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It is important not to confuse “patriotism” with “nationalism.” As I define it, nationalism is a monologue in which you place your country in a position of moral and cultural supremacy over others. Patriotism, while deeply personal, is a dialogue with your fellow citizens, and a larger world, about not only what you love about your country but also how it can be improved. Unchecked nationalism leads to conflict and war. Unbridled patriotism can lead to the betterment of society. Patriotism is rooted in humility. Nationalism is rooted in arrogance.
It is that age-old dilemma: Do you stay and try to change the church from within, or leave the church?
Where once the American experience was one of a spectrum from the rich to the poor, now we live in pockets that insulate us from others.
Art is an attempt to capture the truths of the world as you see it in a medium you can share with others.
People can disagree politically and philosophically on all the issues that confront our nation, but if more of our elected officials had served in causes other than their own advancement, I believe they would approach their jobs with less certainty in their own assumptions and more sympathy for the needs of others.
So often when you feel most confident and most secure, you are in the greatest danger.
