One of most misguided notions is one of patriotism

"There's no glory like those who save their country."

Lord Tennyson (1809-1892)

One of most misguided notions is one of patriotism as implicated by Lord Tennyson's quote, spoken of course within the context of a global empire. It is held as virtue or principle, yet by what consistent standard. Certainly such regard is not applied to all who fight and die for their respective country; the Nazi German, Imperial Japanese, Soviet, Chinese or Hussein's Iraqi soldier among those often excluded in the average American mind. Obviously, the willingness to spill blood among comrades cannot be the sole consideration.

Is glory reserved for countries of particular ideologies, religions, or polities, and if so, by what universal, timeless criteria, per whose infallible determination, and upon what confidence and clarity absolute so to sacrifice or terminate life absolute. Nor by social programs and central management by government declared as empathetic or socially just, for that would undermine the aforementioned exclusions. Neither is war glorious in the pursuit of national independence, for it would include as well resulting tyrannical regimes. It could be said and done for freedom or liberty, though questionable at best, often doublespeak when forcefully dismissing the liberty of one government to rule or control in favor of another.

I would suggest there is no such glory, only the horrid necessity upon actual intrusion requiring the defense of individual life, liberty and property, that is, against the terminating of one's own life, the restricting of one's own liberty, and the confiscating of one's own property, until flight of threat and no more. For prevention and preemption are modern excuses to wage offensive wars of conquest beyond domestic borders and coastlines.

Come let us Reason. Peace is always a Choice.