The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines patriotism as: love for or devotion to one's country.
It defines nationalism as: loyalty and devotion to a nation; especially : a sense of national consciousness exalting one nation above all others and placing primary emphasis on promotion of its culture and interests as opposed to those of other nations or supranational groups.
These two definitions on the surface are very much alike, but modern usage I think does reflect a difference I would like to expound upon.
A lot is being generated in the blogosphere and traditional media about patriotism and I would like include in this diary an answer to the charge of 'blame America first'.
Let's start out with a disclaimer. I am a patriot, pure and simple. My family is on the Providence Plantation Charter and we have been here since 1635. I'm a dues paying member of the Sons of the American Revolution and have descendants and living relatives that have fought in most of our country's conflicts. My wife's nephew just returned from Iraq. I get teary and occasionally sad and sometimes angry at what we have become every time I hear the National Anthem (most recently at the +/- 20,000 person Obama rally here in the Big D); although the emotion can vary, it never fails to elicit one. I keep the Declaration and the Constitution in my PDA phone and it's been there since 2001. I want America to have a strong economy and lead the world on the most important issues facing our planet. I do not want America to rule the world hegemenously by the point of a sword or by starving whole populations with sanctions. When we lead by example we are a beacon, when we do not it hurts the whole world and is strikingly obvious.
What the GOP thinks is patiotism is actually nationalism. The kind of sentiment that implies we are better than the other countries at all times and on any topic. That our identity as a nation is at stake if the wrong kind of people or the wrong ideas are introduced into the mainstream of thought. They demonstrate with actions both past and current that the ideals of our Founding are malleable depending on the situation. For example Project Ajax where we intervened to overthrow a 'relatively' western form of government in favor of one that was 'relatively' monarchal. That is just an early and striking example of the kind of games our counrty played around the world for the betterment of us and to the detriment or death of others - sometimes lots of others. Much of this creates blowback that takes several decades to cycle forward. It is not widely known that one of the tactics we used to whip up support for the Afghan tribes and for surrounding nations was to dumbo drop Koran's in an effort to stimulate Islamic jihad against the Godless USSR. The formation of the Taliban and Al - Qaeda is blowback from that strategy.
I'd rather say that instead of the right calling the left the 'blame America first' crowd, we on the left start calling the right the 'America is never responsible for its own actions' crowd.
I think if our country acted based more from its founding principles and less from our corporations need to profit, that standard of living and profits would actually rise. People want to be associated with us when we treat them with respect. They want to study here and do research in our universities and sometimes stay and have kids and contribute to our melting pot. The problem with the right is that they would like to say "we're all done meltin". Look at how much traction Tancredo can get with the crap that comes out of his mouth.
The white anglo-saxon protestant corporate "In God we Trust" nationalism of the 20th century replaced the "E Pluribus Unum" immigrant influences of the 19th century. I'm glad to say that the founding principles of this country;law, justice, and equality are making a comeback. The Founders specifically excluded sectarian theology, dictatorial one-branch power and businesses with the rights of individuals.
There is a new century forming in front of our eyes, one that breaks the mold of the WASPy past and has a youthful optimism that reflects the original America our Founders created, which is now buried deep in the facade that the world sees now. It is bubbling to the surface and will erupt with a new role for the United States that leads the world by example, not rule the world under its bootheel. "E Pluribus Unum". I'm getting more patriotic just thinking about it.