Patriotism

[Ianofsmeg16]

How Patriotic are you to your Country? I mean REALLY patriotic. i mean, last week was manx national week, with the Tynwald celebration etc and we were required to sing the manx national anthem in assembly, but me and my friend think ourselves as English and we sung 'God Save the Queen' and got told off for singing it. Was this wrong?

P.s my parents had a go at the school for that and my head had to apologies

[InsaneApache]

Yes it was wrong. You should conform. Mr. Bliar says it wrong to be English. After all the bastard Scot that managed to con the English into giving him another term hates you. You will pay for this. In spades. How dare you have an independent thought whilst 'new labour' is in power...you are an absolute disgrace.......now keep it up, we need more guys like you and we shall reclaim democracy ~;)

[Taffy_is_a_Taff]

seeing as it was Manx national week, why would you sing your own national anthem on the Isle of Man?

All for you English folks being English and proud but doing what you did is surely like me living in England and making a point of singing "Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau" or "Flower of Scotland" at a celebration of Englishness on St.George's day.

Of course I wouldn't expect you to be allowed to celebrate Englishness in England on St. George's day. That's very sad.

I think that what you did was inappropriate given the occassion.

Man is not even a part of the U.K. under British law, or any law for that matter.

The Queen of the U.K. is head of state by virtue of her title "Lord of Mann".

[InsaneApache]

that is true...the Queen is a Lord of Man ~:confused: ....perhaps you might consider becoming the 51st state of America...then you could sing La Marseillaise.... ~D

[edyzmedieval]

Romanians are patriotic....

We fought heavily for our country, especially with the Turks who were waiting to destroy our country.... And also, in WWII.....

[Ianofsmeg16]

seeing as it was Manx national week, why would you sing your own national anthem on the Isle of Man?

All for you English folks being English and proud but doing what you did is surely like me living in England and making a point of singing "Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau" or "Flower of Scotland" at a celebration of Englishness on St.George's day.

Of course I wouldn't expect you to be allowed to celebrate Englishness in England on St. George's day. That's very sad.

I think that what you did was inappropriate given the occassion.

Man is not even a part of the U.K. under British law, or any law for that matter.

The Queen of the U.K. is head of state by virtue of her title "Lord of Mann".
Well, i thought that, because i'm english, i should sing the national anthem of my country....i'm very proud of the fact that i was born in Doncaster, south yorks and i wanted tyo show that, it was nothing against the isle of man...i love the place, so friendly

Apache? your from Yorkshire arnte you, what part?

[InsaneApache]

West yorks m8...Bradford, about 35 miles north ....on ilkla moor bah'tat ~;)

[Duke Malcolm]

I am terribly patriot. Why, just this morning I was singing "God Save the Queen", "Land of Hope and Glory", and "Rule Britannia" in the shower.

Celebrating Englishness on St George's Day would be nationalism as well as patriotism, but since the SNP has propogated (I think) that "God Save the Queen" is Anti-Scottish, (but I do not believe that it is) it is considered patriotic and not nationalistic to sing it. Since I am both patriot and nationalist, I sing both British and Scottish songs.

I pleasantly await the day when I shall join Her Majesty's Armed Forces to fight for the Glory of God and the Commonwealth.



that is true...the Queen is a Lord of Man ....perhaps you might consider becoming the 51st state of America...then you could sing La Marseillaise....

She is also Duke of Normandy...

And about the Isle of Man....

Surely, as a crown dependency and not a separate country, patriotism would be loyalty to Britain and Her Majesty anyway?

[Byzantine Prince]

Being patriotic is counter productive for any nation. I'de hate to get caught up to all the bs and forget the most important thing in my life; me!

Now if you forgive me I have to put up my N.Epirus flag on my wall. ~;)

[PanzerJaeger]

Yea that was wrong of you to do. You should have just shut up if you didnt want to sing the song everyone else was and just waited until an appropriate time to sing it. How would you like it if people started singing their own national anthems during your region's celebration?

[Louis VI the Fat]

She is also Duke of Normandy...That's putting it backwards.

