Patriotism is love of country, and it can be a very positive force. All countries benefit when their people feel a sense of belonging and believe in their country’s goodness. But as our nation becomes more polarized and patriotism is used by some as a litmus test to judge and quickly condemn others, it makes sense to step back and ask ourselves: Has patriotism today lost its way? Let’s start with the basics. We learn from Socrates in the “Republic” (and it is confirmed by our experience) that no country is just, altogether good. It’s just a fact that human beings cannot create perfection. Perh…