Is American Patriotism Also Blind Patriotism? Essay

Introduction In the United States, it is not uncommon to see an American flag in someone’s yard or on a bumper sticker on a car. Americans are patriotic and this is evident throughout the year and especially on Independence Day. The American flag, the pledge of allegiance, and the national anthem are all national symbols. To many Americans, these symbols represent what the country stands for which is freedom and justice for all. Patriotism is common in the United States and it is this love of nation

Patriotism is defined as “love of and devotion toward one’s country, which includes its people and institutions” (LaMothe 2008). These these feelings of love, pride and loyalty are essential for groups because they establish solidarity and unity among members (Finell and Zogmaister 2015). However, within the patriotism literature, Erving Staub distinguishes between two types of patriotism: Blind and constructive. Blind patriotism “connotes uncritical loyalty and support for any action engaged in

Patriotism: Use with Caution Patriotism has a different face for everyone. Some follow it blindly, some reject and oppose it, some stand indifferent, and others choose to follow it cautiously. Patriotism is also now a challenge for multi-cultural societies because the back bone of social unity can no longer be merely similarities in ethnicity, culture, or religion. In this essay, I shall state the risks of following patriotism blindly and the risks involved in rejecting patriotism completely

What is arguably the strongest emotion in many people is the feeling of patriotism. As George Bernard Shaw said, "Patriotism is your conviction that this country is superior to all other countries because you were born in it." Though this feeling is not necessarily based on logic, it is none-the-less one of the most powerful feelings along with hatred and love. Depending on when a movie is made, the amount of patriotism portrayed is directly related to the political and social climate on the

America: land of the free, and home of the brave. People have often traveled long and far to live in a safe, and esteemed environment, when in reality the core values of America change as time goes by. Even though Americans often value individualism, patriotism, nationalism, and individual liberty, history has proven otherwise. Wars, social norms, rights restrictions, expectations and peer pressure have gotten in the way of the values that many believed highlighted America. The saying, ‘history repeats

Trade Center and the Pentagon have caused confusion on the topic of patriotism. The best way to start understanding patriotism is to simply define it. Patriotism is a person’s level of loyalty toward their country. Displays of true patriotism are prominent in times of despair, such as wars and terrorist attacks. However, many people have discrepancies on what displays of patriotism really are. Some people believe that showing patriotism can be accomplished by waving the flag and singing the national

Remarque paints war as a horribly inhumane act, therefore ideas such as patriotism, often a sole reason for entering war, are questioned. Remarque renders patriotism as a belief based on false hope, a belief used for the gain of the authorities, one that eventually hurts the citizen. Remarque’s novel portrays a deceitful and damaging patriotism, one that dangerously resides in extremely allegiant countries like the U.S. Patriotism has become a belief that one should not challenge, and that is where

come to understand the positive and negative effects of the increase in patriotism, emotional effects, and war on terrorism through

Standard dictionaries define patriotism as a “love for or devotion to one's country.” While this offers a succinct introduction to the notion of patriotism, a comprehensive account of the subject extends well beyond the scope of any singular definition. In his defense of “Modern Patriotism,” Stephen Nathanson addresses the hesitation that people face when forced to adopt or reject the “patriot” label. Indeed, the modern conception of a patriot carries implications of blind allegiance and excessive nationalism

birth places. Ultimately, patriotism causes arbitrary detachments between human beings for illogical reasons. It is fueled by reactionary emotions rather than reason, and although it begins with good intentions, it can also escalate to catastrophic levels. To understand the role of patriotism in the modern day, it is helpful to discuss the following articles: On Patriotism, by George Kateb; In Defense of a Reasonable Patriotism, by William Galston; and American Patriotism is Unique, by Richard Morris