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Patriotism
Former Member
Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
What in your opinion is patriotism? Do you think it has been ruined by the left or right( the PC brigade or the BNP). To British Blacks/Asian/any other immigrants of any kind, are you patriotic towards the country you originally come from, or to Britain because you have been here all your life? To British whites, do you feel you can be traditionally patriotic, or do you fear offending non-whites/English.
I dont feel any. I think it is just a country, and you live there. I think I am more British than I am Ghanaian, because I have never lived in Ghana. I'd hate to be sent to live in Ghana, simply because its a crappy place to live.
In the athletics, a Ghanaian runner, Kofi/Kwame/somethingequallyGhanaian Nkansah was racing Dwain Chambers in the 100m. My parents had been supporting Chambers all the way, until he faced Nkansah. Then my parents went all Ghanain and started supporting Nkansah and chanting "Ghana".
My mum was almost angry that I wasnt supporting him, but I owed him nothing, he is running for himself not for his country, and this is why athletes often change nationality. A Kenyan now runs for Qatar, because the Qatarian government promised to give him $1000 for the rest of his life if he ran for them. The Kenyans were angry, seeing him as some kind of traitor, but some people just arent patriotic, and no one should have to be.
I dont feel any. I think it is just a country, and you live there. I think I am more British than I am Ghanaian, because I have never lived in Ghana. I'd hate to be sent to live in Ghana, simply because its a crappy place to live.
In the athletics, a Ghanaian runner, Kofi/Kwame/somethingequallyGhanaian Nkansah was racing Dwain Chambers in the 100m. My parents had been supporting Chambers all the way, until he faced Nkansah. Then my parents went all Ghanain and started supporting Nkansah and chanting "Ghana".
My mum was almost angry that I wasnt supporting him, but I owed him nothing, he is running for himself not for his country, and this is why athletes often change nationality. A Kenyan now runs for Qatar, because the Qatarian government promised to give him $1000 for the rest of his life if he ran for them. The Kenyans were angry, seeing him as some kind of traitor, but some people just arent patriotic, and no one should have to be.
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Comments
One of the greatest diseases affecting this planet, possibly the worst of all, is the "my country, right or wrong" mentality.
I'm not more "proud" of my nationality that I am of being left-handed. Sure, I like my country of birth and I will support it and my people in sporting events and in other issues. But I will not offer blind support when I believe my country is in the wrong, be at government or people level.
It's a good thing to be happy about of the good things your country has to offer- so long as you are prepared to see and admit to the bad things as well.
I think the PC Brigade make you feel ashamed & a racist to be proud of your country.
They seem to think that the only patriotic people are racist White Englishman. What they don't realise is that many Britons from other origins who settled here say 50 years ago are also proud of their new home & aren't offended by flags because they too are British.
Basically, all these councils that ban flags etc., with the justification of them offending ethnic minorities are being more racist than anyone because they're saying that non-whites are not actually British, because a British person wouldn't be offended by the Union Flag.
Like a lot of people I feel more patriotic when I'm abroad. When I was studying in France and Russia, I loved hearing about the countries of all my friends (I was in a big mixed multi-national bunch) and I also liked telling people about my own country. I think it's important, every country has its own identity, its own culture, its own history and its own way of doing things. And Britain (or maybe I should say just England) doesn't seem to recognise or respect any of this.
I'm proud of my country. Sometimes I wonder why though.
When I look at the music, fashion and other cultural products of this country, I am proud.
Too often people get patriotism confused with xenophobia. I have never met anyone from an ethnic minority who was offended by British/English flags and I do think some of these reports about councils banning them are a bit of a myth.
People however unfortunately do get nervous at some displays of patriotism ie football matches as it was not that long ago that the far-right hijacked patriotic expression and the terraces.
I think the solution is to have more celebrations of English culture as it exists today and involve everyone.
Just imagine a St Georges Day festival in your town with punk bands, Drum and Bass DJs and Chicken Tikka Masala all great English inventions.
Just who is British though. See I sometimes fear offending Black people. I often say "well that's us British for you" and things of the like. Well do they know I include them with their south London accent in that "us British" (and are they offended by that) or do they think i'm being a bit "us british - you johnny foreigner" (and are they offended by that? For me being British is saying you're British and meaning it.
Alot of white people are incredibly scared of Patriotism. Well Englishmen anyway. Scots and Irishmen can shout the odds and Welshmen can be proud of a country that ceased to exist in the 1200's but Englishmen are white thugs with skin heads if they so much as wave the St George. Mainly beccause the PC bollocks has caught up with them.
I never understood that.
With regard to flag flying and other public displays of patriotism, thankfully in the last few years the public has retaken the flag from far right groups. Last year in particular was the year when people embraced both the St. George's Cross and Union Jack openly in their millions thanks to the football and the Golden Jubilee. Let's hope it remains that way.
'us British' suggests inclusion, I can't imagine anyway being offended by that
I am soooo in favour of having big St George's day celebrations :yes:
It's on my manifesto!
My only problem with patriotism is that to many it bound up with a family of inbreed Germans that own several very large houses in London, Windsor and another near Aberdeen.
What would you say English culture is? What in your opinion is special about the English language. And what things have England given the world?
Royal Familiies have always breeded with other countries for power reasons so what do you expect.
i live in a country, no a world, where sexism, racism and bigotry is rife. dont let yourself be fooled by the outer scenery, look inside, and the white, rich men still control the world and britain.
i am not proud to be british, i am more proud to be myself, a member of the worlds community, even if it is a heavily biased one.
He won't answer 'cos he doesn't know.
What an indepth understanding you have of world economics and politics. Well done. :rolleyes:
'Crappy' with better weather and food? Have you ever been there? What's your basis for stating that it's 'crappy'?
As a Ghanaian then, you do KNOW why some Akan (if you know who the Akans are...) males are called Kwame?
No answer, huh?
I take it he's ashamed of his culture then.........
Wo o te sen? :cool:
You presume far too much mono.
You presume too much.
Many second generation people in Britain understand their original roots and culture. Go to any southern Asian community and you'd see where I'm coming from.
I know many people from Africa who are second generation yet know about their parents' culture.
I just like the attempts to 'defeat' my argument.
Notwithstanding that, whilst many do know and understand or even practice the culture of their forebears, many do not. So once again your presumtpion of what the poster above is or isnt based on your self appointed litmus test is flawed from the get go.
And you raise an unsubstantiated point. Who are the 'many' (even though I gave you a rational example to the contrary) who don't understand the culture of their parents? How many immigrants do you mix with where you live?
FYI, I happen to live in a largely Turkish and Muslim area which in recent years has also attracted large numbers of Pakistanis, Polish, and African immigrants.
All I need do is step out my door to encounter 1st, 2nd and third generation immigrants and there are many whose parents have sought a break from the old ways for their children in order to facilitate greater integration.
Sadly its true, there are many children of immigrants who do not know their own culture. This is also true to many from a purely British descent. Not too sure why education, parenting or just pure laziness, who knows?