Patriotism is not some fuzzy feeling about one’s country or its flag, although it may involve those things. It’s a form of partialism, no different in principle from the partiality that one owes to one’s family, friends, neighbors, co-religionists, or colleagues. The opposite of patriotism is cosmopolitanism, which is a form of impartialism. Cosmopolitanism holds that there is no morally relevant difference between one’s compatriots and others. Duties are owed to individuals as such, not to individuals as fellow citizens. I’ve been paying close attention to Barack Obama for several months. I’m not convinced that he’s a patriot. In fact, there is ample evidence that he is a cosmopolitan. Think long and hard before voting for someone who believes there is nothing special about being an American.