Patriotism

PATRIOTISM IS LOVE of country, devotion to its welfare, and willingness to sacrifice for it. Because patriotic loyalty is to the nation, a patriot can support or criticize the current government. Leftist patriots generally are more willing to criticize in times of crisis. Because conservatives often equate the government with the nation, especially if the government is conservative, the right can sometimes come to confuse criticism of the current government and its policies with treason, a crime against the state. From the rightist perspective legitimate patriotism requires a virtually unquestioning support that may or may not approach jingoism and chauvinism.

Conservative patriotism is heavily nationalist and traditionbound. Its advocates reject multiculturalism and religious heterodoxy. They advocate the establishment of English as the national language and promote ...