Posted by Yet... on September 27, 2002 at 12:58:26:
In Reply to: Re: Re: Now, that's sad... posted by long non-rant post on September 27, 2002 at 01:59:42:
It's ironic that the American achieved her independence by depriving the British loyalists (who were more numerous than you might think) of their "God-given inalienable rights". All one needs to do to confirm this is to survey the various confiscation acts and forcible deportations after the revolution. In fact, it is a matter of contention how much public support the rebels had before 1776. Most colonists held themselves as loyal subjects of the Crown; the revolution was largely promulgated by the wealthier merchant class.
But more to the point, I think the original poster is keeping in mind the saying "Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel" (Samuel Johnson). Heaven knows that we have our share of scoundrels inhabiting the marble halls along the Potomac.