love is sacred passion. Patriotism is the second name of love . Patriotism, which means literally the love of fatherland, isanoble sentiment and national virtue. It is born with our birth and grows with our growth. The man who lacks it has indeed , as Sir Walter Scott says
"a dead soul"
"Breathes there the man with soul so dead
who neverto imself hath said
This is my own , my native land!"
A true patriot is an unselfish lover of his country . He wants to see his country flourish and progress. he works hard so that his country may win a good name in community of nation . If he happens to go abroad, he avails himself of every opportunity to introduce his home land to other people and to elevate the image of his country. His sincere desire is to serve it in all possible ways. He is proud of his country . He persuades others to be turly patriotic. He is always prepared to lay down even his life for the sake of his country .Memorials are raised in memory of such national heroes and people come from far and near and lay weath on them . They are called martyrs like Tipu sultan.
All religions and moral system have appreciated this sentiments. fighting for the defence of one's country is called "JIHAD" or holy war in islam . And those who are killed in this effort attain an external life and Allah has for bidden them to be called "dead". On the contrary, taitors like Mir Jaffar and Mir Sadiq are looked down upon by all.
A man, who loves his country , finds no fault which his country . To the japanese everything that is manufacturedor produced in japan is faultless and admirable. A patroit cannot bear any criticism of his country . Gold smith in his " Traveller" writes how often the laplander consider his snowbound barren coutry to be best in the world . Ahmad Shah Abdali , who conquered Dehli, expressses his disgust of the conquered city and love for the hills of Kandhar.
But the word had been so misused to cover the most selfish aims and narrow passions, that Dr. Samuel Johnson said in disgust Patriotism is the last refuge of scoundrel ". it is unfortunate that love for one's country very often means jealousy and threat for some other country . Thus patriotism leads to war. Itr makes the Huns of hitler slaughter civilians and destroy cities.
False patriotism is an enlarged selfishness and a narrowed nationalism . Patriots of this kind support their country simply because it is to their own private intrest to do so ,and they do so blindly . their motto is "My country, right or wrong",that is , whatever foreign policy our nation adopts, whether just or unjust . We must support it , without cristcism , simply because it is the policy of our contry.
We must , therefore , distinguish between true patriotism and the spurious articles.Such surprious patriots are narrow nationalists , and teach that we cannot love our country without desprising and hating all other nations. They Form the Jingo, or war-loving , partyin any country, which is always crying out for war with other nations on theslightest pretext.Their motto is "Might is Right"
the true patriot, on the other hand , is an unselfish lover of the country . His sincere desire is to serve it in all poswsible ways . He is proud of his country but just because he loves it. He does not hesitate to expose its sins, denounce its abuses , and if he thinks it necessary, to criticise its policy. He is more anxious that his nation should be right rather thatit should be powerful.
In conclusion we may say that it is enough to love one's country and nourish hatred or dislike for some other countries of the world . While he loves his country , he should love other nations too , and gladly recognises thier virtues and achievements .In the Nclear Age , the negative sentiment will wipe out the human race .Therefore, patriotism today should should mean loyalty , not only to one's own country but the nation also. Only in this way human race can survive from the destruction of neutron and hydrogen bombs. therefore, he should cultivate international friendship , and hate and oppose wars. But if war breaks out ,he should be the first fight for his land and willing to sacrifice his life even in its defence . Such patriotism is one of the noblest virtues