Patriotism is a MacGuffin -
It's a feeling.
Now, you may think I'm attempting to invalidate it, but far from it. From the revolutionary war up to present - what is a 'Patriot' has been poorly defined, and left to subjective interpretation.
Forget the gaslighting Republicans have been under since the Tea-Party. Let's go back, say thirty years, to the Family Values Coalition. Or perhaps another thirty years back to McCarthyism and the HUAC. Or even further back to Strom Thurman trying to legitimize the KKK. (or else we could just recognize that the family lines in control of the narrative now, are the slave-owner families of the South.)
-Make no doubt - They think they are 'Patriots'.
People will become bellicose about what a true 'patriot' is - I tell you, don't give two flying-f*cks..
Did Thomas Paine, and Paul Revere know the impact of their actions on those days? Of course not.
And that is the way it will be with this new history. It tends to be defined by the victors, by the way. Might wanna get off your ass...