(Wlodzimierz Holsztynski) wrote in message
snip

Since patriotism is a positive notion, one can be
a patriot of more than one country.

This seems a very loose and generous
interpretation of patriotism and
the concluding sentence just plain wrong.

Is plain right. Use Google and your local
bookstores and libraries. Read Josephs Brodsky's
biography and first of all his poems. Read about
Ignacy (Ignacio) Domeyko, about Tadeusz Kosciuszko...
or, going back to our chess neighborhood, check
on Mieczyslaw (Miguel) Najdorf.

OK. I've read all that and I still think I'm right. And lining up in
my corner we have (drum roll)

Dante Alighieri (referred to elsewhere in this thread)

Bertrand Russell - Patriotism is the willingness to kill and be killed
for trivial reasons.

Samuel Johnson (of course) - Patriotism is the last refuge of the
scoundrel.

GBS - Patriotism is your conviction that this country is superior to
all other countries because you were born in it. (Simple and clear)

David Hume - The heights of popularity and patriotism are still the
beaten road to power and tyranny; flattery to treachery; standing
armies to arbitrary government; and the glory of God to the temporal
interest of the clergy.

Herman Goering (my personal favourite, the quote that is, not the man)
- Naturally the common people don't want war; neither in Russia, nor
in England, nor in America, nor in Germany. That is understood. But
after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine policy, and
it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a
democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist
dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to
the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to
tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack
of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in
any country.

This Google thing's great isn't it? I wonder if it'll catch on.

dd (passionately dispassionate) - Whatever that defines it's not
patriotism
Wlod the Imperialist - Oh yes it is
dd - On no it isn't
(They quote scripture at each other ad nauseum/infinitum)

cheers

dd