Robert Jensen,“Goodbye To Patriotism”

I agree that at least since 9-11, the American administration and many American citizens have defiled and misappropriated our original concept of patriotism. Jensen provides us with the Administration's daily use of implied, insinuating misdefinitions of “patriotism.”

For a rational, intelligent discussion and understanding of Jensen's talk, it is crucial to first remember and acknowledge the true spirit, origin and definition of the term “patriotism.” I find Webster's definition, "devotion to the welfare of one's country; the virtues and actions of a patriot; the passion which inspires one to serve one's country,and love of country,” closest in spirit and essence to the original concept of patriotism. It incorporates the ideals of public welfare, virtue and inspiration in its definition.

Both the word and concept of "patriotism" are archaic and inapplicable in the current market-based, globally-dominated world of mega-corporations. It is unusable in our blurred bordered world.

The Administration and the other immoral persons of the world have perverted the word "patriotism" into propaganda to create and maintain personal/corporate power and wealth. The ignorant flail the word about in a pack mentality that subverts the estimable ethics of humankind. The fearful and the weak bandy the Administration’s term about in recognition of their powerlessness, their loss of freedom, rights, and democracy.

As Jensen states, this is not merely an academic argument over semantics. It is nonsensical to want or try to redefine the term patriotic. Like Eugene Debs, "I have no country to fight for; my country is the earth, and I am a citizen of the world."