Many think of patriotism as a natural, appropriate expression of attachment to the country one was born and raised in.

Others as an act of showing gratitude for the benefits of life, on its soil, amongst its people and under its laws.

Some may also consider patriotism an important component of a person’s identity.

But patriotism still requires a choice, because your country may not be perfect and you still make the decision to love that country either way.

There are so many misconceptions regarding this topic, so first, we’ll clarify who a patriot is.

A Patriot is someone that shows special affection and commitment towards a country and its people without expecting any reward.

Such a person has a strong sense of personal identification with that country and is willing to make sacrifices just so things can be better in the country.

Take Nelson Mandela for example.

He was a black South African who loved at a time white population in South Africa dominated the blacks and made living sustainably difficult for them.

Things were so bad that blacks were classified as animals and were not allowed to live in the same houses, visit the same places or even use the same transportation means.

That was the apartheid which lasted from 1948 to 1998.

As a youth at that time, Mandela was unhappy with the situation and resolved to make his country better.

He joined a group of other blacks who were also passionate about change and he fought consistently for years to regain the peace and progress he wanted for his country.

He loved his country that he was willing to put his life at risk and eventually spent 27 years in prison.

Today, he is celebrated all over the world as a man that loved his country so much and did everything to protect it on the Mandela Day- July 18 each year.

Nelson Mandela was a patriot.

Patriotic loyalty simply implies loyalty to one’s country and policies but it doesn’t mean a patriot will support any government in power.

A patriot’s allegiance is not to the status quo of power but rather to the best interest of the nation.

Such a person may even go ahead to oppose the government in the name of the country’s core values, history and aspirations.

However, this extent of patriotism is critical and rational.

We should keep in mind that a patriot is never expected to cause trouble in any form or social unrest in the country.

When things aren’t going well, the problem is not with the country but with those leading and inhabiting such a country…there are many ways one can still show patriotism even when not in support of the government in power.

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