Last week we were talking about fighting for our truth. Then I mentioned patriotism and said that it is a topic by itself for another week. I know it is a huge subject, which I am almost scared to begin with almost no room to elaborate on; but it is better to just touch on it then neglect it.

When I was at school we were taught that the word patriotism has Greek roots: “patris” – father, so Fatherland is our native land or Fatherland. We should treasure it and identify ourselves with it, show proper respect etc. If we would like to search for the definition of patriotism, we will learn that it is “cultural attachment to once homeland or devotion to one’s country”.

In my new homeland, Canada, we have an enormous amount of people, to whom Canada is a new homeland, hence their heart, probably, is divided into two: the old and a new country land. For me they are Poland and Canada. Which country should be first? Should, by the way, any of them be first or both equal? To what degree devotion to your country of origin is appropriate?

I remember that after the first 2 years of our live in Canada, when I became a Sales Director at Mary Kay Cosmetics and had to give a speech, I said that Poland will always be like a mother to me, who loves her children implicitly or immensely (maybe with today’s New Age vocabulary one could say: unconditionally) and Canada is like a best friend, who always loves, appreciates and cares, but also expects you to behave in a certain way and respect his rules.

In my opinion, and that’s what I apply in my life, I should care and help my old country by financially supporting it – if needed - and be proud of it’s history and achievements, but I shouldn’t vote for any level of government, since I do not live there anymore. I truly don’t know what life looks and feels like there, therefore it is hard to decide who would be better or worse to represent people.

But, to complicate things even more, what has occupy my mind for last few years is the problem if we shouldn’t re-define the word patriotism? Maybe it shouldn’t anymore be about ones country but about a part of the world? With European Union – shouldn’t people stretch their understanding of patriotism to the whole Union? They share goals, finances, economy and consequences of their common actions.

Maybe we should be brave enough to go even higher – expand our horizons and understanding of patriotism to the whole Planet? That is what many New Age people believe and teach: care about, share and spread love for the Planet, we are all one and we are all equally responsible for every piece of it.

So – the question remains: what is the meaning of Patriotism now?

I appreciate your comments.