“Patriotism” is pretty abstract - full of nuances across the spectrum, any person with reasonable wit and debate skill could take any view at any extreme or in the middle and do a fair job at attack or defense. As an anthropologist I can attest that Western European people arrival to the Americas created one of the largest genocides known to modern history (some intentional some collateral). Puerto Rico was no exception although I’ve been there and met some wonderful, open and friendly people there. I seek those people, my ranch foreman is a successful asylum seeker after being kidnapped by a Honduran cartel for his radio repair skills then told they had to kill him. He’s Mayan looking and now the same to me as closest blood relative. The American “system” both helped created the hellish cartel in his country and provided refuge and sanctuary to path of citizenship. How do I square those things? I can’t, I work to be part of the solution knowing my efforts are certainly in part misguided and/or futile.

I am old, born in 1950s on the “high plains” of Texas. Growing up on Sneed Ranch and walking the “Great Plains” (I doubt anyone walks the middle of nowhere a lot) it was fairly routine to find a former Comanche encampment near one of the spring heads — they were only 70 years gone as Lords of the Plains. They ruled for 200 years and the US Army never conquered them, exterminating their economy (buffalo herds) starved their nation into collapse. They were brutal equal to any barbarians - a seemingly preference for torture and brutal murders of innocents as well combatants. They suffered comparably, the closest to causal blame would be European intrusion into their nation. But, the Comanche had themselves invaded and conquered with the adoption of a new technology in 1600 (the horse). When I found one of their old camps I’d find mostly flint scrapers but occasionally a flint knife or point. I’d hold the flint and try to hear the laughter, the call to children, dreams and fears of a nomadic people.

So how does this long response connect to nationalism of patriotism? I’m not sure. I’m pretty sure the Comanche did not have those words but were fiercely loyal to their nation and culture. They had no idea of the massive (and unstable) nature of the 21st century nation state. Do I both …. have cringe and reservation about aggressive assertion of American exceptionalism, nationalistic jingoism and soft pedal of atrocities, AND, a deep appreciation and support of the ideas, ideals and often evidenced humanity? Yes. I hope and work for a higher consciousness in myself and honor it in others, thank you for your essay it provided me an opportunity to do a stream of consciousness of my own confusion.