If a country needs to overly emphasise an ideal, that’s usually because that ideal doesn’t apply in that country (“Land of the free”, “Democratic people’s republic of …”).
If a person needs to subscribe to patriotism, it’s usually because they have never accomplished anything better in their life than being born in a specific place.
Bread and games to distract from actual problems. To create loyalty for things that don’t deserve loyalty and to push tribalism and “us-vs-them”.
No, patriotism isn’t harmless fun.
It can be good and it can be bad