Letters to the Editor
-
She wasn't advocating for everyday usage
If you actually read the piece, it seems fairly clear that she was just meditating on the concept of patriotism and attempting to deconstruct it rather than ... carpet bomb it. So I agree (and I don't think Sheehan would disagree) that "matriot" isn't viable household terminology - just an interesting idea to contemplate for a few minutes.
And, despite the "Dissent Is Patriotic" button I sometimes wear, I don't think it's possible to truly reclaim the word 'patriotism' to suggest that we shouldn't kill foreigners. That's almost as ridiculous as trying to reclaim Jesus to suggest that women are just as human as men (ahem, Naomi?). The institutions that mass-package Jesus and patriotism always attempt to preserve themselves in favor any abstract ethical Good. (cf. Party, Democratic)