There's something I will say: In the U.S., people are very

Hear, O children of nations, the fierce and sorrowful words of Marine Le Pen: “There's something I will say: In the U.S., people are very patriotic. Their patriotism is obvious. In France, for many years, you had to fight to be patriotic. People are pushing us from loving our own country.” In this utterance lies the voice of one who sees patriotism not as a natural inheritance, but as a contested flame—bright in some lands, dimmed and scorned in others. She speaks of the burden that falls upon those who long to love their homeland but feel that love mocked, resisted, or stripped away.

The origin of these words lies in the cultural and political history of France. For centuries, France was the cradle of revolution, liberty, and national pride. Yet after wars, colonial struggles, and fierce internal debates, the very idea of patriotism became entangled with suspicion. To show love of country was sometimes cast as extremism, or dismissed as an old relic. In contrast, Le Pen looked to America, where outward expressions of patriotism—the flag, the anthem, the pledge—flow more openly, and where citizens often proclaim their loyalty with pride. Her words reveal a lament that in her own land, to love one’s nation openly is not celebrated but contested.

Consider the tale of post-war Germany, where patriotism itself became a shadowed word. After the horrors of Nazism, expressions of national pride were shunned, lest they awaken old demons. And yet, over time, Germans found a way to love their homeland not through conquest or arrogance, but through rebuilding, democracy, and a commitment to peace. This story mirrors the struggle Le Pen describes in France: that sometimes, history makes patriotism itself a battlefield, where love of country must be redefined and reclaimed.

The meaning of Le Pen’s words extends beyond her own politics: they touch upon the eternal tension between pride and humility, between love of one’s people and fear of its misuse. Patriotism can be pure—a celebration of heritage, language, and shared struggle. But it can also be twisted into domination, exclusion, or blind arrogance. Where it has been abused, nations recoil, and the people hesitate to embrace it again. Thus, love of country, instead of being natural, becomes something to be fought for, to be defended against those who would dismiss it as dangerous.

History gives us another example in the American Revolution. In that age, patriotism was not obvious, nor safe. It was treason against an empire. Men like Thomas Paine and George Washington had to kindle love of a new nation in hearts afraid of losing all they had. To proclaim “I am an American” in the face of British power was as contested as any declaration could be. And yet, through struggle, that patriotism became the bedrock of a new republic. Le Pen’s words remind us that sometimes love of country must be fought for—against enemies abroad, or against indifference and suspicion at home.

The lesson for us is clear: true patriotism must never be surrendered. It must not be confused with hatred, nor abandoned because others mock it. To love one’s country is not to despise others, but to honor the soil that nourished you, the people who bore you, the history that shaped you. If patriotism is scorned, reclaim it in its purest form: not as domination, but as devotion; not as arrogance, but as gratitude; not as exclusion, but as service to all who call the land home.

Practical counsel stands before you. Show your patriotism not only in words, but in deeds: in serving your neighbors, in preserving your culture, in strengthening the fabric of your society. Defend your homeland’s values by living them. If others push you from loving your country, stand firm, and let your love be visible in action rather than in empty slogans. For in doing so, you prove that patriotism can be noble, enduring, and unshakable.

So let Le Pen’s words echo across the ages: “People are pushing us from loving our own country.” Take them as both warning and challenge. Do not let love of country be stolen from you, nor let it be corrupted into cruelty. Let it instead be the quiet, powerful flame that warms your heart and lights the way for generations to come. For a people who cease to love their homeland cease to nourish its soul; but a people who guard their patriotism in purity will ensure that their nation lives on with strength and honor.