Love of one’s own country is called ‘Patriotism‘. Everyone has the right to love his country; rather everyone should have a love for his country. W.H. Long fellow the poet has gone that far to say ‘Breathes there the man with Soul so dead Who hath not to himself hath said this is my own, my native land a man, according to the poet, is ‘dead’ of ‘soul’ if he has not within himself the love of his land.
It is patriotism which has inspired martyrs to give up their lives for the sake of their countries; in the service of their countries; in fighting for the cause and liberty of their country. Their names stand recorded in golden words in the history of their nation.
But then there has to be an adjustment struck with the patriotism of other nations and their nationals. The patriotism of one should not become so aggressive as to deprive others of their freedom.
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ADVERTISEMENTS:
Others have the equal right to love their own country and one country, in its undue zest for his love for his own country cannot encroach upon the freedom of other countries.
Napolean did that, Hitler did that they loved their country, it was all right. For Hitler, Germany was the fatherland but what right had he to try to tread upon the liberty of other nations which he did. Patriotism for him was all right but he had to honour the patriotism of the nationals of other nations too.
Similarly Pakistan is launching an offensive against India through infiltrators encouraged and sponsored by it and miscalls them ‘freedom fighters’. Therefore, Patriotism is a noble sentiment but on the international scene it is ‘not enough’; it has not to go to the extent of encroaching upon the liberty of other nations who have an equal right to Patriotism.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
Aggression in the garb of Patriotism cannot be tolerated, cannot be permitted. Love your own country but keep that love within limits of your own country, serve it well, do everything for its upliftment and its people but do not step over to try to extend your boundaries in the name of Patriotism. Internationalism shall never permit such patriotism.