Serving your country

Heroism on command, senseless violence, and all the loathsome nonsense that goes by the name of patriotism - how passionately I hate them! Albert Einstein

General Peter Pace recently retired from the U. S. Marine Corp. He said he has been proud to serve his country.

Why would someone be proud to be a servant to another person or thing? What satisfaction does being a servant to something as abstract as a country bring?

What is a Country? It is the territory, land, or people of a nation or state. It is an accidental place of my birth. I own a few hundred square feet of "My country". I don't own the national parks or roads. If I did I would sell my share. I will serve the land I own. I did not migrate here by choice. By the time I was 17 years old I wanted to serve my country. What is so enthralling about a nation or state that draws one to be its servant?

I think it involves rewards that are not mentioned. General Pace's emoluments include a very nice pension and health benefits. He has won a lot of chest hardware that allows him to demand respect from those who he said he served. He expects gratitude for his service.

Many people who live in a state of the United States are patriotic to their country but hate the state they live in. Suppose the state they live in seceded from the United States. Would they soon become servants and patriots to the new state they previously abhorred?

Is it a virtue to serve your country for emoluments and psychic rewards?

Patriotism is your conviction that this country is superior to all other countries because you were born in it. George Bernard Shaw

Bilbo Baggins