On 18 Jul 2004 21:29:21 -0700, (Wlodzimierz
Holsztynski) wrote:

How RJF and his probable psychiatric
problems got into this thread
is beyond me.

My point was to treat words with a due care,
to make a clear distinction between the two
words which unfortunately are confused in a
sloppy way: patriotism and nationalism.

You have redefined the common meaning of the word 'patriotism' to suit
your purpose. I don't think that makes much sense. Of course, the
underlying emotion is a positive one: It causes individuals to take
risks in order to protect their clan. The negative effects of this
emotion are a result of its transfer to a large, abstract entity,
namely the nation, the country, the fatherland to which the individual
belongs. Patriotism is an essential ingredient of war.

Jürgen


(Of course, beside the patriots, nationalists
and chauvinists there are also plain idiots
like "anti-zionists", who tend to be prejudiced
mainly due to their cretinism rather than say
phiny "socialism", phony "liberalism", ...).

Wlod