Kicking off in Leicester

[BrianW]

I didn't say I didn't believe in it but I am also pragmatic enough to understand this will never happen.

A bit like a beauty contestants call for world peace, sounds nice but doesn't take account of where we are as people worldwide now.

I was asked to expand on my vision of practical patriotism. I did. I am not running for office though.

I do not agree it is unattainable. It is unattainable overnight, but it could be worked towards. All it takes is political will and recognition of the fact that the present paradigm is unsustainable and indeed disastrous.

If Germany could rebuild after the total defeat and destruction of 1945, surely to God the UK could - if it chose - move from the place we are now to something better. It's only what other countries have done. Spain, Portugal, and Ireland to name but three that come to mind. All massively transformed in my lifetime. Ireland was next door to the third world, now it has a higher GDP per capita than we do!

Are we really so utterly fucking shit that we have given up completely? Maybe we are, but it isn't very patriotic to make that argument, is it?

 

[blueparrot]

I didn't say I didn't believe in it but I am also pragmatic enough to understand this will never happen.

A bit like a beauty contestants call for world peace, sounds nice but doesn't take account of where we are as people worldwide now.

When you say never , things can always be better. Doesn’t mean other countries aren’t closer to the ideal tha we are. We seem to be going away from it as others try and head towards it.

 

[-dabz-]

Sadly, a million miles off. Because, as a country, we have mistaken values.ed

Thank you for your honesty. Values nowadays have become a construct of social engineering being played out on a global scale...The people in charge don't have values and to them it's just a tool for control. People are being played on every level.. Simple as that...always has been the way and always will be till people wake up to the wheeze.



Just my two pence...

 

[Deleted member 77198]

I can give you a pattern - Denmark.

But the point is, patriotism, so-called, is just rhetoric unless it delivers for the people.
A patriotic government would produce (inter alia)
A top-class education service.
A top-class health service.
A functioning democracy with a modern constitution.
A functioning housing/rental market.
An effective justice system. (It would be a safe place to live.)
A minimum standard of living below which no one would be allowed to fall, etc., etc.

These things are practical realities. Much so-called patriotism is just hot air and abstract BS. Like saying how 'great' we are. How does that feed anyone?

Patriotism has nothing to do with any of that stuff. Governments have no bearing on it at all.

It comes from culture set by the people. Football, rugby league, music, theatre, fashion, pubs, bars, club culture, gigs, our varied weather, our neighbourhoods, and most of all the people.

British people are the most welcoming, open minded, tolerant and stoic of populations you’ll find anywhere in the world.

Being part of that, enjoying it, being proud of it, is all part of being patriotic. We do stuff as part of our culture the rest of the world can’t get anywhere near doing as well as us.

 

[A57 the snake]

Patriotism has nothing to do with any of that stuff. Governments have no bearing on it at all.

It comes from culture set by the people. Football, rugby league, music, theatre, fashion, pubs, bars, club culture, gigs, our varied weather, our neighbourhoods, and most of all the people.

British people are the most welcoming, open minded, tolerant and stoic of populations you’ll find anywhere in the world.

Being part of that, enjoying it, being proud of it, is all part of being patriotic. We do stuff as part of our culture the rest of the world can’t get anywhere near doing as well as us.

Very well put , in our times of despair and outrage of our own , some can still see a country to be proud of without having to stand on the white cliffs waving the union flag. I’m proud to be British without going any where near the daily mail . Suppose it depends on where each of us thinks where we are as a nation in our own shite times.

 

[mancity2012_eamo]

Patriotism has nothing to do with any of that stuff. Governments have no bearing on it at all.

It comes from culture set by the people. Football, rugby league, music, theatre, fashion, pubs, bars, club culture, gigs, our varied weather, our neighbourhoods, and most of all the people.

British people are the most welcoming, open minded, tolerant and stoic of populations you’ll find anywhere in the world.

Being part of that, enjoying it, being proud of it, is all part of being patriotic. We do stuff as part of our culture the rest of the world can’t get anywhere near doing as well as us.

Like modesty?

 

[Deleted member 77198]

Like modesty?

Indeed, haha.

But as hard as any sports league in the world tries, none are as exciting as Premier League football.

As hard as any country’s musicians try, nowhere has the band history and back catalogue of Britain’s bands.

 

[mexico1970]

Indeed, haha.

But as hard as any sports league in the world tries, none are as exciting as Premier League football.

As hard as any country’s musicians try, nowhere has the band history and back catalogue of Britain’s bands.

Most of the criticism is anti English crap anyway mate, bollocks wrapped in last centuries chip paper.

 

[johnmc]

We do stuff as part of our culture the rest of the world can’t get anywhere near doing as well as us.

Are you referring to pomp?

 

[RadcliffeRick]

Are you referring to pomp?

And ceremony!!