What I feel is the meaning of 'patriotism'

Such a weird world we live in today where the word 'patriotic' can label you a nut on one side or the other.  I feel I'm patriotic though.  I'm not Republican nor Democrat.  I'm not Green Party nor Tea Party.  But I am patriotic.  And my definition of patriotism is simply rooting for your country to succeed.  But success isn't really success if it isn't done with class.  And we can look to sports as the great case study on how to win and how to lose.  Either way, do it with class.

So in that sense, I'm a patriot.  I'm not a politician.  I don't watch political TV.  And I don't read political literature.  Though that doesn't mean I'm ignorant.  I'm just a bit smarter than the average bear.  Who needs all that needless worry they throw at you now days?

So for tomorrow, I've actually worked out a day-trade at work with a friend to be able to watch the US play Algeria live.  And in doing so I'm hoping that the US can pull off the stunner and go through to the knockout stage.  I'm hoping that the handful of men who put on the US jersey can do it with class.  I'm hoping that they can show the world that not everything America means to the world is negative.  I'm hoping the world can start to identify Americans in the context of a sport.  Very few of us are ever in politics - yet the majority of us are judged by the deeds of our politicians by the world as a whole. 

The South Africans are hoping the US gets knocked out.  The security detail costs more when the US is playing.  A lot more.  But I'm hoping the US sticks around.  And I'm hoping that in the end, it was worth the price.