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Patriotism is an interesting thing. We're all taught from a young age that patriotism is good, but like anything else it can be good or bad. The good is loyalty to one's own, the bad is nationalism.
When I fight to improve our country, I do so because I believe that the US, my home, has incredible potential. The Declaration of Independence was a cry for a better tomorrow, detailing ideals that were etched into the Constitution and our minds: freedom, liberty, justice, equality, fairness and truth. A nation founded on these ideals is something worth fighting for. It's worthy of loyalty.
On the flip-side, there are situations where patriotism is turned into nationalism. When devotion to one's country becomes unquestioning, placing the state above all other concerns, patriotism becomes dangerous. These are often situations where the nation-state abandons the ideals listed above to pursue more personal, selfish gains. Supporting the nation-state unquestioningly means that the nation-state can abuse this unwavering trust, to possibly tragic results.
Which one do you think Palin is?
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