Which direction will America take?

Byron Williams makes much sense in his article, U.S. Patriots Need a Reality Check, posted at Working for Change.

...As we collectively stand at the intersection of patriotism and nationalism, we are presented with a question: Which direction will America take?

Patriotism and nationalism, especially in moments of crisis, are often confused.

Patriotism is simply defined as love and devotion to one's country, while nationalism is the devotion to the interests of a nation; a subtle difference, but a difference nonetheless.
Nationalism itself does not carry a negative connotation, but that which is currently practiced in America is cause for great concern.

While patriotism finds its roots in dissent and questioning, the contemporary form of American nationalism depends on the power of groupthink. The Nazi regime remains the gold standard of nationalism gone awry.

Nationalism tends to sound like patriotism, especially when married to fear. It is the emotion of fear that causes one to focus on self-preservation -- seductively lured into seeing the world as good vs. evil, right vs. wrong, or us vs. them...

His other great writing can be found at his website, www.byronspeaks.com.