Quote:
Originally Posted by Frith
So this means that when the Norwegians celebrate their freedom from Denmark on Constitution Day and do so with national costume and various cultural parades, they are just being "repugnant"? They should have allowed Denmark to keep its dominion over them? Iceland should similarly not celebrate its own freedom from the Danish yolk? When it does so it's just being "repugnant? Tibet is "repugnant"? It should join with China and celebrate its oneness? America is "repugnant? The Americans are a nation and celebrate their freedom from Britain. Is this just disgusting? Should they rather have pushed for a single world identity instead?
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Patriotism is not repugnant but it is both irrational and undesirable.
Celebration of a significant event in a nation's history is desirable.
There are many lessons to be learned from history, and it is a good way of making sure that people remember those lessons.
Self-determination is not patriotism. Self-determination is indeed desirable.
Tibet is, likewise, not a case of patriotism but a case of attempting to save a people from an oppressive regime.
The USA is not repugnant - once again that is self-determination, and very much justified in light of the British treatment of the colonies as nothing more than a money box.
Once again - celebration of significant national events is not patriotism.
As for a single world identity - good lord, no! That would be both boring and dangerous!
I like nations and I like different identities. It's just that they're not something to be proud of.