Patriotism is about honesty with self

NAIROBI: Patriotism is defined as an emotional attachment to the nation that an individual recognises as their homeland. In other circles, it is known as national pride. This is an easy concept to embrace; for example, when Kenyans are flying high at various athletics championships or when we speak of our very own Nobel Laureate, the late Prof Wangari Maathai. In fact, the list of things that would make my chest swell with pride can fill this page and run over to a couple more.

But there are times when I look at the goings-on around me and feel deeply embarrassed for the state of our nation and what our actions say of the values that we claim to hold dear. This is one of those times. Last week I wrote about corruption and all manner of waste versus the attitude that has been adopted towards teachers’ livelihood. In response, my readers, some of them non-Kenyans, reminded me of many more instances of sleaze which, in a bid to hold onto my sanity, I had quite possibly chosen to conveniently forget.