Patriot, noble or idiot?

Usually people praise the patriots for their sacrifice devoted to their countries. The sacrifices include but not limited to loss of life. Life cannot be more precious than anything else for any individual. If one affords to lose his/her life for their countries, certainly he/she holds his/her country above all.

The answers are always positive on the question whether one loves his/her country. That is why someone rate it even more important than their lives. However, what exactly a country is? Why does it so much matter to patriots?

Any dictionary can give the definition of a country but this is not my question of what a country is. My point is that what it is which is behind a country. A country is an abstract concept. What is real, physically existing is the people whom run the country. A country exists disregard changes on regimes. However, how often people mixes up the two ideas? Or contrarily how often a regime confuses its people they are the same?

One very good example is soldier. Soldiers are regarded as patriots because they serve the country. In war time, they fight for the country or even die for it. Soldiers died in wars were seen as hero. However, very seldom people would examine the nature of the war and for what purpose soldiers died in that wars. There is no question at all when soldiers died in the defense of an invasion to their country. They were hero and patriots. They protected their fellows thus lost their lives. But how about those died in the invasion or in the wars abroad in name of anti-terrorism? It is controversial, isn't it?

Now back to the confusion on country and regime. The regime that started the invasion could and most likely would say it was for the benefits of the country. The officials in the regime called the youth to join the army, fooling them they were fighting for the country. Were these youth patriots? or idiots?

A country is only an abstract concept. A country is indeed manipulated by the regime that rules the country. Patriots thought that they devoted their lives to their country. The fact could be that the regime started war for their own interests and benefits. The reasons behind most wars in the past were related to monetary benefits to conglomerates. The oil is the example of the never ending wars in the Middle East.

So patriots, next time when the regime is calling for your sacrifice in the name of country, think carefully, don't end up to be idiots.