Patriotism is a dilemma to many immigrants in Canada and the United States. It's a challenge not only to first-generation immigrants.

Second, third and even fourth generations face the same dilemma when it comes to debating conflicting issues of their new home and "back home."

Some issues are not even conflicting.

They are just nostalgia or identity-related. For instance, new generations of Italian- Canadians celebrating winning a soccer (football) championship would be quite natural and cool.

On the other hand, though, any debate in the Canadian media about the Pakistan military's involvement in the insurgency in Afghanistan can trigger the emotions of Pakistani-Canadians -- even second-generation.

In such situations, many wonder whether these folks are Pakistanis or Canadians.

But some of them don't care much about their Canadian citizenship when it comes to these kind of issues. They may even go against Canadians' interests.

The question is: What does patriotism mean to most immigrant Canadians -- and to their children and grandchildren?

The term patriotism swings severely when religious sensitivity is present. A Pakistani Islamist in Canada described his patriotism on the Internet last week: "I consider myself a Muslim whose loyalty belongs to Allah only, not to Pakistan and not to Canada."

One can clearly see that level of loyalty among Islamists especially all across the world.

Obviously, that is beyond human level. Even it's beyond divine level. It's at maniac level.

Coming back to the practising meanings of patriotism, since it's again a hot topic in American politics these days, both political parties are interpreting it in different directions.

Frankly, that debate applies to all parts of the world equally.

Claiming the label of patriot may be a right claim, but labelling others unpatriotic may not be a good thing.

U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama has focused his meaning of patriotism on faith in so-called simple dreams such as a true democracy and justice for all.

Republican rival John McCain has emphasized his definition of patriotism as being the "heirs and caretakers of freedom."

Both are right.

However, in terms of values, one needs to look realistically at what matters to a society in a certain time and context.

Especially for those of us who have come from countries where even small businesses have to bribe officials; where minorities are persecuted or where majority suffers at the hand of an elite few, how would you express a patriotism for your motherland?

A wise solution could be to advocate the rule of law for our homelands.

When the rule of law is at the will of dictators and exploiters, one needs to at least advocate against the most inhumane laws.

Struggling groups "back home" may be skeptical of our patriotism because we left, or fled, the country.

This seems relevant to them no matter what arguments we can provide.

Our loyalties get more jumbled when the interests of our homeland intersect with the interests of our new home.

To me, a simple definition of patriotism could be to respect the humane rules of law wherever we live or migrate, and to fight inhumane law.

Tahir Aslam Gora is a Pakistani-Canadian writer living in Burlington.