Well, not always. There are legitimate reasons to ring the "patriotism" bell: Pearl Harbor, 9/11 (spare the theories please). Drumming up patriotism to join the forces to defend the country is the original reason for patriotism and it can still be applicable. Just not in most of the cases you may hear on TV.
Logic and compassion should be more than enough. Think about it, the whole world was shocked by such events. Were the shocked, say, Danish, US patriots? Were the Aussies who helped with rendition US patriots? We the MI6 interrogators US patriots? No, they all reasoned that they were doing the right thing. (OK, some could have been just sadists!!!)
Patriotism to me means follow the country or its leader regardless of logic or sense, or any other reasonable form of reasoning. Patriotism can only be used to persuade people against the better logical judgement. Other wise, what is it there for? If the argument stands then no need. Patriotism only gets trotted out when a leader wants to go against the people or majority. Its a big club to bash opposition with.
If the Chinese invade the US, or my home the UK, I don't need to be instantly patriotic to fight them off. I just need to decide who I'd rather run my country. Just logic. Or reason.
There seems to me to be something very engrained in to Americans about being a patriot. I don't know why, but it does seem a very American disease. Bush used it a hell of a lot. Any one disagreeing was called unpatriotic or un-american. I'm sorry, but if that alone does not damage the concept of patriotism, then logic has left the building.
I actually fear seeing or hearing the word patriot. The second I hear or read it I know there is no logic or reasoning to the attached point, argument or issue.