The Duke of Normandy is also King of England. :balloon2:

[InsaneApache]

May God save her Brittanic Majesty....God save the Queen...Hurrah...God Save the Queen ...Hurrah...God save the Queen ...Hurrah....hip hip hurray.



I swear by Almighty God that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Her Heirs and Successors, according to law.

Amen

[Duke Malcolm]

Here, here!



I swear by Almighty God that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Her heirs and successors, according to law.

Amen

[Don Corleone]

That's putting it backwards.

The Duke of Normandy is also King of England. :balloon2:

Not to mention, were the French royalty still around, wouldn't she technically be their vassal?

[Louis VI the Fat]

Not to mention, were the French royalty still around, wouldn't she technically be their vassal?Indeed she would be. But only for her holdings in France. As queen of England she would be sovereign.~;)

[Tribesman]

How Patriotic are you to your Country?
Not in the slightest whatsoever , I have never stood for or sung the national anthem of mine or any country , a country is just somewhere where you live , pay taxes and get screwed by whichever government is in power , until you move to another country and repeat the process .

[hundurinn]

I'm far from being patriotic but in general Icelanders are insanely patriotic. Any celebrity that comes to Iceland, switces a plane in the airport, is referred to as "a friend of Iceland" when ever he gets in the news. We always think we will win the Eurovision song contest, always think we will win every soccer match when Eiður Smári is the only one who can play. The national anthem is too complicated to learn but that doesn't seem to stop those crazy patriots. Few things to be proud of, from 847 to 1939 we basically lived in piles of dirt.

See hereTorfbær (http://hfrn.is/jpg/husamyndir/galtastadir.jpg) I'm sorry for the bad quality.

[Meneldil]

Btw, I sad to say that God Save the Queen (or the King) was written by a French for Louis XIV (Dieu sauve le Roi). Why didn't he copyright that crap when he was able to ~D ?

[BDC]

Very patriotic, in a very British way. Queue well and don't panic when things blow up and stuff. Treat everyone as a foreigner, even when it's their country. Criticise Britain to bits though, as any true patriot should. And don't know the national anthem beyond the first couple of lines, like any other true patriot.

I don't think anyone is really patriotic as openly here as in, say, America. I don't think I have seen a Union Jack on a public building where I live since the jubilee, see a St George flag on top of Churches sometimes. The town hall had a Gay Pride flag up for a while.

[Don Corleone]

Btw, I sad to say that God Save the Queen (or the King) was written by a French for Louis XIV (Dieu sauve le Roi). Why didn't he copyright that crap when he was able to ~D ?

If it makes you feel any better, we stole it from them to make "My Country Tis of Thee", just to piss them off during the Rebellion ~D

[InsaneApache]

Now I learned this as a kid...my Dad said it was the USA national anthem, IIRC it was changed in the '50's

to the tune of God Save the Queen.

My country, 'tis of Thee,
Sweet Land of Liberty
Of thee I sing;
Land where my fathers died,
Land of the pilgrims' pride,
From every mountain side
Let Freedom ring.

My native country, thee,
Land of the noble free,
Thy name I love;
I love thy rocks and rills,
Thy woods and templed hills,
My heart with rapture thrills
Like that above.

Let music swell the breeze,
And ring from all the trees
Sweet Freedom's song;
Let mortal tongues awake;
Let all that breathe partake;
Let rocks their silence break,
The sound prolong.

Our fathers' God to Thee,
Author of Liberty,
To thee we sing,
Long may our land be bright
With Freedom's holy light,
Protect us by thy might
Great God, our King.

Our glorious Land to-day,
'Neath Education's sway,
Soars upward still.
Its hills of learning fair,
Whose bounties all may share,
behold them everywhere
On vale and hill!

Thy safeguard, Liberty,
The school shall ever be,
Our Nation's pride!
No tyrant hand shall smite,
While with encircling might
All here are taught the Right
With Truth allied.

Beneath Heaven's gracious will
The stars of progress still
Our course do sway;
In unity sublime
To broader heights we climb,
Triumphant over Time,
God speeds our way!

