I've viewed it as a team. If I were on a team I would be proud of that team and when the team represents some wrong I would take a stance against that but I would be careful not to try to stand middle ground as it would divide the team. I think patriotism is a good thing. But one needs to be careful not to be blinded by it. But that can go for anything. Including cynicism, one needs to also not be blinded by faultfinding causes.