Patriotism Quotes in Child 44

If you look up the word patriot in the dictionary, you'll find a picture of Leo Demidov's pretty mug. Unlike his peers at the MGB, Leo is driven by a sincere love for his country, rather than a lust for power. Ultimately, that's the only way he can rationalize the evil things he does every day.

All you have to do is think something negative about the government to be a traitor in the Soviet Union at this time. That's a pretty low bar; if we were playing limbo, it'd be game over. But what if this much-promised paradise never becomes a reality? How does anyone know it will?

That's harsh, man. Saying something stupid is an integral part of drinking—just ask anyone who sends sappy texts to their ex after having too many pints. Don't think for a second that Vasili is doing this out of patriotic duty, however: he just knows that it will earn him a promotion.

It takes a while, but Leo finally begins questioning his government. After all, how can you arrest someone for a crime that even you can't define? Still, it's going to take some time for Leo to fully open his eyes: he still has thirty-something years of patriotic propaganda clouding his vision.

This is the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. There's just one problem: leprechauns aren't real, y'all. We'd give you the whole road to hell spiel, but you've already heard it—instead, just take a moment to think about how many real-life humanitarian disasters can be traced back to this twisted mentality.

Leo needs someone to tell him this. Though he's spent his entire life convincing himself that he'd do anything for his country, the one thing he's been unwilling to do is question his bosses. That's quite the oversight. Luckily, it's one we doubt Leo will ever make again.

Despite this newfound freedom, Leo sometimes longs for his former ignorance. Life was a lot simpler back then, for sure. But Leo is nothing if not a patriot, and as a patriot, he's unwilling to stand by as the country he loves is torn apart.

Without its charismatic leader, the Soviet government falls into disarray. These dudes weren't trained to make decisions on their own—they were trained to take orders. Patriotic fervor doesn't prepare you much for independent action.

Contrary to Soviet propaganda, the serial killer is a proud Russian citizen. It's easy to see why the Soviets deny this: because the Soviet system is supposed to make everyone's life perfect, admitting that a Soviet Russian could commit such crimes would be admitting that the foundation of their political system is a lie. Yikes.

Despite everything, Leo will never stop loving his country. That's a huge testament to the guy's character—you can launch a countrywide manhunt for him, but he'll still have your back when the chips are down.