Grand birthright of our sires,
Our altars and our fires
Keep we still pure!
Our starry flag unfurled,
The hope of all the world,
In peace and light impearled,
God hold secure!

And it stirs a freeborn Englishman as much as the Star Spangled Banner, the only flag in the world that gives the English a twinge of pride...after all they were our ancestors as well .. :bow:





USA Flag Site © 2002 | A

[Don Corleone]

Patriotism has almost as many different definitions in America as there are Americans. At the end of the day, every one of us want to think we're patriotic, but how do you define what a patriot really is.

If being patriotic means you support the New England Patriots as your pro American football team, hell yeah, baby! ~:cheers:

But in general, there's too wide a range on the definition of patriotism over here for me to sign up to it or not. Many of the Vietnam protesters who threw fecal matter and urine on the returning veterans thought they were being patriotic. I don't have the first freakin idea how they could, but they claim they did.

In the strictest traditionalist sense, I'm not patriotic, as I believe in the right to question government policy, even during times of war (I'm not a big 'my country, right or wrong' guy). But I think I'm a lot more patriotic in that regard than your average American.

[King of Atlantis]

America is very patriotic.

[Marcellus]

Very patriotic, in a very British way. Queue well and don't panic when things blow up and stuff. Treat everyone as a foreigner, even when it's their country. Criticise Britain to bits though, as any true patriot should. And don't know the national anthem beyond the first couple of lines, like any other true patriot.

And that goes for me too! ~D

[Don Corleone]

America is very patriotic.

I totally disagree with this statement. America has some very patriotic people in it. It also has some very unpatriotic people in it. And it also has an unacceptably high number of apathetic losers that don't seem to be able to make up their mind one way or the other (they're too busy figuring out the next American idol).

[King of Atlantis]

Fourth of july is usally a huge show of patriotism. Tons of people have american flags, and we sing our national anthem at any sporting event. Though those are all shallow they do show signs of patriotism.

[Don Corleone]

That's not patriotism. That's marketing fluff. Patriotism means that you put your country's needs ahead of your own. How does waving a flag, drinking a 12 pack of beer, eating 6 hotdogs and letting off some fireworks prove that you value your country's best interest more than your own?

[Louis VI the Fat]

In the strictest traditionalist sense, I'm not patriotic, as I believe in the right to question government policy, even during times of war (I'm not a big 'my country, right or wrong' guy).But this is what I would define as patriotic. To not do it would make you nationalistic.

Myself, I consider to be very patriotic in the strictest traditionalist sense. I believe it is every American's duty to fall for my fatherland...

[King of Atlantis]

Yes it all shallow, but think. When people sing the national antem, most people take off their hats and sing proudly.

And we dont have to draft like some european countries. We have many people that want to join the army. Surley thats patriotism.

[Louis VI the Fat]

We always think we will win the Eurovision song contest, always think we will win every soccer match when Eiður Smári is the only one who can play. Surely that Eiður Smári guy must be some 'real' Icelandic name of Gudjohnson? Of Chelsea fame? ~:confused:

[Don Corleone]

And we dont have to draft like some european countries. We have many people that want to join the army. Surley thats patriotism.

I agree with you that the guys that volunteer certainly are patriotic. But that's not a particularly large minority of Americans.

And European countries don't draft because their citizens won't sign up. They do it to keep an egalitarian air to their military, every man's duty. It also keeps 18-22 year old men from screwing up their lives by getting too much freedom without enough brainpower to use it properly.

As far as the anthem goes, you're confusing nationalism for patriotism. Nationalism is a deep sense of pride in your nation, and that's where 4th of July, National Anthem, and all the rest stems from. Patriotism, as I said, is putting your country's needs above your own.

