Patriotism - virtue or selfish arrogance?

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Such a sad, arrogant, destructive attitude to have, to consider one’s own country to be better than everyone else’s. I don’t have a patriotic bone in my body thankfully. I love Ireland and it’s a great place to be, but it’s no more beautiful or deserving than anywhere else. I’m content to travel on an Irish passport, but I’m an internationalist, a citizen of the world who just happens to be Irish. All this talk about putting one’s own country first I find abhorrent and quite silly. And of course it flies in the face of Christian belief (which I espouse) where we are told “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus”. And now that I’ve annoyed a whole bunch of people I might as well just continue. It’s interesting that the western world (i.e. White world) has always been pro-Israel with the notable exception of Ireland. Western leaders are so mealie mouthed in their condemnation of even the current campaign to obliterate Palestinians, that Israel knows it can do whatever it likes with impunity - the West will do nothing about it. However when Putin attacked Ukraine, billions of dollars, euros and pounds came flooding in to bolster the Ukrainian military - nothing to protect innocent Palestinians. And don’t go saying (as some do) that the Palestinians deserve what they get because of October 7th - that was just the latest in a long line of atrocities by all the various sides involved. It was a vile assault on humanity, just like all the previous assaults inflicted by all sides, and that continue to be inflicted, and will be. It’s the “Me first” attitude that has the world in its mess. And don’t forget that the Arabs too are the sons of Abraham promised a blessing by God. Internationalism is a far better approach to living than blind patriotism, but the best efforts of generous people are usually scuppered by the people who will do anything to stay on top of the financial pile. Oh dear, where have all my friends gone? Was I rambling?