Patriotism

"Why should I trade one tyrant three thousand miles away for three thousand tyrants one mile away? An elected legislature can trample a man's rights as easily as a king can."
--Benjamin Martin (The Patriot)

Patriotism is often framed as devotion to nation over self. It is not just 'loving one's country,' but doing things in the name of country that one might not do otherwise.

Military contexts often foster patriotic accolades. Fighting for one's country' is commonly deemed patriotic. Military veterans are often labeled as patriots.

The thing about patriotism is that it is usually employed by a group seeking to influence the behavior of others. A person is patriotic if he/she acts in favor of the group and unpatriotic otherwise.

As such, patriotism is a form of social control--a potent and dangerous one at that. The most powerful nation states in world history bathed in patriotism. Citizens acting in the name of country have committed the worst of human atrocities.

Can there be a 'good' form of patriotism. Perhaps. Perhaps good patriotism consists of individuals who see their government going on the offensive, and act to restrain the scope of government to its natural limits.

Many actions of our founding ancestors reflected this notion of patriotism.