Do you know the difference between patriotism and nationalism?

Question

“Patriotism is proud of a country's virtues and eager to correct its deficiencies; it also acknowledges the legitimate patriotism of other countries, with their own specific virtues. The pride of nationalism, however, trumpets its country's virtues and denies its deficiencies, while it is contemptuous toward the virtues of other countries. It wants to be, and proclaims itself to be, "the greatest," but greatness is not required of a country; only goodness is.” - Sidney J Harris

So which one are you - a nationalist or a patriot?

Answer 1

I think that definition is a little too highfalutin.
Those people who fought during the war of independence were patriots. They were fighting to be in control of their own destiny.
Nationalists have a desire to control others. Nationalism denies liberty.

Answer 2

I agree 100% with your definitions, except that to patriotism I would add that you want your country to be the best it can be and want to help out the people that live in it. I commend you on making this distinction, unlike diddy i think this is an excellent question. Conservatives have spent years trying to pass off their nationalism as patriotism and trying to tell liberals they hate america because they don't share their inane superficial feeling of patriotism.

Answer 3

Me, as much as possible, a patriot. I think Sidney left something out though. A Patriot will always offer his life in the service of his country, a nationalist will only do so some of the time

Answer 4

Interesting, but patriotism is love of and devotion to ones country and nationalism is only excessive patriotism. What are you trying to ask? If you are one or the other, you are basically the same. It does not matter what Harris wrote, this remains so, that most legal citizens are legitimate patriots in this country and most politicians violate the trust we have bestowed upon them.

Answer 5

patriot. And I have been complaining about this for a very long time. Blind nationalism is the biggest step toward fascism that a country can take.

and just wondering when will commie cease to be a slur. I mean get real I thought daddy reagan beat the commies they are in the distant past. Hell we are best trading partners with alot of commies, China (makes the Ford line of vehicles the nationalist freaks drive thinking its an american virtue), N. Korea, Vietnam get real. Your country loves the commies as much as you do everytime you wave your made in china US flag.

Answer 6

Patriot

na·tion·al·ism [nash-uh-nl-iz-uhm, nash-nuh-liz-] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun
1. national spirit or aspirations.
2. devotion and loyalty to one's own nation; patriotism.
3. excessive patriotism; chauvinism.
4. the desire for national advancement or independence.
5. the policy or doctrine of asserting the interests of one's own nation, viewed as separate from the interests of other nations or the common interests of all nations.
6. an idiom or trait peculiar to a nation.
7. a movement, as in the arts, based upon the folk idioms, history, aspirations, etc., of a nation.
[Origin: 1830–40; national + -ism]

Answer 7

Yes.

Though, apparently, my definitions are slightly different than those of the deceased liberal journalist you quote. Perhaps things have changed in the 21 years since his death, or perhaps he was aplying his own shadings of meanings to make his point.

To my mind, he says 'nationalism' when he means 'jingoism' and his definition of patiriotism seems to be leavened with ethical relativism.


By Mr. Harris's definitions, I am neither a patriot nor a nationalist.

Answer 8

Patriot.

Answer 9

Don't you think nowadays that when people refer to patriotism, they're thinking of Harris's description of nationalism as the definition?

Answer 10

I'm gay
I can't get married to who I love
and I cannot serve in the military, so I cannot be a hero for my country, so in a debate of the likes I don't have a leg to stand on. I don't like bush, and I don't like a lot of the dems, but I tend to choose the better of the evils.
to the soldiers that put in their two cents, I commend you, maybe someday I can obtain that distinction so that I sound more worthy of my opinion, but right now I am not allowed to. so this is your country, not mine, I am just an "other" so don't mind me.