Patriotism - what do you think about it ?

X post Anniebach

We should celebrate St George’s Day and fly the flag, why would anyone living here object to that.
??????? I wouldn't fly that in Wales!

Are we talking about the UK as a whole or England only?
In which case St George might be relevant but otherwise not.

Allsorts you are speaking of England as I speak of Wales, is that being British ?

VioletSky

I'm not patriotic, I'm just a human in a planet full of them

But fortunate to be born somewhere that is relatively benign both politically and climate-wise.

No sports for me really but is that patriotism?

The comments made by Amber are frankly insulting. . Why live in a country you have no loyalty to. I am proud to be British, we welcome strangers, have free speech, unless your a raving unhinged individual preaching hate and we have had a fare share of those in the past, , in other countries you would be in prison. We should celebrate St George’s Day and fly the flag, why would anyone living here object to that. True we have faults, nothing and no one is without, but everyone is free to work to educate and change things. I do think Patriotism is necessary.

Then you don’t watch the Six Nations VioletSky ?

I'm not patriotic, I'm just a human in a planet full of them

Calistemon

Anniebach

We don’t have a problem with flying our flag in Wales

Or singing the National Anthem ???????

Of course, the Welsh National Anthem is the best one, even better than Advance Australia Fair.

I am a very patriotic, I am proud of my country and the union. Many criticise our country's past yet forget many other countries have a past just as dark as ours. The majority in this union are fair and welcoming and many people from overseas are desperate to make their home in one of our countries, so we can't be that awful. I will fly my flags, i will sing our national anthem and i will continue to love our diverse nation.

Mollygo yes your right, I know there are disagreements about the anthem but didn’t know there was about the flag .

I think of the Union Jack as the English flag

maddyone

I dislike the way England is always criticised by the English. The Scots and the the Welsh are proud of themselves and their countries. The Irish are proud of their country and of being Irish. Why are the English so critical of their county?

What sort of English 'criticism of their country' are you thinking of maddyone?

I don't see any reason why I shouldn't criticise aspects of the country I happened to be born in if I don't like them. Otherwise we're on the Chinese route...

I'm very fond of my country of birth but I'm afraid that 'my country right or wrong' isn't for me.

No Anniebach but you don’t get the rants about the rights and wrongs of the flag and the National Anthem that we do in England.

Anniebach

We don’t have a problem with flying our flag in Wales

Or singing the National Anthem ???????

Jackiest

I have missed something but I can not think of any situation where patriotism is morally necessary

When the Ashes are on!

Mollygo

Namsnanny I thought patriotism is when you feel proud of your country and it isn’t compulsory.
What you mention about the Chinese version is scary and not patriotism.

From the Chinese perspective conforming is showing patriotism.
The methods I mentioned are just an incentive to nudge in the right direction.
But your right, not at all pleasant.

Cherrytree59

Patriotism does not necessarily mean Nationalism.

I am proud and patriotic.
I am proud of the country I now live in. and I am proud of the country of my birth.

I am always perplexed as to why a person who has such a dim view of a country, chooses to stay/live there. Why not reallocate to a country that shares the ethos and values as yourself ?

As for our history
'He who is without sin .....'

If that question was directed at me Cherrytree59 I would answer that I don't have a dim view of our country. I love Britain and live in a part of it which I am very proud of. My family are here and this is where I come from. Many people share the same ethos and values as myself and others that don't are as free as me to have their own views - why should I leave? There are aspects of our country's behaviour now and in the past which are excellent and some not good and accepting both seems balanced to me.

I can't think of any country that is without sin, but that doesn't stop us admitting to ours and trying to do better in future does it?

I dislike the way England is always criticised by the English. The Scots and the the Welsh are proud of themselves and their countries. The Irish are proud of their country and of being Irish. Why are the English so critical of their county?

I feel very proud of both Ireland and England although I feel far more Irish than English.

My heart almost skips a beat when I drive into Wensleydale and see the beautiful landscape, I feel the same wandering around the colleges of Oxford and the parks of London.
I am immensely patriotic, I have huge admiration for our Queen and her loyalty to her country.

Ireland is just so full of warmth and generosity, my heart feels so full when I am there.

My ancestors have had to struggle and fight so hard, It is almost too much sometimes to contemplate what they have gone through to make Ireland the wonderful country it is today.

We will be burning some Irish peat in North Yorkshire on Christmas Day so I can close my eyes breathe in the wonderful smell and feel connected to a country I love so much.

Pride in. Not about.

Nothing wrong in taking pride about the good things about our country, however fast they're vanishing.

Patriotism does not necessarily mean Nationalism.

I am proud and patriotic.
I am proud of the country I now live in. and I am proud of the country of my birth.

I am always perplexed as to why a person who has such a dim view of a country, chooses to stay/live there. Why not reallocate to a country that shares the ethos and values as yourself ?

As for our history
'He who is without sin .....'

In England at least, patriotism seems to me to have become a tool of those who seek to form a gang in order to exclude others.

St George's/union flag t-shirt with 'Fit in or F* off' emblazoned underneath have tainted the whole thing for me. The idea that children could be called to the flag to sing the national anthem each day sickens me a bit for these reasons amongst others.

Waking up to the history of Britain and its relationship to the rest of the world doesn't seem to me to be kow-towing to anyone, just pulling our heads out of the sand about the good and the spectacularly appalling things we have done in the past.

Sarnia

I consider patriotism to be a love and pride for our country. I would like to see children sing our National Anthem each day in school. I wonder how many of them even know the words? I would like to see the Union Jack and the 4 nations flags flown more often. Instead we seem to be a country who almost apologises for who we are. Frightened to use the word Christmas because it might offend other religions, kow-towing to the woke brigade on our history and culture. I am British and proud of it.

What nonsense. Your post is exactly what is wrong with patriotism

What Sarnia said.