Patriotism

Patriotism means love or devotion to one's country or homeland.

The word patriot comes from Latin; the root is the same as pater, father.

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.".

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."

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."

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.

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