Symbolic

Mono Monday: Patriotism

An interesting and rather difficult challenge this one.  Patriotism is a really tricky concept.  At times. it is undoubtedly a good thing. Without patriotism to call upon would Churchill have been able to rally the country to resist the Nazi threat during World War II?  

But it is a dangerously slippery slope, and only a small misstep from patriotism to nationalism.  The virtues of patriotism are all too easily subverted by those with a political agenda.

Other, cleverer, people have put it much better than I ever can: 

"Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel" ~ Johnson

"We have no national idea besides patriotism, and there can be no other." ~ Vladimir Putin

"Patriotism: Your conviction that this country is superior to all other countries because you were born in it." ~ Shaw

"Partiotism is supporting your country all the time and your government when it deserves it."  ~ Mark Twain

"If patriotism is the last refuge of scoundrels, what is the first? There are alas three strong contenders: politics, religion and journalism. Take your pick." ~ Minhaz Merchant

... and two last ones that I rather like:

"Patriotism is a narrow minded concept. It binds a nation in the bonds of love and loyalty. But it does not consider the international brotherhood of man."  V. P. Gautam

"It is lamentable, that to be a good patriot one must become the enemy of the rest of mankind." ~ Voltaire