It has a fascinating history.

Original: Decatur, in a toast at an April 1816 banquet, to celebrate victory over the Barbary pirates:

"Our country! In her intercourse with foreign nations, may she always be in the right; but our country right or wrong".

Then the J.Q. Adams quote just cited.


Then 1871: Carl Schurz, German-born US general and US senator: "Our country, right or wrong. When right, to be kept right; when wrong, to be put right."


My favorite of all of these is by a wide margin G.K. Chesterton (British author) who said that "My country, right or wrong" is like saying "My mother, drunk or sober".


Obviously the Adams, Schurz and Chesterton quotes express the liberal view. If Bushites disagree with this view, let's hear them say it.