Patriotism vs Nationalism

Again, Peggy Noonan hits the target.

...speak of your love for this great nation [USA]. We don't, not in a deep way and not enough. Even our President doesn't. He tries, but he can't get it right because it's all so abstract to him. He associates patriotism with nationalism. But patriotism springs from legitimate love and gratitude, nationalism from shallow aggression and conceit. Obama confuses the two, can't get them straight in his head, and winds up saying little, badly.

Whatever your feelings about Ronald Reagan, he understood the difference between patriotism and nationalism.