Difference between revisions of "Patriotism"
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'''Patriotism''' means love or devotion to one's country or homeland. | '''Patriotism''' means love or devotion to one's country or homeland. | ||
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The word ''patriotism'' comes from Latin; the root is the same as ''pater,'' father, and literally means "fatherland." | The word ''patriotism'' comes from Latin; the root is the same as ''pater,'' father, and literally means "fatherland." | ||
The [[Roman]] poet [[Horace]] wrote "Dulce et decorum est pro Patria mori", which means ""It is sweet and seemly to die for one's country."<ref>Horace, ''Odes'' (iii 2.13)</ref>. | The [[Roman]] poet [[Horace]] wrote "Dulce et decorum est pro Patria mori", which means ""It is sweet and seemly to die for one's country."<ref>Horace, ''Odes'' (iii 2.13)</ref>. | ||
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Later, American satirist [[Ambrose Bierce]] would write "In Dr. Johnson's famous dictionary patriotism is defined as the last resort of a scoundrel. With all due respect to an enlightened but inferior lexicographer I beg to submit that it is the first."<ref>Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary</ref> | Later, American satirist [[Ambrose Bierce]] would write "In Dr. Johnson's famous dictionary patriotism is defined as the last resort of a scoundrel. With all due respect to an enlightened but inferior lexicographer I beg to submit that it is the first."<ref>Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary</ref> | ||
Revision as of 01:56, October 22, 2007
Patriotism means love or devotion to one's country or homeland.
The word patriotism comes from Latin; the root is the same as pater, father, and literally means "fatherland."
The Roman poet Horace wrote "Dulce et decorum est pro Patria mori", which means ""It is sweet and seemly to die for one's country."[1].
Later, American satirist Ambrose Bierce would write "In Dr. Johnson's famous dictionary patriotism is defined as the last resort of a scoundrel. With all due respect to an enlightened but inferior lexicographer I beg to submit that it is the first."[2]
Later still, World War I British infantryman and poet Wilfred Owen would mock Horace's words by describing a soldier dying a particularly gory death on the battlefield, and saying "My friend, you would not tell with such high zest / To children ardent for some desperate glory, / The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est / Pro patria mori."[3]
Patriotism can be a source of conflict for Christians in wartime. While their nation may call on them to do their patriotic duty, many pacifists believe that New Testament advocates nonviolence. Many western conservative Christians, however, feel that patriotism does not conflict with Christianity, as in their view their countries' political systems are based upon Christian principles.