The problem I have with the word ”patriotism” is that it is inseparable from loyalty to ones country, and that (in general) it only comes into common use when we are at war. When we are at war, one is considered patriotic if one is willing to either go kill people for our country, or support those who go kill people for our country. Most wars in history (including those we have fought) are grossly immoral. Just read any book written by someone who served in WWI. As I said earlier, there were lots of great patriots in Nazi Germany.
In that line of thought, patriotism’s only function is rallying a population to love there own country, and hate another country (or group) enough to want to go kill people. It serves no other purpose.
Everyone would consider himself a patriot by Kevin’s definition, but though the definition sounds nice, it is functionally incomplete. War is required for patriotism to exist. War is bad. Wars do not make one great.
Raging Kitty Design
Wars don’t have to make you good or great. They just have to stop aggressors from taking your home and destroying your society. So it’s a good thing we have those patriots who are willing to go kill people. It’s the alternative to all of use being ready to kill people when the aggressors are allowed to grow and overtake their weak neighbors – like Hitler, Japan, Stalin, Rome, Atilla, and who ever else.