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Unfortunately, ill-educated people find it hard to distinguish patriotism from nationalism. Of course, the Young Guard is against racism and nationalism, which are impermissible in a country with an ethnic mix like Russia's.
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I fail to understand the idea behind constructing a country at the expense (and sacrifice) of the nation.
It seems to me as if patriotism in the way he depicts it, arises from a re-action against other peoples, as opposed to nationalism that arises from a pro-action in favour of the own people.
I think that nationalism is necessary before patriotism, or that patriotism must stem from nationalism, for it to be more than just a mere reaction.
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'Dardanidae duri, quae uos a stirpe parentum
prima tulit tellus, eadem uos ubere laeto
accipiet reduces. Antiquam exquirite matrem:
hic domus Aeneae cunctis dominabitur oris,
et nati natorum, et qui nascentur ab illis.'
We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.
–Plato–
'Many people, I believe, wish for a society where faith, decency, pro-life convictions and national self-determination within Europe can flourish; and not be swallowed up in a dictatorial EU bureaucracy.'
–Gerry McGeough, Irish Nationalist and POW–