On Patrioticism
The ruling class, and sometimes those who control media sources, often define patriotism, and then use the patriotic definition to promote their "special interests." Attached to the definition is a bundle of "catch " expressions; "pulling together," "our country right or wrong," "no time to contradict the leaders," "our cause is just," etc.
The definition places everyone on guard. Nobody wants to be accused of a lack of patriotism. It is recognized that in a time of crisis a nation's people should be "pulling together." But "pulling together" is correctly performed when it doesn't pull apart the country's principles, doesn't destroy its foundations of thought and discussion, doesn't fragment its vision and wisdom. Pulling together does not mean blind obedience from the part of the people.
When the state becomes so powerful so that the will of the people is subjugated to the rule of the state, patriotism dies along with the true rule of Justice, the basic freedoms that should keep the Democratic System. When the suffocation of people's will becomes the rule, then, the defense of the true Democratic principles becomes a necessity and Patriotic.
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