Zinn on Patriotism

Linked is an essay by Howard Zinn that provides a perspective on patriotism that we rarely see anymore: patriotism as questioning one's government and taking part in the agora of ideas, not blindly supporting "American" causes out of nationalistic pride or fear-mongering by our so-called leaders.

http://www.alternet.org/story/38463/

"When it shall be said in any country in the world, my poor are happy; neither ignorance nor distress is to be found among them; my jails are empty of prisoners, my streets of beggars; the aged are not in want; the taxes are not oppressive... when these things can be said, then may that country boast its Constitution and its government." -Thomas Paine