Patriotism and citizenship
Some people argue that citizenship is not necessarily granted by nationality certificates, which means that a man does not actually need to hold a certain country’s citizenship to belong to it - it is his love and devotion to that country that determines his identity and nationality. Well, this cannot be more wrong, because patriotism is directly linked to citizenship on which many duties, responsibilities and rights rest that are not given to nor asked from anyone who does not belong to a country.
People who promote such an argument actually mix up between patriotism and citizenship. To love a country of which you do not hold its citizenship means that you are patriotic and love that particular country but are not one of its citizens, and thus have no rights or duties towards it. Patriotism does not require direct belonging to a certain country or holding its identity, which is unlike citizenship that conditions holding the country’s nationality and administratively belonging to it.
We have been hearing much about such blind confusion between both concepts and some people may go as far as brag to be more patriotic towards a certain country than its own subjects, which might be true in some cases without any liabilities or commitment. In other words, patriotism is not a door to citizenship even though it is preferable that citizens are patriotic.
For instance, to like Sweden for its order, laws, nature and lifestyle does not necessarily make one a Swedish citizen. Such love does not entail any duties or rights. Some countries do sell citizenship to whoever wants it, but they can never sell patriotism, simply because citizenship is a sellable item whereas patriotism is an internal feeling involving spiritual belonging to the country one loves without holding its nationality.
Many people hold more than one nationality, which means that they are citizens of those countries without feeling patriotic towards them. Some countries even grant honorary citizenships to certain people. —Translated by Kuwait Times