Well, I'm not joining the trend. I'm not at all proud of my country, I'm well aware of all its faults and shortcomings, and I think there are plenty of countries that are doing better than ours.
What's to be proud of? A failing economy? Collapsing public services? Widespread misogyny and trolling? Rampant racism? It's not a country to be proud of but one to be embarrassed by.
I was last proud of my country probably in the 1970s, when there was a definite sense of a society that looked after its most vulnerable citizens and wanted everyone to have a satisfying life. I grew up at a time when there were no tuition fees, unemployment benefit was generous, and salaries and working conditions were much better than they are now.
It's just embarrassing when the government flaunts union jacks at its news conferences. Or when people wear union jack tee shirts. Or when football fans wave the St George's flag, the flag of England. Are they really proud of their country? It's hard to believe.
But it's awkward when I happen to live in a country I'm not in any way proud of. I tend to sidestep any conversation that turns to patriotism unless I know the person shares my own views. It could turn nasty.
Nick, I agree in all points with you. And to be born in one country or another is a pure coincidence, the same as for the family you are born in. So no reason to be patriotic or proud, unfortunalty nationalism is on its way in many, many countries , just scary as we know the results.
ReplyDeleteHannah
Hannah: Yes, unfortunately nationalism is on the rise in many countries. It's hard to be optimistic about the future.
DeleteYou were born at the right time, m'dear!
ReplyDeleteI don't recall the 70s as being particularly edifying!
Anyhow, I agree with your sentiment - not a lot to be proud of in the UK at the moment.... although... Johnson and Truss were sent packing. AND, we have Wallace and Gromit.
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Ms Scarlet: Not particularly edifying but a lot better than we're faced with now. As an undergraduate I got not only free tuition but a maintenance grant and a transport grant!
DeleteI see both sides of the coin. I understand why Americans are proud of the ideas (or should I say ideals) that a country was founded upon. Unfortunately, people are imperfect and can never live up to the expectations.
ReplyDeleteProud of slavery and killing the Native Americans that's the foundation of the United States. Strange ideals. And today a narcist and psychopath as president.
DeleteBijoux: You can overlook a few minor imperfections, but the imperfections in our society (and its citizens) are so huge and so all-pervasive it's not possible to keep overlooking them.
DeleteAnon: Indeed, the history of the USA is not an edifying one. And now, as you say, a totally unsuitable president who managed to fool people he would improve their lives.
DeleteI can understand why people would be patriotic. Living in the US, we can be an overly patriotic bunch at times. But some of the things going on now make it hard to see past that and be proud of who we are. I can see both sides at times.
ReplyDeleteMary: I guess you can be patriotic for what your country could aspire to rather than what it actually is.
DeleteThe United States fought for the freedom to make our own mistakes. Boy, are we doing a good job of that!
ReplyDeleteLinda
Linda: Yes, I still can't believe that 77 million people voted for a would-be autocrat.
DeleteThere has been that attitude to one degree or another in the US all of my life. You just weren't supposed to criticize America. I believe if a people cannot look at the past honestly in all its dirt, as well as it's good, there cannot be evolving. Just the same old hamster wheel. We are in one of the red hot periods of nationalism at the moment. As you are well aware of.
ReplyDeleteSandra: As you say, we can't see a country properly unless we look at the bad along with the good. And yes, there's plenty of bad in the States right now, just as there's plenty of bad in the UK with the latest round of austerity.
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