Regarding Paolo Milano's March 18 letter, "Old-fashioned patriotism won't fly": I'm not insisting on blind acceptance of authority and self-sacrifice. I'm not a rightist, either. My point in my earlier letter is that everyone should appreciate what our ancestors have contributed in making our society better and try hard for the community to which he or she owes a lot, such as education and infrastructure.
That's quite natural for a citizen of a country. Our leaders have made many mistakes in the past. But they were selected to be in a position to make the best decisions for the majority of people, not for everyone (that's impossible).
Children should be educated by their parents and teachers. They can't think and make independent decisions without knowledge, education and proper discipline. They can't be responsible for what they do when they are small. That's why parents and teachers must teach them.
What does Milano mean when he says "True love of one's country starts with full awareness that citizens are in charge of their feelings and opinions"? Children as well as adults can't form opinions without knowledge and education.