Mankind were intended to be happy... that government being only the means of securing freedom and happiness to the people, whenever it deviates from this end, and their freedom and happiness are in great danger of being irrevocably lost, the government is no longer entitled to their allegiance. ("The Principles of an American Whig"-1777)

Unhappy the land that is in need of heroes

Patriotism is merely deeply-rooted government brand loyalty.

One of the things we haven__ taught our people as a nation, that this is their country. We haven__ told them that this Bahamas belongs to them. Whether it succeeds or fails it is entirely up to them. WE haven__ told our people that they are valuable. I sometimes pass little boys playing in the road and I would stop my car and say to them: __xcuse me baby, do you realize how valuable you are? Do not play in the road, if anything happen to you that is going to hurt us. Because you might be our Prime Minister one day. Iris Adderley, consultant in the Disability Affairs Devision of The Department of Social Services.

A Christian who is willing to take up arms against another Christian is a Christian who has traded in his membership in the post-Babel communion of saints for membership in a nation governed by refurbished stoicheic values. They have traded in their loyalty to the temple of the Spirit for loyalty to the flesh. Christians who make war against other Christians are Galatians, bewitched by the lure of patriotism, which is simply the lure of flesh. They are no longer in the ranks of the Spirit.

More than anything, it is that sense - that despite great differences in wealth, we rise and fall together - that we can't afford to lose.