One of the oldest traps of nationalism to try to whitewash itself is to disguise itself as patriotism.<\/p>\n
This disguise tries to make us believe that nationalism is, therefore, a mere way of loving one's homeland<\/strong>, something harmless that must be embraced by everyone, at the risk of being labeled an enemy of the people or a bad countryman. On October 5, 1995, a Polish Pope, Saint John Paul II, explained the difference between nationalism and true patriotism<\/a>:<\/p>\n \"In this context, we need to clarify the essential difference between an unhealthy form of nationalism, which teaches contempt for other nations or cultures<\/strong>, and patriotism, which is a proper love of one's country. True patriotism never seeks to advance the well-being of one's own nation at the expense of others.<\/strong> For in the end this would harm one's own nation as well: doing wrong damages both aggressor and victim. Nationalism, particularly in its most radical forms, is thus the antithesis of true patriotism<\/strong>, and today we must ensure that extreme nationalism does not continue to give rise to new forms of the aberrations of totalitarianism.\"<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
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