Heinlein on Patriotism

Folks who know me know that Heinlein is one of, if my my most favorite authors.  I knew that he had served in the Navy prior to WWII.  I did not know that he gave a speech to the graduating class of Annapolis.

It's here, if you want to read it.  And you should read it.

Patriotism is as necessary a part of man's evolutionary equipment as are his eyes, as useful to the race as eyes are to the individual. A man who is NOT patriotic is an evolutionary dead end. This is not sentiment but the hardest of logic.

Read it.  It's a short speech as speeches go.  But it's packed full of wisdom, as Heinlein is.