There's a guy in our city about 83 years old. Every 4th of July, he causes a huge ruckus by burning the flag in the Courthouse Square. He takes a LOT of abuse for doing this, as we're in North Carolina. What most people don't realize is that he's not burning the flag in protest, per se. He fought and almost died planting that flag on Iwo Jima (one of yours, Gawain) and he wants everyone to rememer that the right to burn it is what it stands for in the first place. In my mind, at 83 years old, putting up with people screaming and spitting at you, that's patriotism. (And don't tell anyone around here, cause the guys WANTS to get that reaction, but he only uses flags that had been turned in to his VFW to be burned anyway).

[Steppe Merc]

I think America is patriotic, though Don's arguments to the contrary make sense.

I'm not patriotic. I don't dislike America, but I'm not particullary proud of it or it's history.


And European countries don't draft because their citizens won't sign up. They do it to keep an egalitarian air to their military, every man's duty. It also keeps 18-22 year old men from screwing up their lives by getting too much freedom without enough brainpower to use it properly.
Drafts are wrong, especially pointless ones when the countries never actually fight wars.

[Taffy_is_a_Taff]

drafts are best when beer is involved.

[King of Atlantis]

well don, i guess I(and many others) use the words interchangabley, so technically your right. ~:cheers:

[Don Corleone]

That's all I'm saying. And yes, Americans are quite possibly the most nationalistic people in the world. It's all that we have that unites us, as we're relatively young and come from such a multitude of cultures.

In many parts of Europe, flying your nations flag outside your house on any given day of the week (not a holiday) indicates you've crossed over into the dark world of too-nationalist.

[Ianofsmeg16]

Yes it all shallow, but think. When people sing the national antem, most people take off their hats and sing proudly.

And we dont have to draft like some european countries. We have many people that want to join the army. Surley thats patriotism.
Every time i sing God save the queen i sing it as loud as i can, i'm very proud of my country and will always support it.

[Viking]

(...) Was this wrong?

Pretty much, yes. You can sing 'God Save the Queen' at the national day of England or any day else, but not when your supposed to celebrate the Manx national day. It`s a matter of respect :bow:

Imagine I would sing the swedish national anthem at Norways national day(not that I woud do that, no way!).

[Radier]

I consider myself a patriot and a nationalist. Soon I am to be called for the miltaryduty, and God how I long for the deep and cold woodlands of Sweden. ~D

Last year I started in a new class and when my classmates heard I was a nationalist some directly asked if I were a nazist/rascist. :furious3: It´s so taboo here in Sweden to be proud of your country! Sad indeed...

[Steppe Merc]

What is Manx? Sorry, I don't quite understand the context...

[Taffy_is_a_Taff]

I know some people don't like wikipedia for whatever reasons but it gives you a nice overview:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isle_of_Man

Manx is the adjective to describe something from there.

also, here's the entry for the Manx national anthem:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isle_of_Man_National_Anthem

[Beirut]

I'm very patriotic.

The way I see it, if Canada is the greatest country in the world, which it is, and I am lucky enough to be Canadian, the least I can do is show my thanks by standing up for my country.

Canada - We're so cool we're frozen. ~:smoking:

[ichi]

I consider mysef very patriotic, even if it means standing up and telling the bastards that run the country to 'get bent'

ichi :bow:

[JAG]

Patriotism is very sad, anyone who is so hostile to other people - as the first post illustrated - simply because they are born in a different area on the globe, is bloody sad.

A country is the people and the people are not who they are based on their country, but their own choices. Why then worship a country through patriotism. Very strange.

[Papewaio]

Patriotic as in Proud.
Jingoistic as in Hubris.

I would say interrupting a nations anthem is a rude thing to do and an act of Hubris. One does not show how proud they are for their own nation by being rude to another, if anything such a boorish act also brings your own nation into disrepute. Just like the football hooligans and other louts do as well.

I am proud of being an Australian and a Kiwi (and Fijian born, and Britian too as I can get right of abode). However that does not mean I will kowtow to the government, but I do vote with both the ballet and the wallet.

[Papewaio]

Patriotism is very sad, anyone who is so hostile to other people - as the first post illustrated - simply because they are born in a different area on the globe, is bloody sad.

A country is the people and the people are not who they are based on their country, but their own choices. Why then worship a country through patriotism. Very strange.

