By the masses of asses. Here are some sound bites of your brainwashed neighbors defining patriotism.

Jennifer Fackler, whose husband soon will be deployed to Iraq for the fifth time, says, "Patriotism means sacrifice; it means I put our child to bed at night alone; it means I spend sleepless nights by the phone."

...An iReporter who goes by Wlutterman calls patriotism "those goose bumps that you get on your arms during a flag ceremony."

...Patriotism is loving your country. Patriotism is standing when the national anthem plays. Patriotism is putting your hand on your heart to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

...Shedding a tear when I hear the national anthem is sung or when I sing it myself. I supported my husband as he served in the U.S. Air Force for eight of his 11 years. Patriotism then was hanging yellow ribbons on my trees while I waited for him to come home.

And the winner of the Idiot Award:

...Patriotism is not something that can be described in one word, one sentence or one paragraph. It can be described in that one moment. You know what that one moment is.

And the only one I like:

... Llambo: I was born here; my father fought in two wars, died in one. I've paid taxes and obeyed the law all my life, only to be lied to and ripped off by my own government. Patriotism? It's a buzzword to encourage people to send their young off to war to enable evil people to get rich.

Patriotism is a lie. The Fourth of July no longer has meaning and is simply another excuse for a bunch of people to make noise and get drunk.