Many great stories have toyed with the complexity of morals, politics, and friendships in one way or another.

Some people are motivated by patriotism; they are proud of their country and would die to keep it going. Others prefer to aim towards a specific cause, be it religious, political, or otherwise; this group finds itself fighting ardently in favor of their chosen position, often imposing it upon others. And a third group places it's allegiances with their own friends or family; for interpersonal relationships are to be the only trustworthy bond.

They all have their advantages and disadvantages, but I find friendship to be the best choice of the three. Patriotism is too blind to be consistently correct, a specific cause will change along with the times, but friends are arguably the most effecting force in a person's life, and the most longstanding. Take the words of E.M. Forster for instance:

I hate the idea of causes, and if I had to choose between betraying my country and betraying my friend, I hope I should have the guts to betray my country. Such a choice may scandalise the modern reader, and he may stretch out his patriotic hand to the telephone and ring up the police. It would not have shocked Dante, though. Dante placed Brutus and Cassius in the lowest circle of Hell because they had chosen to betray their friend Julius Caesar rather than their country Rome.

The reason I typed this is to open discussion on what motivates you. Are you a patriot? A warrior for a cause, be it religious or otherwise? Are you a loyal friend? What is your allegiance that guides your outlook (for any part of life)?

Share your thoughts.

I believe my first allegiance is to immediate family that I am friends with.
This statement may seem strange, but I am not friends with all my kin just because they are kin.

I am also loyal to myself.

I have searched high and low for a thing worth giving my allegiance to. So far, nothing has proven to be up to snuff.

I live life because it is a great thing to be alive. A truly great thing.

Where is your allegiance?
1. My stomach
2. My dick

1. My stomach
2. My dick

That is the most I've laughed all week! Blob for the win!

My wife and kids. While I love my country I don't know if I would willingly die for it. While I am a supporter of certain causes I don't think I would die for them. I know I would die to save the lives of my wife or children.

I'm with Frogger on this one

I also have strong feelings for life itself earth, wind, water, fire, and spirit. Even though I am a vet and am very proud of serving, I would not serve the facism of today.

Where is your allegiance?
1. Myself
2.Friends and family
3.Earth

Definitely wife and child.

Our kin, our land, our way of life.
Anyone who bothers us is gonna be pumped full of lead.

It's the American way......

And Happy Easter to you........:o

People I love and myself. If it has to be some kind of cause, then my allegiance lies in spreading objectiveness and kindness, and being logical.

I'm with Frogger on this one

I also have strong feelings for life itself earth, wind, water, fire, and spirit. Even though I am a vet and am very proud of serving, I would not serve the facism of today.


You ever seen the 5th Element?

It's one of my favorite movies, must have been made by someone like you.

You summend up the whole movie in this post. From both the Priest perspective and from the vets perspective who helped save the world.

Where is my allegiance?

In the things I love.

Inviolable, I don't remember if I've seen it or not, can't remember. I'll have to breathe deep and go into the hidden area of my brain :eek: :)

You just like the movie because Milla Jovovich is so unbelievably hot, Inviolable.

You just like the movie because Milla Jovovich is so unbelievably hot, Inviolable.

Those med straps do fit her well lol

Im with blob,oh almost forgot,kids first..

My allegiance is with family and friends, but then if something comes between some of them, then I still have to take sides with the one I think is right, provided that the issue is worth my headache for taking side with one or a group of them. I've had thoughts like yours in the post, that anything 'patriotic' is just to vague to really understand what is at stake, what causes an international conflict? who is to blame for the it? And politicians are the ones who will always throw gasoline to the flames of patriotism.

Where is your allegiance?

1. My stomach
2. My dick

Wow.

It is rare to see somone being absolutely truthful and true to themselves.

Bravo, Blob.

If the psyche of everyone here were stripped down to its essence, I think they (the males that is) would all be forced to answer similarly.

I guess there COULD be human beings who'd answer something along the lines of --"My country", or "My god" -- .....but it would require a tremendous amount of indoctrination/brainwashing.

I guess there COULD be human beings who'd answer something along the lines of --"My country", or "My god" -- .....but it would require a tremendous amount of indoctrination/brainwashing.

Not brainwashing.. but having the urge to serve a higher cause... you see putting "God" or "country" first is HARDER and more admirable because it's NOT easier. Living for your "dick and stomach" is caveman-like male traits. While it made me laugh.. if you are really only living for those two things i'd have to pity you.

Thanks freethinker!

you see putting "God" or "country" first is HARDER and more admirable because it's NOT easier. Living for your "dick and stomach" is caveman-like male traits. While it made me laugh.. if you are really only living for those two things i'd have to pity you.That's a fair point, of course.

