tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052453698252224336.post4603729621944202032..comments2024-03-28T11:16:30.313+02:00Comments on Thoughts from Botswana by Lauri Kubuitsile: A Definition of PatriotismLaurihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11112458658109887868noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052453698252224336.post-19034039427432981072009-09-16T13:55:53.232+02:002009-09-16T13:55:53.232+02:00Selma I think you've hit on it- open minded pa...Selma I think you've hit on it- open minded patriotism, not patriotism used as a club for submission.Laurihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11112458658109887868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052453698252224336.post-83181657258901333402009-09-16T03:11:18.277+02:002009-09-16T03:11:18.277+02:00I think it is good to be patriotic if it means hav...I think it is good to be patriotic if it means having pride in or love for one's country; but when patriotism impedes the need for change as sometimes happens in Australia it can become a negative mindset. Open-minded patriotism is definitely the way to go.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052453698252224336.post-72041157887669904852009-09-15T20:52:40.326+02:002009-09-15T20:52:40.326+02:00Human beings like to belong. Whether it's in s...Human beings like to belong. Whether it's in some club, a sports team, or a country. We like to be part of a whole. My family moved around a lot, I lived in the U.S. and Canada. As an adult I just haven't developed into much of a belonger. I love the U.S., but I'm not pathological about it, like some people are. And it makes me mad when people that know nothing about Canada, (that have never even been there), make jokes and belittle it, because Canada is a great country.Elizabeth Bradleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03150221675618198674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052453698252224336.post-46694720665853590392009-09-15T16:55:05.286+02:002009-09-15T16:55:05.286+02:00Sue- it is a bit of a thin line this one- national...Sue- it is a bit of a thin line this one- national pride and blind patriotism. On Facebook a Zimbabwean friend mentioned how Mugabe used patriotism to batter people into submission. It looks like our new administration may be taking a page from his book, sadly. <br /><br />Hi Automatic Prince- Thanks for stopping by. I think it's lovely the French think that way. It is patriotic to be part of an active and vocal civil society. Also it is a drag to have to carry the weight of a country on your back. Our last Big Brother contestant (we have African Big Brother here with people from differnt countries in the house) slept with three of the guys in the house and came out being quite proud of it. Batswana, who try hard to put on a conservative, moral front were up in arms.Laurihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11112458658109887868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052453698252224336.post-32840471820942726782009-09-15T15:31:50.320+02:002009-09-15T15:31:50.320+02:00I agree with Sue. There is nothing wrong with nati...I agree with Sue. There is nothing wrong with national pride, but it shouldn't make up for someone's inability to think for themselves.<br />I guess in France what would be considered unpatriotic would be to always agree with what the government says and not protest.. so I can't complain. lol<br /><br />On another note, I can relate to what that columnist was saying. As someone who lives away from his motherland, I have very often been considered as some sort of ambassador of my country, when all you can do is represent a fragment of your culture. it's very frustrating.Julienhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15990315419153951184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052453698252224336.post-48412400710038711542009-09-15T10:19:45.637+02:002009-09-15T10:19:45.637+02:00What an interesting question. I do believe that t...What an interesting question. I do believe that there is nothing wrong with national pride. I believe it's important to try to take pride in as much about ourselves as we can. But "patriotism" can definitely be used as a shield to hide behind and as an American I can say that Americans do that with dangerous regularity.Sue Guineyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13556228394020314560noreply@blogger.com