pastery

It is important for us to never, ever, confuse the concept of patriotism with unhealthy expressions of patriotism. As with religion, it is not the concept that is to blame but the expressions.

I have served in a special branch of the military police doing real missions, amongst them seven honorary guards of a state leader. It is a fine line to claim patriotism is overrated when you have people sacrificing their life to stand up for their country (which is what I believe is the ultimate prelongation of patriotism). It doesn’t matter who decided on the mission as that is a political decision but patriotism is in my eyes much about standing up for your community and allow the group to decide together not the individual.

More importantly, I do believe standing up for your country is something more people should do both to fight for a change and to preserve the common values. I really do not see how that could possibly be overrated.

To me the John F Kennedy quote: “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country” encapsulate true patriotism as it is to move us all forward. It also focuses on the country not others. I love it.

There is a reason the oath in most special forces commands and the rest of any military is to protect the country against any internal or external threat.

Many people as well mix up freedom of speech and freedom of expression with patriotism not to mention the very weird mixup of nationalism which in most flavors stands for conservatism and worse protectionism.

Patriotism in my eyes is a celebration to what, where and who I come from not waht, where, who I go and/or progress to. Most people claiming they are patriots do not understand this essential fact though and go submit to ramble about ancient history. This is the same reason why I do not believe in religion but do believe in (a) God(s) power(s) and more importantly not assigning it to a text written ages ago. That is the real problem in my eyes.

It is easy to hide behind patriotism, nationalism, culture, ethnicity, religion, beliefs etc not to be a good person. Never blame the concept, blame the execution of the concept. Find comfort in that these issues are but only a reflection of us as a community.

Understanding that we are all in this together will make progress in this world much easier.

Water drops will break any stone.

Let us remember that.

We will with this battle inch by inch. We just need to fight for that inch.

Always. Constantly. Relentlessly. With compassion. With dedication. With persistence.

We will heal as a team, but we will die as individuals.