Reading through this thread, I began to feel that there was little point in making any comment, as just about anything I could say, had already BEEN said.

However, I found that there was one idea in my mind that differed from the rest. If anyone else HAS said this, I apologise for not having spotted it.



For me, it is loving my country enough to be willing to die defending it from the aggression of others, but not willing to KILL at the behest of political masters who would interfere with the affairs of other nations.

It is being willing, verbally to defend my country, without denigrating other nations.

It is accepting that in the past, the government of my country has done some pretty atrocious things, but not being ashamed of my country for what MEN have done in its name.

Given time, there will probably be more, but I think that puts over the gist of my idea of what patriotism should be, and usually isn't.

Don T.