Patriotism is defined as devoted love, support and defense of one’s country; national loyalty. Nationalism, on the other hand, to quote Albert Einstein, “is an infantile disease. It is the measles of mankind.” Nationalism is an extreme form of patriotism, often related to a feeling of superiority over other countries.
In the U.S., many citizens’ expression of patriotism is beginning to bleed into nationalism, which should be concerning for humans as a whole.
Nationalism leads people to think in a combative “us-against-them” mindset, as well as cultivating a sense of superiority that is damaging to our global relationships. It also tends to replace actual thoughtful analysis and critical inquiry with blind justifications in order to feel good about ourselves and our country.
According to Forbes magazine, the U.S. ranks number one in a list of the most patriotic countries. This is not necessarily a bad thing. Celebrating the Fourth of July, singing the national anthem at sporting events, or simply being openly proud of the country you live in is not something to be ashamed of. However, when that patriotism leads to the feeling of superiority, we get in trouble.
Our country has done a lot in its history. Our government is a product of regular American people coming together to create a free country, rather than a disenfranchised monarchy. We are known for our obtainable opportunity and defendable freedom. However, while we have a lot to be proud of and thankful for, our country should not be portrayed as superior to others. We have made mistakes in our history, but regardless of those mistakes, any country putting themselves on a pedestal is detrimental to global connectivity and often leads to conflict with other nations. Part of the passivity towards what Hitler was doing and the eventual World War II arose from extreme patriotism that blinded citizens from thinking reasonably. Likewise, many terrorist organizations around the globe are rooted in a sense of nationalism and an overwhelming desire to depend one’s nation at all cost. Not to say that all forms of pride for one’s country leads to violence and conflict, but it can definitely provide a pathway to do so.
My final issue with extreme patriotism comes when it replaces actual critical thought about what our country is doing. To say that the U.S. is perfect and has not made mistakes in its past would be a lie. In order to make sure those mistakes don’t happen again, we need to recognize that they happened in the first place, even if it comes at the expense of believing that the U.S. might not be the greatest country in the world.
Sam Miner can be reached at mine0034@stthomas.edu