I heard a quote not too long along to the effect of "nationalism is just the beginning of fascism" and "I love no particular piece of dirt, I am a citizen of the world." I searched long on the Internet to find the source of this sentiment. I believe that I heard it on Marketplace in piece concerning the efforts of Beijing TV to promote China during a talent show they aired. (The quote came from an American participant of the talent show).
Nevertheless, in searching for the specifics I found the sentiment oft repeated:

"I am not an Athenian or a Greek, I am a citizen of the world."
~Socrates

"Patriotism is the willingness to kill and be killed for trivial reasons."
~Bertrand Russell

"Patriotism is your conviction that this country is superior to all other countries because you were born in it."
~George Bernard Shaw

"Patriotism, the virtue of the vicious."
~Oscar Wilde

"You'll never have a quiet world till you knock the patriotism out of the human race."
~George Bernard Shaw

(Source: The Quote Garden.)

Now I realize that a valid distinction can be drawn between nationalism and patriotism. Charles de Gaulle said "Patriotism is when love of your own people comes first; nationalism, when hate for people other than your own comes first." Despite this, it appears to me that mere patriotism is often viewed with the same derision as nationalism; and that the two are seen as the same.
The fellow on public radio who said that nationalism is the seed of fascism, said so when asked why he loved China and Chinese culture. He added that he loved no country. I do not think that I would changing his meaning by replacing "nationalism" with "patriotism" in his quote.

Saying that patriotism is genesis of fascism is like saying marriage is the beginning of adultery. Certainly, one must precede the other, but one does not necessitate the other. Do I hate all women because I love my wife? Anything that is good can be made bad; any journey beginning well can led to the wrong destination, but we are fools and cowards not to embark.

Furthermore, I am irritated by the pseudo-intellectualism and conceit embedded in countryless citizen of the world. I am convinced more and more that a man cannot love the large before he loves the small. He cannot love the world, really love the world, unless he first love his country. He cannot even love his country, unless he first love his town. Love your neighbor as yourself.

"Love your country. Your country is the land where your parents sleep, where is spoken that language in which the chosen of your heart, blushing, whispered the first word of love; it is the home that God has given you that by striving to perfect yourselves therein you may prepare to ascend to him."
~Giuseppe Mazzini

"Men love their country, not because it is great, but because it is their own. "
~Seneca

"A man is in bondage to whatever he cannot part with that is less than himself."

I had to share these lyrics. If you have never heard the last Five Iron Frenzy album, you're missing out. Although, of course, I'm thinking this while eating pretzels and ginger ale in my comfy (not so much) office chair. I can hope for the rebellion.

American Kryptonite
by Five Iron Frenzy

He is the icon of our times, solution to our modern crimes.
His trigger finger clicks remotes, as carbohydrates slowly bloat.
Not fragile, or brittle. He's seeking an acquittal. No scruples, no meekness, he has but one great weakness.

All the world must have a price, save yourself from sacrifice, everything will end all right. American Kryptonite.
His mighty hands will hardly fail, his intellect is barely frail, he moves his lips in perfect sync, demanding an espresso drink. With passion, he searches, he'll make another purchase. Familiar, you know him, he's saying that you owe him.

It was like the Manifest Destiny all over again, except, instead of taking and consuming everything in their paths for God, they did so with the same fervor and sense of entitlement for their new god... themselves.

Buy, take, break, throw it away.

I have to brag on Adah a bit: she's using the potty regularly and staying dry in her big girl underwear. I wish that it was some bit of grand parenting on our part, but it wasn't. I ran out of diapers and told Adah she had to wear underwear. Then, the next day we went to get some jelly beans and the rest is history. We're still dishing out the jelly beans when she uses the restroom, I'll try to come up with a way to solve that problem ("oops, they're all gone"--would that work?!).

Christopher is getting over a sinus infection and I am STILL trying to paint the front door. Man, these projects take FOREVER!! I dug up some weeds in my plant beds during the rain last week, so I'm ready to plant the new ones for this season: a yellow pepper, some strawberries, oregano, basil, and cilantro. Anyone else have other requests or suggestions, let me know.

OH, and have you heard about UPN canceling Startrek: Enterprise???!!! I could not be more irate. Television has sunk to a new low. Now they're canceling shows that are actually of a high quality in favor of the usual junk. Unbelievable.