Thanks for the shoutout. I have to admit, while I love my country (Canada), I'm ambivalent and sceptical about nationalism of any sort. Our planet is divided into countries, though, and to be stateless is to be vulnerable to deportation to nowhere.

One can only love one's country if one feels part of it. Black kids in Ferguson and Arab citizens of Israel might love their land, but not their country.

For me, today, loving my country involves feeling grateful that the majority of my countrypeople and the judges of the highest courts share many of my values (for example, no capital punishment in Canada, legal gay marriage across the country, medicare, and so on). At the moment, I feel more or less safe that justice is the norm in this country. A Somali immigrant in the neighbourhood may not share that feeling, yet.

I'm grateful that this country is a liberal democracy where new ideas can be put forward and considered. This is not possible in many countries.

Regarding your correspondent: I appreciate most of his ideas, particularly the necessity of embracing opposites.