Don't confuse patriotism (like caring about who wins the Ashes) with jingoism (like which country we should snub, commit acts of terror on etc this week).

[Roark]

I love my country (Australia), but I think that patriotism has caused a lot of problems for the world. But anyway, as you guys have already discussed, there are different definitions of patriotism...

I really DO care who wins the Ashes, but I have a typically Aussie distrust of authority.

[JAG]

I also care about who wins the ashes - you Aussies are going down ~D - but that really isn't patriotism. That is sport. ~D

[Roark]

I'm confident in my aging team's abilities.

We just have to make sure that Harmison and Vaughan are somehow "injured" before the series...

[Papewaio]

I also care about who wins the ashes - you Aussies are going down ~D - but that really isn't patriotism. That is sport. ~D

You seem to care (love) about your countries success at cricket.

pa·tri·ot·ism
n.
Love of and devotion to one's country.

vs

par-rot-ism
v.
To repeat or imitate your countries leaders, especially without understanding.

[Lemur]

Just curious -- when you sing "God Save the Queen," do you also sing that weird second verse with the whole "frustrate their politics / confound their knavish tricks" bit? Or do you just sing the first verse and call it a patriotic day?

[Ice]

I have an American flag pinned on my wall above my desktop, that sums it up.

[Ianofsmeg16]

Just curious -- when you sing "God Save the Queen," do you also sing that weird second verse with the whole "frustrate their politics / confound their knavish tricks" bit? Or do you just sing the first verse and call it a patriotic day?
I usually do, but not this time because they only sang one verse of the manx national anthem....oh yeah, to those who are flaming me, i only sang my national anthem on that particular day cos i was feeling particulaly anti-foreign and pro-britannia! I have nothing against the isle of man, in fact i love it here (we have palm trees and cats) and i'm always looking out for a mod that could include Mann somehow. Don't think that i was singing my anthem to make a statement of any political kind... ~:cheers:

[JAG]

i only sang my national anthem on that particular day cos i was feeling particulaly anti-foreign and pro-britannia!

QED

[Al Khalifah]

Fiercly patriotic. To the point where I would exercise my legal right to shoot a Scotsman with a bow and arrow from the top of York tower. He he.

I'm patriotic but that doesn't mean I don't want immigrants coming to my country and polluting it. On the contrary, immigrants are good because they strengthen my country with fresh ideas and improving competition, as well as increasing the total production capacity. Anyone is welcome to come and live in Britain as long as they see themselves and British and respect our culture and way of life and have something to offer the country.

The EU on the other hand is bad. It stiffles creativity and decreases competition. It also destroys our national identity.

[Ironside]

And European countries don't draft because their citizens won't sign up. They do it to keep an egalitarian air to their military, every man's duty. It also keeps 18-22 year old men from screwing up their lives by getting too much freedom without enough brainpower to use it properly.

The original purpose was more because this countries lived close to a big militaristic state that already had occupeid large parts of Europe.

I'm going to bet that a draft sounds quite reasonable for the US if China decided to relocate thier population to Mexico, while having an standing army of (atleast) 15-20 million well equipped men close to the US border ~;)

Don is correct on the current reasons used for keeping it now though.

[King Henry V]

I'm patriotic in an expat way, praise the glory of England to everyone in Switzerland, bemoan how everything is so badly organised when I'm in England.

[bmolsson]

Patriotism is soooo outdated.... It's huge in Indonesia though....

[Duke Malcolm]

Fiercly patriotic. To the point where I would exercise my legal right to shoot a Scotsman with a bow and arrow from the top of York tower. He he.

That's Nationalism, not Patriotism.

[Al Khalifah]

Probably murder too.

[Franconicus]

In my country there is no patriotism, not the good and not the bad one.
What is the bad one? Well, if you need your country to be proud. If you thinks your someway special because you are ... . If you have flags, and pictures everywhere. If you believe God is on your side because your are born in the right country. If you get upset if somebody burns a flag.
What is good one? If you take care about your countrymen. If you support the community. If you creaty jobs. If you help the weak.

