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"Patriotism" is a euphemism for government.
"The nation" is a euphemism for government.
"The country" is a euphemism for government.

That's progressivism.

Back in the middle of the Eisenhower Administration, a HS teacher gave a homework assignment: “Do we have to do what society says?”
That night I agonized over the question and came up with the conclusion that the answer was “No,” on the basis of freedom.
The next class I verbally gave that answer, and the teacher replied, “We like to say ‘society’ when we mean government.” I instantly recognized that as ProgressiveThink. But I was, unfortunately or perhaps fortunately for my grade, struck dumb for a way to express my disagreement. The actual answer is, IMHO, given by Thomas Paine in the first two paragraphs of Common Sense:
SOME writers have so confounded society with government, as to leave little or no distinction between them; whereas they are not only different, but have different origins. Society is produced by our wants, and government by our wickedness; the former promotes our happiness POSITIVELY by uniting our affections, the latter NEGATIVELY by restraining our vices. The one encourages intercourse, the other creates distinctions. The first is a patron, the last a punisher. Society in every state is a blessing, but Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one . . . For were the impulses of conscience clear, uniform and irresistibly obeyed, man would need no other lawgiver; but that not being the case, he finds it necessary to surrender up a part of his property to furnish means for the protection of the rest . . . — Thomas Paine,Common Sense (1776)

This is one of my favorite passages of all time. Not just in its simplicity but also with its philosophical depth. I don’t remember when it was (as you do) that I realized that “society” is not a synonym for government in any way, but once I was able to visualize it I couldn’t and didn’t want to go back.

I think the confusion between government and society has been an important ingredient to all of the biggest government atrocities not just within the relative grasp of our time, (I know this last part isn’t possible) but I would not be surprised if we had a time machine and could go back and ask the world’s biggest tyrants - Khan - Pharoah - Caesar - King George III; they would all agree. Government is society. I bet they would all agree.