Hello Anonymous One! Thank you for your comment :) Ah patriotism. I like the word despite the bad rap... For myself I see it no different than a certain type of pride toward my cultural heritage, which at this point is a mixture of irish-scotch-english-and yes northamericanism. The term patriotism implies for me an appreciation and even love of being born in this country which has supplied me in this life with everything I need, at least in terms of opportunities. I know things are very very far from perfect here, but I don't see any other country as being a better place for me to live. With definite apologies to Churchill I say, "Be America what she will. With all her faults, she is my country still". Merriam-Webster Online (http://www.m-w.com/) has a simple definition of patriotism that I personally like: "love for or devotion to one's country". It is how we translate that love and devotion I think that gets people into trouble. As a pacificist myself I am horrified when I see that so-called-love of the land either here or in other countries causing us to kill each other. We appear to be like neaderthals drawing lines in the sand and clubbing each other to death when we cross them. Perhaps someday we the human beasts will globally have minds and hearts with qualities that match our physicial and technological powers... and if we are lucky before we destroy ourselves completely. Being an optimist, I believe we will reach that state.... A true patriot can love the land on which they were born *and* be able to love and care about all beings on the earth.... Post 9/11 it has been more difficult to feel warm and fuzzy toward some of our co- patriots who have used the term for mindless flag waving followed by aggressive acts, and to enact laws that would steal our liberties. Do I understand where YOU are coming from? Absolutely. I still like the word patriotism. Let it be used as President Benjamin Harrison used it. "Let those who would die for the flag on the field of battle give a better proof of their patriotism and a higher glory to their country by promoting fraternity and justice." ...Dakini