Patriotism vs Humanism Reading Answers

Patriotism vs Humanism

As Corey Booker once said, “Patriotism is the love of country. But you can’t love your country without loving your countrymen and countrywomen. We don’t always have to agree, but we must empower each other, we must find common ground and we must build bridges across our differences to pursue the common good.” The common good that Booker refers to here is humanity. Patriotism is the feeling towards the nation - one of pride and belonging. But, what we have to understand is that humanism is the embodiment of benevolence towards other human beings.

Humanity has to be placed above patriotism. Compassion towards fellow humans, irrespective of caste, creed, gender, and nationality is the crux of humanity. The main aim of patriotism should be to inculcate a genuine feeling of oneness as people and the willingness to withstand the test of the ever-changing world together. Sadly, a large number of people in modern times construe the word abrasively, valuing aggressive patriotism, not humanity, without realising that patriotic feelings are an intrinsic feature of humanity. Patriotism is not blind love for one’s country. It is love for the country by loving its people. Corliss Lamont, a philosopher, stated in his works on Humanism that the true ambit of patriotism involves the death of altruism and promotes a school of thinking. Intense feelings of patriotism have killed genuine self-sacrifice. Everyone is busy promoting self-interest.

On the other hand, there are individuals like John Davis, a blogger who writes about the US military and its veterans and is also an ardent supporter of patriotism, saying patriotism is sacred. It leads you to form a bond with your neighbour, makes you loyal to the country, and creates a special bond with the ‘motherland”. He further elucidates that it makes people more sensitive to the needs of their country.

Today, self-conceit, arrogance and boastfulness have become the essence of patriotism. The modern-day concepts of patriotic feelings have divided our globe into multiple countries, each of which has water-tight security measures to ensure that it does not let a ‘foreigner’ enter without a tedious process. It is thereby implied that everyone living in a particular country has to fight, kill and ultimately die in an attempt to retain the country’s greatness. People give speeches about abnegating bloodshed and genocide, yet they choose to remain absolutely reticent when such untoward incidents take place in other countries. George Bernard Shaw has articulately explained this situation, he states that patriotism is an individual’s conviction that the country is superior to all countries because one is born in it. This innate superiority complex has raised many global issues.

Question 1 - 5

Choose the correct letter, A - D.

1. We must find common ground and we must build bridges across our differences 

A. to retain the country’s greatness
B. to fight
C. to pursue the common good
D. makes people more sensitive

2. We have to understand is that humanism is the embodiment of benevolence towards 

A. other human beings
B. other families
C. other colleagues
D. other animals

Question 3 & 4

Compassion towards fellow humans, irrespective of caste, creed, 

Choose TWO letters, A - D.

A. gender
B. nationality
C. colour
D. religion

5. The modern-day concepts of patriotic feelings have divided our globe into 

A. four countries
B. eight countries
C. two countries
D. multiple countries

1. C. to pursue the common good

Explanation: Paragraph 1 - We don’t always have to agree, but we must empower each other, we must find common ground and we must build bridges across our differences to pursue the common good

2. A. other human beings

Explanation: Paragraph 1 - But, what we have to understand is that humanism is the embodiment of benevolence towards other human beings

3 & 4. A,B gender, nationality (in any order)

Explanation: Paragraph 2 -  Compassion towards fellow humans, irrespective of caste, creed, gender, and nationality is the crux of humanity. 

5. D. multiple countries

Explanation: Paragraph 4 - The modern-day concepts of patriotic feelings have divided our globe into multiple countries, each of which has water-tight security measures to ensure that it does not let a ‘foreigner’ enter without a tedious process.