[Ianofsmeg16]

QED
QED??????? sorry, i'm confused...

[Marcellus]

QED??????? sorry, i'm confused...

QED=quad erat demonstrandum, latin for 'that which was to be demonstated'

[Moros]

God saves the queen hum? yeah love that song!

God save the queen
The fascist regime
They made you a moron
Potential H-bomb

God save the queen
She aint no human being
There is no future
In England's dreaming

Don't be told what you want
Don't be told what you need
There's no future no future
No future for you

God save the queen
We mean it man
We love our queen
God saves

God save the queen
'Cos tourists are money
Our figures head
Is not what she seems

Oh god save history
God save your mad parade
Oh lord god have mercy
All crimes are paid

When there's no future
How can there be sin
We're the flowers in the dustbin
We're the poison in your human machine
We're the future you're future

God save the queen
We mean it man
We love our queen
God saves

God save the queen
We mean it man
And there is no future
In England's dreaming

No future no future
No future for you
No future no future
No future for me

No future no future
No future for you
No future no future
No future for you
No future no future for you

[Duke Malcolm]

wtf?

[Don Corleone]

That's gotta be somebody's parallel that doesn't want you British folks to track him down & lynch him. ~D

Actually, in rereading it, I think that's an old Sex Pistols tune.

[Ianofsmeg16]

Sex pistols...but of t***s

[Steppe Merc]

Sex Pistols suck, IMHO.

[Moros]

oh well can you do it better yourslef young man!? now go to you're room!

Ohw wth it just came to my mind, no punk fan hum? ohwell atleast it's better then nowadays punk. Blink 128 yeah right. the ramones are much better anyway; lets go!

[Steppe Merc]

Yeah, don't like punk. Though it is better than non rock music, of course. ~;)

[Axeknight]

i only sang my national anthem on that particular day cos i was feeling particulaly anti-foreign and pro-britannia!
But Ian, you're also an idiot, man. And you've got ginger hair. Never forget that.


By the way, I know Ian personally and my patriotic singing drowned his English dirge out that day! If you English want a proper national anthem, go for Land of Hope and Glory. God Save the Queen sucks (gawd, the Sex Pistols' version is better). In the mean time:

Oh land of our birth,
Oh gem of God's earth,
Oh Island so strong and so fair,
Built firm as Barrule,
Thy throne of home rule,
Makes us free as the sweet mountain air...

and hold that last note til your lungs burst

[Duke Malcolm]

Land of Hope and Glory is much better than God Save the Queen, especially since it has bits about the Empire in it. Much better tune as well, and it is less French

[Idomeneas]

Well i can say for myself that im patriot. In the greek sense of word. I love my country. I dont care about goverment (the last 1000 years it sucks), i love my country. The clima, our blue (bluest i saw ever) sky, the beaches, the people, our food (try it you will remember me) and above all our heritage. I feel so proud about our contribution to world civilization. EVERYBODY knows something about greece, greek words are EVERYWHERE, great greek scientists, schollars and artists are widely known, the very alphabet we use is greek and the so called western mentality. I absolutely adore ancient relics lying around me, i love the feel of drinking cofee in the very place where Agora was and all athenians where discussing. Everytime i drive home down Peireos avenue no matter how tired i am, when i look through the gaps of modern buildings the hill and Acropolis on top i just cant stop that smile. I feel so proud everytime im abroad and people hearing im greek saying ''oh really? thats so nice!''.
I remember when i was in east Ukraine visiting friends, they had a celebration. I asked what was the occassion and my friend replied that it was 70 years anniversary of funding of their city. After she asked ''How many years before your city was founded?'' well i couldnt stop laughing and said, i dont really know exact date but around 10000 years. I realised how much impressed she was and also realised that the fact that it was common to me it amazed other people.

Im patriotic but not nationalistic. I respect other people's cultures and i dont believe im superior to anybody. Offcourse if im provoked by false propaganda or ignorant comments i almost always take offence and feel obligated to remind some stuff to people with far less cultural background and big tongue :duel:

PS by the way disrespecting other people's national celebrations and anthems is a stupid and rude act that can get you sometimes in very difficult position. Like having your head kicked around for example... ~D

[Zalmoxis]

Romanians are patriotic....

