‘Patriotism is the first defensive mechanism: a response to s perceived threat’. This statement was formulated in the epitome of many philosophical and theoretical works in France. These were works that revolved the many anticipated threats that ensued especially in the revolution times of the French territory. This paper argues in support of this statement, based in the works by authors of the past as well as Joachim Du Bellay's Les Regrets (The Regrets). Additionally, France amongst many other countries has been through hard times in the course of their political evolution. Therefore many tend to agree with these philosophies are true and practical since they are attributed to the current calm situation in these countries.
First, it is evident that the solution is always based upon the basis of reasoning as opposed to emotion and physical reactions. For instance, in the French revolution, the country went through a series of upheavals, which followed a trend of a political equilibrium in the eighteenth and nineteenth century1. It is well explained that many of the advancements, especially in the current political world have been established as a result of the many developments that were enhanced in French revolution. As an adage goes, ‘one must lose something to know its value.’ As a result of the lives that were lost, many have resulted to understand the value of lives. As a spell of many years without years without peace, many have resulted to appreciate the value of peace in the vast global and political arena2. These are some of the basis through which patriotism is engraved. In his book, ‘Les Regrets’, Joachim points out in his poem that, during the war, is a time that an author could not be able to attract the attention of the reader to words of wits3. This stands as a clear indication that during the upheavals, the majority are at task to settle their physical differences before they can get to a point of dialogical reasoning.
People fight relentlessly because of patriotism. Patriotism is an act of sacrifice where the patriotic give a good catch of their sweat and possession. Patriotism is an art as well as an act. People will give the best from a motivation enhanced by foreseen fruits of an anticipated future. The author again points out that there are many people who put their lives on the sword and that is the major reason why many people develop an everlasting perception that sacrifice is the best solution to disagreements and political mishaps. Sacrifice is a co-aspect from which patriotism is derived. French went through phases of revolutionary mishaps since the reign of king Napoleon in the mid eighteenth century. These were revolutionary that caused an imbalance across the prime continent. Towards the amicable resolution of these upheavals, an act of patriotism was enhanced and cultivated over a span of decades. It was evidenced by the defeat of the Napoleon and the succession of King Louis. In his works, ‘Les Regrets’, Joachim alludes to the historical array amicable resolutions that saw the calm of the gigantic revolution of the European country4.
As he asserts, ‘aimaient le fruit qui leur servait d’amorce’, a poetic line which signified the humility that the subjects were subjected to in a struggle for resolution. The great resolutions that were enhanced in the fight for an unending political called for a struggle and a fight for an everlasting solution in the much anticipated victory and peace5. Basically, in every struggle that ensued, despite the fact that major aspirations were the expansions of empires the final solution was peace. Peace was mainly achieved with an optimal balance. In the long run, encroachments had to be resolved to avoid future repercussions. This is evidence by the fact that despite the fact that although some countries like France had encroached a great portion of Europe, they ended up with the present day France. However, in addition, there was an unending peace which exists to present day. This phenomenon is explained by the fact that the main aim of patriotism is peace.
Patriotism rekindles reconciliation acts that will always ensue in any given political flow of events. In many cases, political advancements follow the fact that changes with the structure keeps on sprouting. The equilibrium will always be enhanced by patriotism. This form of reaction is always a reminder of a virtue that people have fought for decades to sustain. Initially it was a physical struggle that was followed by devastating losses. However, since an everlasting solution was established, the entire aspect is covered by the helm of patriotism. Patriotism is therefore a seal that covers the advancements which have been established in the political structure in France for instance. Practically, many people express an appeal in the development of a political development that was established in the entire flow of events. In many regards, there is a significant flow of events which is aimed at ensuring that much of the situations which override the entire flow of events are enhanced6.
Another reason why patriotism is regarded as a weapon which can be effectively used in defense is that in any country every individual is put at a task to respond effectively to psychological and physical attacks. In the national anthem, every individual is put at a task to defend all the prospects of their nation which is engraved in the shield of patriotism. Every nation, besides other aspects which ensue, relies upon the patriotism and solidarity which is a major aspect in enhancing defense upon that given country.
In the current world, since many political battles have been eradicated, patriotism is enhanced by the voice and image projected in the outer world. The most successful countries for instance basically have the most patriotic citizens. Analogically, the best companies have the most committed stakeholders who always have the perceptions that the organization comes before any given individual. With such ideological approaches, many people are able to go miles in defense of their country. Everybody appreciates the fact that there are many aspects which revolve around the development of a successful and peaceful country armored by the shield of ownership. When people defend out of will, it becomes more successful as opposed to when the same people defend out of compulsion. This is a clear implication that these stakeholders appreciate that fruits of defense rather that their individuals successes of the same.
