Bob Dylan’s lyrics to 1983’s “Sweetheart Like You” (Infidels) go like this:

They say that patriotism is the last refuge

To which a scoundrel clings

Steal a little and they throw you in jail

Steal a lot and they make you king

Of course, these words paraphrase those of Samuel Johnson, who like many Enlightenment thinkers, railed against false patriotism. In 1775, Johnson declared, “Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel”.

Whether it is “Team Australia“, ministers stripping people of their citizenship based on “intelligence”, or the fact that many of his media conferences have a backdrop of up to 10 flags arrayed behind him, people have been asking questions about the Prime Minister’s take on patriotism and what it means for Australians and our society.

The Race Discrimination Commissioner, Tim Soutphommasane, wants us to reclaim patriotism from groups and individuals who want to use the language and symbols of patriotism to exclude minorities. He says patriotism should be a unity ticket; a bulwark against racism, not a tool used by the intolerant to perpetuate intolerance.

If patriotism is “love of country”, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians are the most patriotic of us all. Despite being placed in missions, having children taken from them, and not even being counted in the census, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians had to overcome many other obstacles to enlist to fight for Australia in both World Wars, Korea and Vietnam. Some had to pretend to be of Afghani or Indian origin to enlist. Even now, they have to face discrimination if they want to serve their country.

But that is not how some perceive patriotism. Some regard it as “patriotic” to defend Australia from any criticism at all. The “Love it or leave it” brigade. Pretty hard to leave if your ancestors have been here for at least 45,000 years, especially when the person telling you what you should be doing has roots in Australian soil that go back, at best, less than 250 years.

No society can remain healthy and continue to grow without criticism, without change. There are many things about Australia we can all be proud of, but there are plenty that could be improved, and a few that we should be downright ashamed of. Real patriots can be proud, critical and ashamed of their country all at the same time.