We fought heavily for our country, especially with the Turks who were waiting to destroy our country.... And also, in WWII.....
And then communism happened.

[PanzerJaeger]

Last year I started in a new class and when my classmates heard I was a nationalist some directly asked if I were a nazist/rascist. It´s so taboo here in Sweden to be proud of your country! Sad indeed...

Keep up the good fight! Europe will one day wake up from the anti-nationalism that spawned out of ww2.. Sweden is a country to be proud of. ~;)

[Sasaki Kojiro]

I would say fairly patriotic. Don't know how that's measured though.

[Marcellus]

God Save the Queen sucks (gawd, the Sex Pistols' version is better)

What, even the sixth verse? (no longer used)

Lord grant that Marshal Wade
May by thy mighty aid
Victory bring.
May he sedition hush,
And like a torrent rush,
Rebellious Scots to crush.
God save the Queen!

[Axeknight]

You can tell the lyrics aren't the originals when the song was composed; it sounds so... 'adapted,' so artificial. Plus it's downbeat, dirge-y music anyway. I mean, even the French have a better national anthem, La Marseilleise (sp? a while since I did any French) is a real rollicker of a tune.

[Steppe Merc]

Hey, the Beatles use that song at the beggining of All you Need is Love.

[kiwitt]

I am not very "Patriotic". I equate "Patriotism" with "Nationalism", which I am against. I have lived in three countries and consider myself a citizen of the world first, a citizen of a city second and a citizen of a country third. Others may have a different order

[Papewaio]

^ I partially agree about being a citizen of the world. I see a difference in patriotism vs jingoism and nationalism... although the later two invariably hide under the cloak of patriotism much as KKK hide under otherwise useful bedsheets.

[Ianofsmeg16]

But Ian, you're also an idiot, man. And you've got ginger hair. Never forget that.

You had to bring my hair into this....for the last time its STRAWBERRY BLONDE!!! Anyway one day the gingers will rule the world and we'll MAKE you be patriotic....
plus i'd like to refer to my earlier post where i said i like the isle of man, and i didnt mean to disrespect it? Axeknight? did you actually sing in that assembly, it seemed like only the head and a couple of year7's were singing...and who are you axeknight? i think i have an idea cos there is only two peole that play totalwar games in our school

[Al Khalifah]

Last year I started in a new class and when my classmates heard I was a nationalist some directly asked if I were a nazist/rascist. It´s so taboo here in Sweden to be proud of your country! Sad indeed...
Unfortunately it's much the same in England. I wouldn't describe myself as a nationalist, but I am proud of my country and its many traditions and sucesses. I'm always behind the England team in any modern warfare event (sport) and always back any project that will peacefully enhance our position on the world stage such as the 2012 Olympics.

When it comes to the English / British issue, I feel I am both. I feel there is a mutual sense of common national purpose amongst the countries within Great Britain. I feel an English parliament will be made necessary though in the future, as it is clearly unjust for the Scottish parliament to be able to make decisions that affect England and then make contrary decisions for Scotland.

When it comes to the British / European issue, I do not feel European. I do not detect a common goal or purpose with many of the other EU nations and I don't like being banded together as one group with them. Much of continental Europe is far too socialist for my liking and their desire to impose their (in my opinion inferiror) economic model on Britain is not for the best. I still love the peoples of the other EU nations though. In particular the Germans, Dutch and Scandinavians. I also have great respect for their traditions and customs, but I do not want a culturally harmoised Europe, because then there would be no fun be in going abroad.

Rule Britannia.

[Franconicus]

Much of continental Europe is far too socialist for my liking and their desire to impose their (in my opinion inferiror) economic model on Britain is not for the best.Can you explain that?

