For some 20 years before he passed away I enjoyed reading the regular columns of Sidney J, Harris (1917-1986). This quote recently posted on A.Word.A.Day struck home at this time.
“Patriotism is proud of a country’s virtues and eager to correct its deficiencies; it also acknowledges the legitimate patriotism of other countries, with their own special virtues. The pride of Nationalism, however, trumpets its country’s virtues and denies its deficiencies, while it is contemptuous toward the virtues of other countries, It wants to be, and proclaims itself to be, “the greatest”, but greatness is not required of a country; only goodness is.”
Jim