(Discussion) 4th of July: "My country, right or wrong"

"My country, right or wrong" comes from an amended quote by Carl Schurz, continuing "if right to be kept right; and if wrong, to be set right". 

I originally was going to make this blog about the differences of nationalism and patriotism, but the more I had looked into their uses throughout history the more confused I became on what those differences actually where. But now I am just realizing, that while history is important, it is about what we can make out of it. 

My scrapped blog had a section where I talked about a quote from a high school debate video where someone made a good point along the lines of "If the confederate flag is viewed badly because of it's history, then why shouldn't the U.S. flag be viewed the same with our history of slavery and massacre towards natives?" I believe it shouldn't because the United States has, can, and will change, while when the confederacy died, so did the progression of its values, if they where truly anything more than wanting slaves (and *maybe* tariffs but Confederate soldiers definitely talked a LOT more about slaves). 

Since flags are supposed to represent nations, they should primarily represent the people in it. People should also have a right to wave the flag of their home country/heritage in another, most people I've seen against it are hypocritical nationalists. But continuing my main point, we have the ability to change meanings, and I believe it is easier and more powerful to change the meaning of something rather then to create something entirely different (also goes along with my previous blog). While people will misuse the quote I've used for this title in blind patriotism, like where the quote originates from ("Our Country! In her intercourse with foreign nations may she always be in the right; but right or wrong, our country!" - Stephen Decatur), the changed quote gives so much more power to the people, as MY doesn't mean just me, but also YOU, while telling others to set it right. 

The discussion part of this is basically, do you believe we should change/reform current establishments, rather then trying to form new ones, why or why not? 

and for those who wish a better future for their country, recognize your independence day not as just independence/isolation, but to separate you and your neighbor from oppression.