What I Define As Patriotism.

If tomorrow you were residing in another country and there were a cricket or a football match and you choose to support your home country, would that be right or wrong? To me it would be right because at the end of the day my country is where I have grown up and which has given me an identity as an Indian on this planet. So if I am patriotic there is no harm in that. As long as I don't go about stopping the rest of the those supporting the alien country that I live in or showing hatred, it's alright. But then how many of those in that country would accept this theory of mine? How many would believe that this is right as they would turn around and say that I reside in their country and so I should support that country during the match.

Eventhough a cricket or football match is just a game at the end of the day where one has to be a sport and accept that one wins and the other looses based purely on performance, there are many and sometimes we who consider the home country's victory as our achievement and conisder it our identity. Why? Is it not just a game? Isn't it stupid to believe that my country winning especially an India-Pakistan match is a great achievement given the politics behind the association between the two countries? But subconsciously we display these exact same emotions. Today it might not be such a big deal, but tomorrow when I have a Pakistani friend sitting in front of me taking offense, then what do I do? Especially given the fact that in actuality I am not anti-Pakistan just because I am anti-terrorism. All Pakistanis are not terrorists and to me Pakistan as a country is as fascinating as Sri Lanka where I have never been to before.

There is a fine line between making a simple statement coupled with displaying a sentiment of pride and that of supporting my country and sneering at the opponent in a malicious way when my home country wins a match. But as long as I know deep down inside that there is nothing more to the expression than mere patriotism minus being spiteful is half of the confusion sorted. And as long as I don't go about abusing the opponents, I am more convinced that I am indeed just a proud Indian supporting my country and basking in the colourful moment of it's victorious celebrations.