Patriotism. A well-meaning word that has become much more controversial and dirty than ever intended. "Patriotism" is something that, in its most common form, I have a real problem with. I hate to see people waving national flags about, or soldiers marching off to war under the pretence that they're protecting their country. Or arguments over which country grows the best oranges, or has the biggest GDP. I almost feel that patriotism is no longer a respect and love for your country, but a disrespect and hatred towards other countries. It's edging closer and closer to nationalism.
Patriotism is a very powerful political tool, and there are plenty of examples of how nations have become great and powerful because of it. Looking at recent history, the most clear example in my mind is Nazi Germany. Well constructed propaganda created raging patriots out of the members of a ruined nation. Germans were told to love their country, and long for it to be returned to its former glory. What they needed was some solid leadership, inspiring speeches, flattering compliments, and plenty of fluff on the top such as impressive marches, military maneuvres and national anthems. They were given all this, and Germany was turned into a land of patriots. Their leaders then had a great tool with which to fulfill their own dreams. But that is patriotism in its most unpleasant form. Not only a love of one's country, but a hatred towards others and a lust for an increase to their country's power at the expense of others. Thankfully, we don't see that kind of patriotism today, at least not on a large and threatening scale.
On 11th of September the world stopped spinning for a few hours, and vast numbers of people united in shock and grief. There were a few exceptions, but on the whole a world full of hatred looked for one moment at a single point, with a single thought. And patriotism was nowhere to be seen. It didn't matt
er if you wern't American, everyone was shocked and saddened by the loss of human life. Now, over a month later, American patriotism is more inflated and sickening than ever before, and that's certainly saying something. The USA was born out of rebellion, and the early Americans held a love for their country, that was, at last, truly theirs -- and, I might add, not at all wrongly. Unfortunately, this idea has continued through the generations, and many (but certainly not all) Americans have become victims of what is, for want of a better word, propaganda. The US is full of patriots, and this can be used as a great tool. Thankfully I very much doubt President Bush could possibly compare with the likes of Hitler, but the power is used in different ways -- the American public are, on the whole, happy to watch their warplanes and their troops go to a far-away country that they probably knew very little about, to wage war against a country they don't really hate. The sense of revenge amongst some (I stress the "some") Americans is sickening, and it all comes from the patriotism and love towards their country that they have grown up with. It's not their fault that they believe America to be the greatest country on the planet, with a righteous role to use war to combat terrorism -- it's become part of the American psyche to believe "America is best" and "God loves America", an inescapable form of propaganda almost. While this can be a good thing, I find it unhelpful.
Patriotism is a very powerful political tool, and there are plenty of examples of how nations have become great and powerful because of it. Looking at recent history, the most clear example in my mind is Nazi Germany. Well constructed propaganda created raging patriots out of the members of a ruined nation. Germans were told to love their country, and long for it to be returned to its former glory. What they needed was some solid leadership, inspiring speeches, flattering compliments, and plenty of fluff on the top such as impressive marches, military maneuvres and national anthems. They were given all this, and Germany was turned into a land of patriots. Their leaders then had a great tool with which to fulfill their own dreams. But that is patriotism in its most unpleasant form. Not only a love of one's country, but a hatred towards others and a lust for an increase to their country's power at the expense of others. Thankfully, we don't see that kind of patriotism today, at least not on a large and threatening scale.
On 11th of September the world stopped spinning for a few hours, and vast numbers of people united in shock and grief. There were a few exceptions, but on the whole a world full of hatred looked for one moment at a single point, with a single thought. And patriotism was nowhere to be seen. It didn't matt
er if you wern't American, everyone was shocked and saddened by the loss of human life. Now, over a month later, American patriotism is more inflated and sickening than ever before, and that's certainly saying something. The USA was born out of rebellion, and the early Americans held a love for their country, that was, at last, truly theirs -- and, I might add, not at all wrongly. Unfortunately, this idea has continued through the generations, and many (but certainly not all) Americans have become victims of what is, for want of a better word, propaganda. The US is full of patriots, and this can be used as a great tool. Thankfully I very much doubt President Bush could possibly compare with the likes of Hitler, but the power is used in different ways -- the American public are, on the whole, happy to watch their warplanes and their troops go to a far-away country that they probably knew very little about, to wage war against a country they don't really hate. The sense of revenge amongst some (I stress the "some") Americans is sickening, and it all comes from the patriotism and love towards their country that they have grown up with. It's not their fault that they believe America to be the greatest country on the planet, with a righteous role to use war to combat terrorism -- it's become part of the American psyche to believe "America is best" and "God loves America", an inescapable form of propaganda almost. While this can be a good thing, I find it unhelpful.
1 comments: until now.
superb great information in a short time.I want to say this would be quiet related to universal brotherhood.
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