Patriotism is an interesting term. Since it refers to individuals who are "patriots," I'll comment on the use of that particular term. First, throughout history a patriot is someone who fought on the side of the winning team. For example, if the colonists had lost the war during the American Revolution, I'm sure the current history books would be using a different term to describe them (traitor, renegade, or criminal come to mind). At the same time that some of the American colonists were fighting (on both sides), there was a distinct group of people, mostly Quakers, who chose not to fight on either side, due to their strong religious beliefs. Members of that Religious Society of Friends experienced resentment and mistreatment from both sides, who refused to understand their strong belief in, and commitment to, pacifism. By definition, a patriot is "one who loves his country, and zealously supports its authority and interests." If this is so, then the early colonists who defied or broke MANY laws (British authority) cannot be called patriots using this definition.. On the other hand, those who chose not to fight might better fit that description. In the current day, the term "patriot" is used rather loosely, and always when it is needed to conjure up deep feelings of positive sentiment toward whatever is being promoted at the time. Most recently, a very scary piece of legislation, that was a tremendous blow to some of our most treasured freedoms, was given the title, The "Patriot" Act -- so that we would certainly be unpatriotic if we did not receive it with open arms. John Quincy Adams wrote about our country: "She goes not abroad, in search of monsters to destroy. She is the well-wisher to the freedom and independence of all. She is the champion and vindicator only of her own. " Times have changed I guess.