I still love the peoples of the other EU nations though. In particular the Germans, ... :bow:
I knww I was right. Everybody loves Germans! ~:wave:

[Al Khalifah]

Britain has a much more liberal economic policy than continental Europe does. Businesses have much more freedom and less restriction. They are also encouraged to be more competitive.
The European model is much more social. Workers rights are more highly valued and there is more regulation on business. Taxes are often higher too.

The Common Agricultural Policy is an example of this at work. The widely differing EU budget net contribution/benefits of members states too. This seems to harm competition. I guess it's not so much a desire to enforce their policy on us, rather a case of, we joined a club where everyone plays by some different rules to our own.

And yes everyone does love the Germans. Try as hard as we might, we can't help but keep forgiving and liking again.

[Ianofsmeg16]

I like the Germans...i also like the dutch for......undisclosed reasons concerning certain laws and hmmmm allowances....dont like the portugueses (at least not the footbal team) after that football match in which ENGLAND shoulda won....i like russia also, if only outa fear that if i didnt like them, they'll get me..

[Franconicus]

Gimme more!
Why do you like Germans? I always had the impression that the Brits are still fighting WW2.

[Ja'chyra]

My first loyalty is to my family, then my close friends then country, so no I'm not very patriotic but if I was I'm Scottish before I'm British.

[Axeknight]

You had to bring my hair into this....for the last time its STRAWBERRY BLONDE!!! Anyway one day the gingers will rule the world and we'll MAKE you be patriotic....
plus i'd like to refer to my earlier post where i said i like the isle of man, and i didnt mean to disrespect it? Axeknight? did you actually sing in that assembly, it seemed like only the head and a couple of year7's were singing...and who are you axeknight? i think i have an idea cos there is only two peole that play totalwar games in our school
You know who I am. And this is the first time in ages I've been to this site, and just to annoy you. Hah! I know the screen name's a naff one, but I ain't too imaginative so I picked the first historical-looking word I found out of a guitar magazine.

What's your MSN, man?

[Kagemusha]

I consider my self patriotic.I love my country and if i must im willing to die for it.I dont consider myself as an Nationalist though.If people are willing to move in this country to work and to prosper i wellcome anyone no matter what culture they come from.While there are only 5 million people in my country,im not worried about our culture vanishing.If it didnt vanish in 500 hundred years under Swedish occupation or 200 hundred years under Russian occupation why would it vanish now? :bow:

[Duke Malcolm]

What, even the sixth verse? (no longer used)

Lord grant that Marshal Wade
May by thy mighty aid
Victory bring.
May he sedition hush,
And like a torrent rush,
Rebellious Scots to crush.
God save the Queen!

It's not that it is no longer used, it is that it was removed from the song entirely a few years after it was written. A besides, General Wade wasn't so bad, his roads revolutionised travel in the highlands. Only joking, I hate him...
And besides, there are not too many rebellious Scots left in Scotland...


When it comes to the English / British issue, I feel I am both. I feel there is a mutual sense of common national purpose amongst the countries within Great Britain. I feel an English parliament will be made necessary though in the future, as it is clearly unjust for the Scottish parliament to be able to make decisions that affect England and then make contrary decisions for Scotland.

I don't know where you learned that about the Scottish Parliament, but it cannot do anything in England. It cannot even change taxes in Scotland (except Council Tax, but that is different). The reason that England doesn't have devolution is because the then and current government relies on its Scottish MPs to make a majority in Parliament, so Tories would control a devolved English Assembly.

[Al Khalifah]

I don't know where you learned that about the Scottish Parliament, but it cannot do anything in England. It cannot even change taxes in Scotland (except Council Tax, but that is different). The reason that England doesn't have devolution is because the then and current government relies on its Scottish MPs to make a majority in Parliament, so Tories would control a devolved English Assembly.

I refer to the case where the Scottish parliament blocked tuition fees being introduced in Scotland for Scottish students, yet MPs elected in Scotland voted in favour of introducing tuition fees in the Westminster parliament, which as a result has an affect on England.

[Duke Malcolm]

Yes, that's the Scottish MPs, not the Scottish Parliament. Scottish MPs have a say in English matters, not the Scottish Parliament