“Patriotism is not obedience to (the) government. Patriotism is obedience to the principles for which government is supposed to stand” is a saying that has been printed on many images. The saying is usually credited to American historian, playwright, philosopher and socialist thinker Howard Zinn (1922-2010).
 
Zinn wrote in his book, Declarations of Independence: Cross-examining American Ideology (1990):
 
“If patriotism were defined, not as blind obedience to government, nor as submissive worship to flags and anthems, but rather as love of one’s country, one’s fellow citizens (all over the world), as loyalty to the principles of justice and democracy, then patriotism would require us to disobey our government, when it violated those principles.”
   
“Patriotism is not obedience to the government. Patriotism is obedience to the principles for which government is supposed to stand.-Howard Zinn” was posted on the newsgroup hoaprogressives on April 28, 2008. “Patriotism is not obedience to the government, Patriotism is obedience to the principles for which government is supposed to stand” was posted on X/Twitter by Steve on April 16, 2009. “Patriotism is not obedience to government. Patriotism is obedience to the principles for which government is supposed to stand” was posted onX/Twitter by Bazaar Daily News on June 29, 2010. “Patriotism is not obedience to government. Patriotism is obedience to the principles for which government is supposed to stand. Howard Zinn” was posted on X/Twitter by Maggie Serota on July 4, 2010.
   
 
Wikiquote: Howard Zinn
Howard Zinn (August 24, 1922 – January 27, 2010) was an American historian, playwright, philosopher, socialist thinker and World War II veteran. He was chair of the history and social sciences department at Spelman College, and a political science professor at Boston University. Zinn wrote over 20 books, including his best-selling and influential A People’s History of the United States in 1980. In 2007, he published a version of it for younger readers, A Young People’s History of the United States.
(...)
Declarations of Independence: Cross-examining American Ideology (1990)
If patriotism were defined, not as blind obedience to government, nor as submissive worship to flags and anthems, but rather as love of one’s country, one’s fellow citizens (all over the world), as loyalty to the principles of justice and democracy, then patriotism would require us to disobey our government, when it violated those principles.
     
Google Books
Declarations of Independence:
Cross-examining American Ideology
By Howard Zinn
New York, NY: HarperCollins
1990
Pg. 118:
If patriotism were defined, not as blind obedience to government, nor as submissive worship to flags and anthems, but rather as love of one’s country, one’s fellow citizens (all over the world), as loyalty to the principles of justice and democracy, then patriotism would require us to disobey our government, when it violated those principles.
     
Google Groups: hoaprogressives
Don’t Deport My Neighbor: Mon April 28 in downtown KC
Anne Pritchett
Apr 28, 2008, 12:11:34 AM
(...)
Patriotism is not obedience to the government. Patriotism is obedience to the principles for which government is supposed to stand.
-Howard Zinn
 
X/Twitter
Steve
@Eh__Steve
Patriotism is not obedience to the government, Patriotism is obedience to the principles for which government is supposed to stand
4:27 PM · Apr 16, 2009
 
X/Twitter
Bazaar Daily News
@bazaardailyuk
Patriotism is not obedience to government. Patriotism is obedience to the principles for which government is supposed to stand
8:19 PM · Jun 29, 2010
     
X/Twitter
Maggie Serota
@maggieserota
Patriotism is not obedience to government. Patriotism is obedience to the principles for which government is supposed to stand. Howard Zinn
12:53 AM · Jul 4, 2010
 
X/Twitter
💐💐 A.JONES 💐💐
@MRSJONEZ
“Patriotism is not obedience to government. Patriotism is obedience to the principles for which government is supposed to stand”. H. Zinn
(The following text is shown on an image.—ed.)
PATRIOTISM
IS NOT OBEDIENCE
TO GOVERNMENT.
PATRIOTISM IS OBEDIENCE TO
THE PRINCIPLES
FOR WHICH GOVERNMENT IS
SUPPOSED TO STAND.
4:12 PM · Sep 30, 2016
 
X/Twitter
Setfree Nherera Mafukidze 🇿🇼
@cdesetfree
Patriotism is not obedience to Government, Patriotism is obedience to the principles for which government is supposed to stand.
Good Morning.
(The following text is shown on an image.—ed.)
PATRIOTISM
IS NOT OBEDIENCE
TO GOVERNMENT.
PATRIOTISM IS OBEDIENCE TO
THE PRINCIPLES
FOR WHICH GOVERNMENT IS
SUPPOSED TO STAND.
6:11 AM · Apr 14, 2022
 
X/Twitter
Crypto Medium
@BTCryptoMedium
#PatriotsUnite
(The following text is shown on an image.—ed.)
PATRIOTISM
IS NOT OBEDIENCE
TO GOVERNMENT.
PATRIOTISM IS OBEDIENCE TO
THE PRINCIPLES
FOR WHICH GOVERNMENT IS
SUPPOSED TO STAND.
9:36 AM · Apr 29, 2024