Letters to the Editor
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Stupid Patriotism?
The only thing I would quibble about in this article is the statement that "stupid patriotism is the problem." Remove the extraneous word "stupid" and you're right on target. All patriotism is stupid and problematic, not just the obviously stupid variety. Along with religion, patriotism has caused more misery for humanity than everything else put together. Love of country is just another form of elevating things above people. If I say "gosh I love my new TV - I mean I really LOVE MY NEW TV!" - you'd rightly conclude there's something very wrong with my thinking. But if I say "gosh I love my country - I mean I really LOVE MY COUNTRY" - you'd conclude I'm simply a bit overzealous in expressing my patriotism. But it's every bit as shallow and selfish to really love my country as it is to really love my new TV. It's putting things above people. And it's always wrong, period.