Description: Nonpartisan examination of national and international political news and events.
What is patriotism? The standard dictionary definition reads “love of one’s country.” However, it seems that patriotism is often confused with nationalism.
Nationalism is about power: its adherent wants to acquire as much power and prestige as possible for his nation, in which he submerges his individuality. While nationalism is accordingly aggressive, patriotism is defensive: it is a devotion to a particular place and a way of life one thinks best, but has no wish to impose on others (Orwell 1968, 362)
Based on Orwell's definition, the US is full of nationalists rather than patriots. I like the idea of loyalty to place. I think America the Beautiful would be a better national anthem celebrating our natural beauty rather than our bombs bursting in air.
The Paragraph – Terse news, history and science.
café babylon | soul food and freedom music
café babylon | soul food and freedom music
garden variety democratic socialist | accepting life's complexity|working for global stewardship of our soil and other resources