The article describes what a patriot is, what patriotism means, how it can be useful to those in power, and what forms it wears.
Ancient times
At the very beginning of time, when our ancestors began to lead a more or less social way of life and divided by tribes, many understood that to stick together is much more profitable and safer than lead a fragmented lifestyle. And, by the way, such things as mutual assistance, kindness and caring for loved ones, as a result, played a huge role in the evolution of our ancestors.
Much later, when the first prototypes of states were created, people began to unite on the basis of their origin and state, religious or other affiliation. It was then, according to sociologists, that the first rudiments of such a phenomenon as patriotism arose. So what is a patriot? What are and how are such people different? This we will understand.
Definition
First, let's deal with terminology. According to the dictionary, a patriot is a person who is guided by a moral or political principle, the meaning of which is to love your own country or state. This feeling also forces patriots to defend their homeland during the war, to defend its interests in every possible way, and if necessary to put the needs of the fatherland above their own. Patriotism is the ability to give life for the good of one’s people, their further prosperity and independence. So now we know what a patriot is.
This feeling can be based not only on love for the whole state, but also for a single region, region or region. This is especially evident in multinational countries, where many peoples live with their own culture, language, traditions and customs. And one of these states is Russia. It seems that now it is clear what a patriot is.
Forms
Like many social or political manifestations and beliefs, patriotism takes many forms. They depend on a particular person, his activities and character.
Moderate patriotism is characterized by the fact that its bearer simply feels love for his homeland. In case of urgent need, for example, during the war, it goes to defend and defend the interests of its people.
To the middle one can attribute its more “aggressive” character, when a person builds his whole life on the basis of his patriotism. For example, it aims at working in political parties of a patriotic direction, regularly participates in public life and actions, the purpose of which is to improve the standard of living or to campaign accordingly. In a word, a patriot is a person who is not indifferent to the fate of his country.
Well, the last manifestation is the most radical. Its characteristic features are that patriots often look for those guilty of the troubles of their country, the low standard of living of the people and offer to act by radical, harsh and even cruel methods, putting the welfare of the state and their tribesmen above all else. Gradually, beliefs of this kind develop into Nazism, and it does not end with anything good; it is enough to consider the example of Germany itself from the period 1933-1945. Fortunately, in almost all countries, such radical activity and Nazism are prohibited, which in the bud eradicates possible negative consequences.
Present
Nowadays, one can increasingly find the opinion that patriotism is an obsolete and generally unreasonable phenomenon that actually only prevents people from expressing themselves and is a peculiar method of state control. Simply put, it makes no sense to do something for your country, it is more profitable to simply emigrate or live by the principle of "my hut from the edge."
The statement is controversial, and everyone should decide for himself. People - the patriots of Russia - during the times of world wars more than once proved how important this feeling is for the common good.