“Breathes there the man with soul so dead,
Patriotism which means the love of the land of one’s birth, is indeed a noble virtue. The man who lacks it cannot be called a living man. He has, as Scott says, “a dead soul.” If his heart does not ‘burn’ in him when he returns from a foreign land to his native country, he cannot be said to possess a patriotic soul. Such a worthless man does not deserve to exist.
In 20th century, the words 'Patriotism' have been so misused that it serves to conceal the most selfish aims & narrow passions. In the name of patriotism people achieve their selfish ends. We must, therefore, distinguish between true and false patriotism.
False patriotism is selfishness on a vast scale. False patriots “serve” their county to satisfy their own private interests. They do not care for their country so much as for their selfish ends. There are others who preach, “My country, right or wrong.” Such patriots teach us false patriotism. They teach us that we cannot love our country without hating other nations. This is not patriotism. If patriotism makes us narrow, selfish, and jealous, it is not a virtue at all. Such patriotism degrades nation to the level of a herd of brutes.
The true patriot, on the other hand, is an unselfish lover of his country. His sincere desire is to serve it in all possible ways. He is proud of his country. He loves it above everything else. But that does not mean that he does not point out its faults, defects, sins, and abuses. A true lover of his country cannot tolerate that abuses should flourish in It. He will criticize its policy if it be a wrong one. A true patriot is, therefore, anxious to see that his nation is right. He does not want it to be powerful first, and right afterwards. That is the policy of a false patriot. A true patriot will refuse to follow the time-honored maxim, “Everything is fair in love and war,” He will never be unfair even in war. He will welcome defeat rather than be guilty of unfairness. Secondly, a true patriot, while he loves his country, does not hate other nations. He loves other nations, and gladly recognizes their virtues and achievements. Thirdly, a true patriot will love peace and hate war. He will think a hundred times before involving his country in war. He will recognize the rights of other nations and will do his best to prevent the outbreak of a war. Lastly, if a true patriot finds his country fighting for a true and just cause, he will be the first to lay down his life for his country. Such patriotism is one of the noblest virtues of man.
Who never to himself bath said,
‘This is my own, my native land!” — Sir Walter Scott.
Patriotism which means the love of the land of one’s birth, is indeed a noble virtue. The man who lacks it cannot be called a living man. He has, as Scott says, “a dead soul.” If his heart does not ‘burn’ in him when he returns from a foreign land to his native country, he cannot be said to possess a patriotic soul. Such a worthless man does not deserve to exist.
In 20th century, the words 'Patriotism' have been so misused that it serves to conceal the most selfish aims & narrow passions. In the name of patriotism people achieve their selfish ends. We must, therefore, distinguish between true and false patriotism.
False patriotism is selfishness on a vast scale. False patriots “serve” their county to satisfy their own private interests. They do not care for their country so much as for their selfish ends. There are others who preach, “My country, right or wrong.” Such patriots teach us false patriotism. They teach us that we cannot love our country without hating other nations. This is not patriotism. If patriotism makes us narrow, selfish, and jealous, it is not a virtue at all. Such patriotism degrades nation to the level of a herd of brutes.
The true patriot, on the other hand, is an unselfish lover of his country. His sincere desire is to serve it in all possible ways. He is proud of his country. He loves it above everything else. But that does not mean that he does not point out its faults, defects, sins, and abuses. A true lover of his country cannot tolerate that abuses should flourish in It. He will criticize its policy if it be a wrong one. A true patriot is, therefore, anxious to see that his nation is right. He does not want it to be powerful first, and right afterwards. That is the policy of a false patriot. A true patriot will refuse to follow the time-honored maxim, “Everything is fair in love and war,” He will never be unfair even in war. He will welcome defeat rather than be guilty of unfairness. Secondly, a true patriot, while he loves his country, does not hate other nations. He loves other nations, and gladly recognizes their virtues and achievements. Thirdly, a true patriot will love peace and hate war. He will think a hundred times before involving his country in war. He will recognize the rights of other nations and will do his best to prevent the outbreak of a war. Lastly, if a true patriot finds his country fighting for a true and just cause, he will be the first to lay down his life for his country. Such patriotism is one of the noblest virtues of man.
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