Hardly had the dust and debris settled from the remains of the World Trade horror, before the outpouring of prayer and patriotism swept the nation.

Churches and synagogues overflowed as frightened and distraught Americans sought comfort and security. Millions of flags were raised, including many that hadn't seen the light of day for years. The demand for flags prompted the production of millions more which were put up for sale by every hustler looking to cash in on the patriotic frenzy.

Flag embellished t-shirts and caps spotted American cities like a rash of chickenpox, and in Las Vegas, shirts appeared adorned with the image of bin Laden's face between the words "Wanted: Dead or Alive." This, despite there not having been conclusive proof that he was responsible for the horror in New York City.

So, with all this patriotic fervor, what exactly is patriotism? The Living Webster Encyclopedia Dictionary says that the word patriot refers to a "person who loves his country and zealously supports and defends its interests." The concept is derived from the Latin word "patria," meaning one's native country. This is interesting, because it raises disturbing questions. If you bring out the flag once or twice a year to hoist on the flagpole before your house, does that make you a patriot? If you voice your anger and hatred against the presumed enemies of your country, does that make you a patriot?

If you're a politician, and a flag always flutters over your house, and you constantly remind constituents of all the good things the country offers, but you often help to pass laws that are bad for the masses of working people and bad for the country, do you really love your country and it's citizens? Are you truly a patriot? What about the "investors" who use the wealth accumulated in the U.S.A. to invest in other countries to build indusries that compete with American industries? Are they patriots, or traitors?

If you're a businessman who attends church every Sunday and you publicly praise the blessings of American citizenship, but you steal from your neighbors with overpriced products, contributing to their never-ending struggle to escape poverty, do you really love your country and its citizens? Are you truly a patriot?

Furthermore, should a nation, or more specifically, the groups that control a nation's political and economic systems, deserve the unconditional public support of its citizens under all circumstances, despite behavior that actually weakens the nation's productive capabilities, or tarnishes the image of it being the home of a freedom-loving people? Or should the public show of patriotism demanded by such people be restricted to circumstances truly deserving of citizen support?

Shouldn't a show of patriotism be deserved rather than merely expected? If we are truly a democracy of the people, by the people, and for the people, shouldn't we demand a standard of behavior from our political representatives? Shouldn't we demand more of those Americans who have been given access to our natural resources basically to provide our needs and desires? Shouldn't we demand something more of ourselves other than displaying a flag only upon crisis? Isn't this kind of patriotism a thoughtless sham, nothing more than a shallow pretense of caring for the group?

This kind of patriotism is demeaning to a people claiming maturity and concern for human "rights". It certainly is demeaning for a species claiming posession of the most superior brain on the planet.