McGrath, I don't agree with what you are saying.

Perhaps we can all agree that when there is external threat to any group’s cultural, physical, or ideological survival or identity, this ideology or identity becomes internally stronger, often even when in diaspora--sometimes even more so within the diasporas (the Israel lobby in the US is a prime example of this, and support for Irish Republicanism to a far lesser extent).

I have a real problem with the idealizing and romanticizing involved in the 'love of country' patriotism, because it ignores the horrific aspects of patriotism. Really, truly horrific. Things our compatriots have done, and continue to do, in our name. We see the glorification of it on certain, very specific official national holidays, like Independence Day.

Sure I love where I live (suburban Denver). It is beautiful country, full of fantastic people.

But I live in a part of the world that makes the sort of romantic patriotism I see among conventional Americans, very patriotic. Denver has a pretty visible Native American and Hispanic American population, and 'patriotism' to them is couched almost completely in terms of the American military warrior ethos, or myriad, complex forms of radical opposition to it. Many of them "prove" their patriotism by being more gung ho than the most right wing white military hawks, who are constantly berating others for the betrayal of the "ideals" of the United States.

We're pretty much surrounded by the Teddy Roosevelt patriots out here.