Patriotism

 

Patriotism is easy enough during war. For one thing, people become actively conscious of their country when it is threatened. For another, since everyone or nearly everyone feels it, there is a strong collective emotion following through country. But when the war is over, the country recedes from the consciousness, and it is rarely even at the back of the mind. The questions, “Am I doing any good to the country ?” doesn’t occur to the mind; and even the questions,”Is what I am doing good or bad for the country ?” occurs only rarely. A limited patriotism  is better than none, but it is not enough.