patriot, n. and adj.
A person who loves his or her country, esp. one who is ready to support its freedoms and rights and to defend it against enemies or detractors.
nationalism, n.
Advocacy of or support for the interests of one's own nation, esp. to the exclusion or detriment of the interests of other nations. Also: advocacy of or support for national independence or self-determination
fascism, n.
A social and political ideology with the primary guiding principle that the state or nation is the highest priority, rather than personal or individual freedoms.
I used to be a patriot. The epic tales of courageous victory over foreign aggressors; the blood that was spilled by my ancestors in the name of love and freedom; the unlikely powers of courage, loyalty and compassion in all their simplicity being far stronger than a menacing foe; the rise of the mother tongue no longer being considered vulgar or lowly but the official language pertaining to society in its entirety.
Now...what was once noble about patriotism seems to have dissipated. For if patriotism means unconditional love for one's country to the detriment of other human beings; declaring oneself as supreme and looking down upon others because they are not white and Catholic; extreme fear of and physical/verbal resistance to a culture that is not your own; being forced to believe in one righteous creed alone; and worst of all, when the hunted but brave victor becomes the ruthless hunter then I must solemnly declare that I am patriot no more.
This is what patriotism has come to mean today and I deplore it.
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