Patriotism is an act of ownership. In a typical world, the major essence of ownership is to enhance an utmost appreciation in a basic development of the prospects which are involved7. In a major extrapolation of political issues, there are many basic aspects that ought to be acquired. These entail to the fact, success will be experienced in a move to develop a willful development of events which are meant to help develop an exclusive way of enjoying the benefits of patriotism. Ownership is basically important than the accrued benefits. The major reason is that if ownership surpasses the desire for benefits, there is a more significant gain which is likely to last. In a country, for instance France, it is important to enhance a catch of everlasting tranquility if it is an aspect driven by the desire by the better majority to see their homeland through generations of successful governance8.
Patriotism is a co-word to sacrifice. Sacrifice has been experienced through decades of struggle for peace amongst other important aspects which revolve around the issue of wellness in any given nation. Patriotism is therefore an act of defending the things that have been fought for over the past centuries and decades. Patriotism is a defensive mechanism because it enhances a continuity of wellness in a given country or nation. Patriotism reminds masses that they have a lot to forfeit if they fail to meet the needs of their nation in which they belong. Patriotism therefore ensures that once individuals are in a position to sacrifice for what they value, then they ought to sacrifice for their country. This protects the prospects of having to undergo major sacrifices once there are no significant gains that are accrued. However, since many gains are accrued, it turns out that every individual ought to defend their country since it within it that much is accomplished and established.
On the other hand, philosophical and theoretical advances that have been projected indicate that patriotism is not necessarily a defense mechanism. Many arguments have been drafted especially considering that the law plays a more significant role than patriotism. Many people have always indicated the interest to defend their roles through patriotism. However, once some prospects are breached, people always tend to overlook their role of defending their country through patriotism and many at times they have gone for rampage due to petty issues that went unaddressed. Patriotism alludes to the aspect of sacrifice. However, it fails to specify the social class of people that are meant to sacrifice. It is evident that people. People who are guiding the law are the ones who ought to be in the forefront of sacrifice. Failure by these people to sacrifice nullifies the essence of patriotism.
Ideally people who have been known to go a long way in the name of sacrifice have ended up salvaging their respect. The interference between political issues and patriotism has made it impractical to ensure that patriotism used as the key to defense9. It is also a major factor to consider that once an individual engages in proactive activities geared to ensure an effective execution of patriotic acts, most of these acts have gone unrecognized. Political aspects give the highest credit to the famous, the popular and the rich10. Many people have been accused of threat to national security in their efforts to fight for truth and openness. This is a sure indication that it is impossible to show patriotism in the current world. Basically the current law is subject to manipulation and therefore many people are unable to exhibit any form of trust in the current governance.
Humans are always in the pursuit to personal satisfaction. Therefore, patriotism is practiced depending on the gains accrued to such practices. Individual motives have resulted in the breach of the aspects of patriotism. For this reason, there are many persistent issues in the current governance, not only in France but in many places of the globe. Therefore patriotism is therefore an impractical undertaking in almost all basic aspects. The human weaknesses tend to interfere with ability to exercise patriotism11. This has been evidenced in the current century and in the late twentieth century, where the majority of the people have resolved to protect only that which feeds them. Since in many aspects patriotism is a basic act of sacrifice for the later good, many tend to overlook. Additionally, many are only pursuing the steps that have been set by the higher hierarchies, who are basically the implementers of the law.
Based on the analysis of these articulate works of philosophy and theology, it can be found that patriotism is the most significant act of defense. It is evident that law is not working in all parts of the globe. Patriotism thus surpasses the law. Despite the fact that people are after self benefit, they end up executing the act patriotism by default since it provides both their livelihood as well as the peace that is necessary in any given locality.
In conclusion, therefore, it is evident that patriotism is the basic aspect of defense. Patriotism is the basis of the establishment of the law. When people are subjected into political pressure as well as other civic mishaps patriotism plays a major role of resolving tranquility.
Bibliography
Bellay J., D, David R. S. The regrets: a bilingual edition. Northwestern University Press, 2004.
Bell, David Avrom. The First Total War: Napoleon's Europe and the birth of warfare as we know it. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2007.
Paul Gomberg, “Patriotism is Like Racism,” in Igor Primoratz, ed., Patriotism, Humanity Books, 2002. Print.
Alasdair MacIntyre, 'Is Patriotism a Virtue?', in: R. Beiner (ed.), Theorizing Citizenship, State University of New York Press, 1995.
Maurizio Viroli, For Love of Country: An Essay on Patriotism and Nationalism, Oxford University Press, 1997.
White, E. "The French Revolution and the Politics of Government Finance, 1770–1815." The Journal of Economic History, 1995.
