Dark underbelly

Supporters of the SNP have never understood the difference between patriotism and nationalism and now David Patrick has confirmed it (Letters, August 19). He writes of the “patriotic nationalism (of ) Ukraine”, when he means patriotism. The Ukrainians are, indeed, facing “imperial nationalism of the worst kind” and there is indeed a division between different kinds of nationalism, as Mr Patrick says, just not the kind that he has created.

Patriotism is the love of one's country and positive. Nationalism is hatred, or intense dislike of other people’s country/ies and is negative. This is typified by the sort of splenetic behaviour by nationalist yahoos at the Conservative Conference in Perth. For the sake of euphemism, which we see daily in nationalist rhetoric, “English” is replaced by “Tory”, or “Westminster”. SNP MPS refer to being in “enemy territory” when they are at Westminster, for example.

Patriots are those who love their own country, but not in a reactionary way. Nationalism is menacing and aggressive and often racist. In the case of Scottish nationalism, the Engdie lish are objectified as figures of hate, but euphemistically, as “Tories”, when the actual meaning is “English”. The actions of nationalists at the Scottish border during Covid revealed this dark underbelly of nationalism.

Patriotism, on the other hand, is warm and embracing, expressing love of the positive attributes of one’s country, not hatred or antipathy towards another nation, or another race. Russia’s ex-president Medvedev calling the Ukrainians “scumbags” for defending themselves epitomises nationalist hatred, just as does James Cook being called a “traitor” in Perth, presumably for being a BBC correspondent.

Patriotism and nationalism are polar opposites and suggesting that they are one and the same is a misrepresentation.

ANDREW H N GRAY

Edinburgh