Patriotism Vs Nationalism: Which are we guilty of?

Now that all of the grills have been cooled and the fireworks have fizzled out, we need to have a serious talk about patriotism. No, I'm not coming along to attack your flags or anthem (even though that anthem and its writer is racist AF and wasn't even the National Anthem until the 1930s. Do with that what you will.)

What we need to talk about the difference between Patriotism and Nationalism.

Patriotism is defined as "love for or devotion to one's country." This love or devotion of one's country can be displayed in voting (especially in voting), to street cleaning, to joining the military, to running for office, to being the best at whatever career you have, school you attend, or job you do...

To kneeling on the sidelines of a sporting engagement to illuminate how a section of the population is being mistreated. Or marching in the streets when your own reproductive rights and rights to your own body are being decided by powerful people of a different gender.

These acts are patriotic too. Patriotism is not is blind loyalty. It is not turning a blind eye to this countries problems, on the contrary, it is boldly addressing and getting involved in solutions for this unfinished 242 year old experiment known as the United States of America. After all, would those first (European…