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Teachers & SchoolsPatriotism
Patriotism is the love of one's country over all things. None of the young soldiers in All Quiet on the Western Front are painted as patriots. Not ever. Instead they are instruments of elected or appointed politicians or teachers who use their own stilted sense of patriotism to encourage young men to then give their lives to defend the country. In this setting, acts of patriotic heroism are thus made pathetic, because they are made for no positive outcome. The young soldiers fight to protect their friends more than to protect their Fatherland.
Paul is not patriotic.
Those that are farther away from the war have a greater understanding of what it means to be patriotic. Patriotism seems tied to ideals rather than to reality.