tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7091756463128804432.post7707818611770648364..comments2024-03-27T02:55:10.109-07:00Comments on Irish Papist: Why I am No Longer a NationalistMaolsheachlannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09406722311993627528noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7091756463128804432.post-89611022160155970752013-08-21T09:41:43.894-07:002013-08-21T09:41:43.894-07:00I think that all of those terms look similar (patr...I think that all of those terms look similar (patriotism, civic-mindedness &c.) but I think that the animating spirit or motivation are a little different. Patriotism is more earthy and emotional. The civic-minded won’t necessarily lay down their lives: the patriot would.<br />It’s the self-sacrifice element that may also be absent in that it is not a necessary feature. <br /><br />The original meaning of nationalism was a political one: that each nation should have a state to correspond to it. That political doctrine could either lead to the break-up of empires into their constituent elements (Austrian Empire) or to the unity of smaller states into one national (or perceived to be) identity (Germany and Italy). <br />Alan Hynesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7091756463128804432.post-6276372797213301202013-08-21T08:18:34.573-07:002013-08-21T08:18:34.573-07:00Hi Alan
I do agree that the meaning you give to t...Hi Alan<br /><br />I do agree that the meaning you give to the word "patriotism" is also a correct usage and that in itself it's a noble ideal. I think my problem with it is that I don't see, in that case, the difference between patriotism and public spirit, or civic-mindedness, or concern for the public good. Or are these just all terms to describe the same thing, which I suppose they could be?<br /><br />I also think that, accepting your definition of nationalism and patriotism, it would be hard to imagine a nationalist who was not also a patriot-- at least, one who thought of himself as a patriot, since he would see the maintenance of national identity as a service to the country.<br /><br />They are certainly engimatic terms.Maolsheachlannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09406722311993627528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7091756463128804432.post-59518109965345968692013-08-21T06:50:51.930-07:002013-08-21T06:50:51.930-07:00I have to say that for me patriotism has a much gr...I have to say that for me patriotism has a much greater meaning than that you give to it. I take patriotism to mean, in its best sense, the belief that one should give yourself in service to one’s country or state and to its people, seeking their good, even when that may conflict with your own interests. It’s a kind of self-sacrifice, even an act of love, to the greater community.<br /><br />The key danger in it is if one takes the ‘my country right or wrong approach’. There may be times that patriotism will require one to criticise your own country, in the manner of a loyal opposition.<br /><br />A patriot may be nationalist but not necessarily so. A nationalist, for me, is more concerned with the culture of their people, hoping to maintain and strengthen its identity, and to organise a polity, ideally a sovereign state, based on that identity and aimed at promoting the culture involved. <br /><br />(I realise that this comment is posted long after your initial post but I found this article through a link in a more recent one.)<br />Alan Hynesnoreply@blogger.com