Dialogues With Myself - Patriotism

by Russell Ruffino

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“Do you think England is the best country in the world?”

“Well, I wouldn’t say that.”

“Is there a country you’d rather have grown up in, another anthem you’d rather sing, another crest you’d rather see on your passport?”

“Well, no but-”

“Then you think it’s the best?”

“I guess so, but I wouldn’t flag wave or anything.”

“Why not?”

“The negative connotations.”

“So you’re going to let other people change what a symbol means for you?”

“I suppose I already have, it’s not just recent events that make me less than proud.”

“You mean the empire?”

“Yes.”

“But you weren’t invovled in that, no one you have ever met had the slightest bit of influence on those events. If your father is a criminal does it make you one?”

“No, but other people may be wary of you, they will whisper behind your back.”

“So you’re letting others dictate what you feel, again?”

“That’s not how I’d put it.”

“Yet that doesn’t change what it is.”

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Comments

Average Reader Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

  1. Dialogues With Myself - Patriotism

    Mycroft's Buddy Icon Mycroft

    Posted 6 months ago

    4.0 out of 5 stars

    Despite being English, I’d rather sing the French national anthem. Mainly because, well, how often do you get to sing a song where the chorus goes “we will water our fields with the blood of our enemies”? Interesting dialogue, I sometimes feel the same way.

  2. Dialogues With Myself - Patriotism

    Russell Ruffino's Buddy Icon Russell Ruffino

    Posted 6 months ago

    I realised earlier that when I consider a topic, rather than one train of thought it’s more like two trains, running parallel both coming up with arguments and counter arguments. Almost like a devil and an angel on each shoulder. I realised I don’t have an internal monologue, but I dialogue. Also I was reading Churchill quotes earlier and it struck me that while I’ve never considered myself a patriot I do hold England in higher regard than any other country.

  3. Dialogues With Myself - Patriotism

    wytherwings' Buddy Icon wytherwings

    Posted 6 months ago

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    hm, i dont know much about politics, especially English politics, since im American. But I liked this.

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