Crooked smiling theatrical mask on two blank sealed envelopes, maroon/copper

Original artwork, not a still

Sydney

How can you keep quiet? How do you have patience for people who claim they love America but clearly can't stand Americans?

— The American President  ·  1995

Behind the line

What it means

Our interpretation.

The speaker is exasperated that anyone can stay calm around people who profess love for their country while plainly disliking its citizens. The questions express disbelief at such hypocrisy and at the patience it seems to demand, treating patriotic talk as hollow when it is coupled with contempt for ordinary people.

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