Patriotism

[Black Orchid]

Not that long ago I considered Australia to be a patriotic country. We were proud of our country and grateful to those many tens of thousands who enlisted and fought abroad in many wars to give us the freedoms that we enjoy today. In WW1 we were a country of only 5 million people yet almost one tenth of the population went overseas to fight to give us what we have today.

What happened?

Minority groups now try to make us feel ashamed for who we are. If someone dares raise an Australian flag they are harassed and called racist

On Australia Day we see people burning flags everywhere and we are supposed to accept that as normal behaviour and freedom of expression. We have to put up with rallies with people carrying banners wanting to behead us. We have ghettos full of criminals and drugs where people refuse to adopt our country as their own or even speak the language.

Seriously, if you don't love the country, our country, feel free to leave! Shove your minority panderings and anti Australian sentiments and take a hike.

I admire the patriotism Americans show for their country. Citizens raise their flags with pride and honour. Most when they become Americans take pride in that whether they are black, yellow or white. The picture below is representative of that patriotism and something you would never see here in and I find that sad. Minority groups in Australia would be protesting that they aren't draped in an aboriginal flag.

[sprintcyclist]

[brian ross]

There is quite a difference between "patriotism" and "jingoism", Black Orchid.

In the US, they are Jingoistic. They feel the need to display their flag everywhere. It is even on the walls of their living rooms, their houses and so on. They feel the need to proclaim their jingoism at every turn. What struck me during the coverage of the tornadoes was that there were numerous American flags flying everywhere. To them it proclaims they are alive, that they have survived.

Downunder, our Patriotism is not Jingoistic. We are quiet, we don't feel (generally) the need to fly the flag everywhere, to have it framed on our living room walls. However, that does not mean we don't believe in our country. We support our defence forces, we remember our war dead - the people who made the sacrifice so that we could live our lives today, how we want.

Migrant Australians are just as patriotic. Sure, they often have mixed allegiances - both to their old home country and to their new. However, they believe in Australia as a nation. They support our ideals and our beliefs. There are disagreements, there are arguments but they are minor when the chips are down - they rally round the flag and each other. To suggest otherwise is disrespecting them and showing your xenophobia, Black Orchid.

Yes, on Australia Day, some people choose to burn the Australian Flag but that is to send a political message. It shows they don't respect Australia for what ever decisions it has made against them. it is a political statement but again, if the chips are down, they invariably rally 'round the flag and each other. If thought you respected freedom of speech but it is obvious you only support speech that you agree with, rather than the stuff you disagree with, right, Black Orchid. Tsk, tsk.

[Nicole]

You saw it in the election campaign. Morrison always had the flag pinned to his suit. Shorten never did. That imagery (and its meaning) was not lost on me as a voter.

[Black Orchid]

That's a load of absolute nonsense Brian

[Valkie]

That's a load of absolute nonsense Brian

That's because bwyannnnnnnn simply wants to propagate self hatred and elevation of primitive to be worshipped.

I love my country and hate the imbicils running and ruining it on a daily basis.

Nature favors the strong, the adventurous, the advanced and powerful.
But our idiot potato politicians and sick twisted public servants and education system seem to believe the opposite is true.

[Black Orchid]

Maybe it's because the US had to fight hard for their freedom. Our time is coming where we will probably have to do the same.

[Valkie]

Not that long ago I considered Australia to be a patriotic country. We were proud of our country and grateful to those many tens of thousands who enlisted and fought abroad in many wars to give us the freedoms that we enjoy today. In WW1 we were a country of only 5 million people yet almost one tenth of the population went overseas to fight to give us what we have today.

What happened?

Minority groups now try to make us feel ashamed for who we are. If someone dares raise an Australian flag they are harassed and called racist

On Australia Day we see people burning flags everywhere and we are supposed to accept that as normal behaviour and freedom of expression. We have to put up with rallies with people carrying banners wanting to behead us. We have ghettos full of criminals and drugs where people refuse to adopt our country as their own or even speak the language.

Seriously, if you don't love the country, our country, feel free to leave! Shove your minority panderings and anti Australian sentiments and take a hike.

I admire the patriotism Americans show for their country. Citizens raise their flags with pride and honour. Most when they become Americans take pride in that whether they are black, yellow or white. The picture below is representative of that patriotism and something you would never see here in and I find that sad. Minority groups in Australia would be protesting that they aren't draped in an aboriginal flag.

Most AUSTRALIANS don't know what patriotism is.
The terminally twisted beat down anyone who dares to be patriotic with cries of racism, jingoism and such.
But as you say, colour makes no difference in the USA.
Imagine if any American draped some stupid flag about their shoulders that wasn't the American flag, how long do you think They woukd be competing?

Yet some one race wonder drapes a rag across her shoulders that is not a recognised nation to promote bull shite.
And I still love the fact that the flag was designed by an immigrant and not an abbo, desiging anything woukd be beyond their ability, can't tie a rock to a stick.

Burn a yank flag in America at your own peril.

But the turds that burn our flag do so with impunity.
I wonder what woukd happen if I started burning rainbow flags, abbo flags, muzzo flags?

We AUSTRALIANS have lost it seriously.

[Wally Raffles]

I wonder what woukd happen if I started burning rainbow flags, abbo flags, muzzo flags?

Nothing, I suspect. Maybe we could try it?

[brian ross]

That's a load of absolute nonsense Brian

Is it. You do understand what "Jingoism" means, don't you, Black Orchid. It describes America to a "T".

I lived through the sixties, when patriotism was considered a dirty word to most young Australians. They disliked it because of what it meant - they forced to go and fight another country's war in another country - Vietnam. So, they largely turned their back on it. It caused huge gulfs to be awakened in Australian society between the progressive youth and the conservative older generations. Yet, within 10 years, patriotism had returned to Australia. From the early 1980s, the crowds at ANZAC day memorial services were swelling. People were interested and proud in being Australian. That swelling has continued ever since. However, we don't loudly proclaim our patriotism. I actually dislike Australia Day and the bullshit that accompanies it. Yet, the next week, everybody has forgotten all about it again, as they should. We don't wear our flags on our sleeves, we wear them on our Budgie Smugglers, on our beach towels and on our thongs.