Free speech, baby.

It means that one of the great things about America is that under the Constitution we have the right, protected by law, to criticize America. It's called freedom of speech and the right of assembly. To date we still have that right.

While a number of countries have their bills of rights and similar protection, in practice criticizing those countries can get the critic thrown into jail...or worse. Russia, for example, has a detailed bill of rights, but Putin has managed to erode those rights and Russians are thrown into jail just for disagreeing with Putin.

I'm not aware of the context for Baldwin's remark, but I think he's saying he loves American ideals and is criticizing the country for not living up to the best of those ideals.

FWIW, I think this is a common reaction on the political left. Some of the most angrily "anti-American," radical Americans today are people who grew up as patriotic True Believers, and were outraged when American society didn't live up to the ideal democracy they had been taught to cherish.

The Baldwin reaction is very different from the one that I've seen black radicals expressing on protest signs at some recent demonstrations I've been in. These signs say, "America was NEVER great!" Thus rejecting Baldwin's sentiments, but completely rejecting Trump's triumphalism also.

-- democratic socialist

It’s your job as a loving citizen to correct your country, as it is your job as a loving parent to correct your kids.

I disagree with everything you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it. These things have been voiced in various ways. Freedom and all that.

That is like waking up every morning and telling your wife how ugly she is.

We call it abuse not love.

it means he would likely recognize the self-centered attitudes and blatant disrespect so common in today's generation of "protestors".....

The Baldwin's havent been relevant since hunt for red October in 1991.