wow,,, strangely amazing, really... I can't really blame anyone on how they express it, for this subject is at a high level PERSONAL....
I don't really agree in relating patriotism to countries, PEOPLE build countries, shpeup histories, setup cultural ideas and so on... but then again we have GENERATIONS, I do hope that when I make a family and have kids of my own that they will growup being better than me in all aspects, I am not perfect nor my ideas, some times a comment from my 4 years old niece makes me skratch my head lol...
when a new generation rises, new ideas influenced by many factors emerge, factors like science, religion, life experience, even geography and climate... these ideas will somehow try to grow, even by force,,, it's what people in the Arab world is going through( Eygpt, Libya, Tunisia, ect... I am an Arab alright, and let me tell you that governments will try to feed you patriotism for their own good, just to secure their own benefits...I can't really go out loud and say most of the scientists of the ancient times where Arabs, because I lost that privilege... It hurts admitting it, but it is what it is, and it's learning in the hardest way...
Back to the subject,,, this is my own point of view, patriotisms backbone is achievements and contributions that a country add to mankind, so pardon me if I don't have it, because it's an equation that my country failed to deliver... for this I have no patriotism for the flag, because it doesn't represent me nor the government which cares none about me,,, but KNOW THIS, I have something greater,,, it's LOVE for my FAMILY, PEOPLE, LAND, and last but not least RELIGION...