I can't honestly say my allegiances have ever been truly tested. I'm not a parent and, lucky me, I've never been in an extreme situation where I needed to put my stomach, dick or life on the line for loved ones or my country. (I don't believe in any god so that's not relevant to me.)

If the psyche of everyone here were stripped down to its essence, I think they (the males that is) would all be forced to answer similarly. And then reveal how base and pathetic some people can be.

1. My stomach
2. My dick


Wow I laughed so hard I fell off my chair. Such a guy, sounds just like my other friend Mafia and he even hails from the UK too. Must be a UK thing haha J/k.

Ok my allegiance. Well mine is to my friends and my brother. I am a very loyal person until I am proven that I should have not placed my loyalty with something or some one.

(my) humanity. That is all that is necessary.

Myself, I am of the opinion that everyone does everything for -- self --

Are you a patriot? A warrior for a cause, be it religious or otherwise? Are you a loyal friend? What is your allegiance that guides your outlook (for any part of life)?

Share your thoughts.


Personaly I feel each religion/beliefe/value system has some good in it, one can't just base their views on hear-say, or strickly follow the teachings of a group. I form my beliefe system on my experiances, and the what I see is the human race.

it's great people believe in deities, aliens, Jimmy Jones ;) But one has to actualy experiance life to form opinions about anything.

I only have loyalty to people who aren't petty and can be open minded in their views, see all the different sides of the issues without clouded judgement. I try to do the same for those people who respect my opinons, disgreements or not.

I follow 1 basic rule. Treat others how you would like to be treated, regardless of their faith/pollitcal stance/issues.

Stab me in the back or do wrong to another, and you wont see the backlash coming :cool:

[QUOTE=Licksore]Personaly I feel each religion/beliefe/value system has some good in it, one can't just base their views on hear-say, or strickly follow the teachings of a group. I form my beliefe system on my experiances, and the what I see is the human race.
I only have loyalty to people who aren't petty and can be open minded in their views, see all the different sides of the issues without clouded judgement. I try to do the same for those people who respect my opinons, disgreements or not.
I follow 1 basic rule. Treat others how you would like to be treated, regardless of their faith/pollitcal stance/issues.[QUOTE]

I say that I have to agree with Licksore. I believe that each religion has their good points and their bad points. No you can't base your views in hear-say but that is what a lot of people do. My experiences have taught me to believe in my own personal morals and value system. What I have seen from the human race makes me wonder how the human race has survived this long? I hate people that are petty, the only way to get through life is to be open minded and see all sides of the cube. People who respect my views and opinions, have theirs respected as well. When they don't respect my views and opinions is when I turn my back on them.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Decka
you see putting "God" or "country" first is HARDER and more admirable because it's NOT easier. Living for your "dick and stomach" is caveman-like male traits. While it made me laugh.. if you are really only living for those two things i'd have to pity you.

I don't understand how anyone can put anything before themselves. I was in World War II, went through five major invasions . I did this because -- I thought -- and felt good about it. Therefore, I did it for myself.

I did this because -- I thought -- and felt good about it. Therefore, I did it for myself.
I definitely agree. Every decision we consciously make is ultimately in the intention of satisfy ourself. Even if it's actions that people call sacrifice, charity, humility, in the end they were done because the decision maker expects to be satisfied by the outcome.

I definitely agree. Every decision we consciously make is ultimately in the intention of satisfy ourself. Even if it's actions that people call sacrifice, charity, humility, in the end they were done because the decision maker expects to be satisfied by the outcome.
================================================== ====

I don't know Dio, I have done things that I knew damn well that I did not want to do because I thought it was the 'right' thing to do at the time. I knew at the time that I would end up with the wrong end of the stick.

DAN FUSSEL

I don't believe that you realize what you have said." I thought it was the right thing for me to do at the time"
if you thought it was the right thing for you do at the time, then you were doing it for yourself, if you had not done it. You would probably have felt guilty therefor by doing it you eliminated the guilty

From the birth of our country to today, like links in a chain, each generation must put it's youth on then line for the whole country.

I wouldn't volunteer for combat duty but if drafted I would serve again if I weren't so dang old.

Americans go forward and risk death while some like the Japanese and Islamics go on suicide missions with no chance of surviavl. War is Ugly but it is a fact of life that no great country can survive without defending itself in war.

Once in the military I was ordered to drive a truck up to a giant blaze of fire and I did what I was ordered eventho I thought it would be my last deed. Lucky for me, someone else put the fire out before I got there.

Our police and firemen are front line soldiers in an internal war that never ends. They do it so we can live in peace.

Well said.