Being patriotic for many is an emotional feeling for one’s country. To me it’s more than that. Yes, I do get emotional at times when a rousing anthem or patriotic sounding tune is being played. To me, it is an adherence to a set of principles our founders have penned in the declaration of independence along with the prescriptive laws ensconced in the constitution of these united states, sovereign entities. We are not the united provinces, but states. Each of our states have relinquished certain specific powers to the federal government in Article I Section 8 of the constitution. And anything not enumerated in that section is reserved to the states and the people, Tenth Amendment.

Patriotism is understanding that and being willing to subject one to the written consitution regardless of one’s feelings. To me, it’s a response based on principle and not feelings.