicans.

Liberals and Democrats might assert that they are just as patriotic as conservatives and Republicans. But there seems to be a definite divergence in the parties’ intensity of patriotic feelings, regardless of who is president.

Since 1987, the Pew poll has asked respondents to agree or disagree with the statement, “I am very patriotic.” There has been a consistent difference in the degree to which Democrats and Republicans agreed with that statement. In the 2004 poll, 71 percent of Republicans completely agreed but just 48 percent of Democrats did.

What accounts for this difference? I think it goes back to an intrinsic split between how liberals and conservatives view the world.

[…]

If you believe that until we achieve the ideal, you cannot love the country, you will not consider yourself very patriotic. You will also have a very long wait. Your reservations will always outweigh what you love about this country. And liberals are attracted to that view.

Conversely, if you see the faults of this country, but still love it because you recognize that it is the best of the available alternatives, you will be able to answer that question in the affirmative. You will love this country, faults and all, and waving the flag doesn’t reflect your support for a particular president or policy, but for the whole idea of this country. Since conservatives believe it is impossible to reach perfection, they are more likely to love this country despite its faults.

I will restrain myself from comment to much on the attached, though I do think there is some merit to the overall idea, it may be an over simplification of the real situation.

Just some food for thought.