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.
It sounds like you’re proud of your country and want it to improve. That’s what the SMBC comic is saying is “patriotism”. They might have used simpler & fewer words than you did, but that’s only to dumb it down so it’s easily understood.
No. I am not proud of my country, that would be stupid. I am proud of my kids, I am proud of my accomplishments, but I certainly are not proud of things I took very little part in making.
Are you proud that air exists? I have better things to be proud of than a country.