In the article, the outlet argued that the word had been overtly political and taken up by extremist groups, used in ways that made it less about love for the country and more about hatred for certain minority groups.
“The term ‘patriot’ in America has become infused in political rhetoric and school curriculums, with varying meanings, while also being appropriated by white nationalist groups,” the outlet tweeted along with a link to the full piece.
“Today, the word and its variants have morphed beyond the original meaning. It has become infused in political rhetoric and school curriculums, with varying definitions, while being appropriated by white nationalist groups,” the article alleged, using data from the far-left Southern Poverty Law Center to support the idea that radical right-wing extremists had coopted the word. “Trying to define what a patriot is depends on who is being asked.”
Citing the Capitol Riot on January 6th, 2021, Louisiana State University historian Gaines Foster said that extremist groups were beginning to focus on a more revolutionary meaning of the word, saying, “People began to lean less toward a commitment to democracy and more to the notion in the Declaration of Independence that there is a ‘right of revolt,’ and that becomes patriotism.”
Critics were quick to point out that the timing of the article --- if not the subject matter itself — was suspect.
“Just can’t help themselves,” Chad Felix Greene tweeted.
“AP can’t even take a break from dividing Americans on Independence Day. Pathetic,” another said.
“AP desperately tries to malign the word ‘patriot’ on #4thofJuly. Only thing it does is remind us how much they hate the U.S. #Patriots,” Andy Martin responded.
Was it an article or just a tweet?
Both. You can open an article by clicking the tweet.
It was a tweet:
https://twitter.com/AP/status/1676229444946591744
with a link to an article:
https://archive.is/kTC8C
https://apnews.com/article/patriot-patriotism-meaning-independence-day-july-4-844de9b626ac6565cc64b723816080f3
Debate Logic 101 textbook example of the guilt-by-association fallacy. "President Trump, why do you think so many white nationalists and other deeply hateful racists support your presidency?"
But they never would dare ask a democrat "What does it say about YOU that the least productive members of society, including most child-rapists and other criminals, consistently vote democrat?"
These people are so WEAK-MINDED.
And then there is also the fact that they create the illusion of masses of "racists" and "white nationalists" that frankly don't exist in the way they want their gullible base to believe. To stand against the wannabe globalist world order and it's globohomo agenda is to be a "white nationalist" and a "racist". These terms have been reduced to meaningless labels for their opposition that they then prop up with false flags and fed rallies.