Australia Day

I wanted to wish my Aussie readers a Happy Australia Day whether they consider it 'Invasion' day or not :) I am sure they would wish me the best on the Fourth of July as well. Besides, most holidays these days are not that jingoistic anymore. It is all about food, alcohol, flirting, and forgetting about the government as much as possible.

But, in honor of the idea of patriotism, I leave you with some conflicting ideas about the subject from a bunch of dead people:

'Some claim a place in the list of patriots, by an acrimonious and unremitting opposition to the court. This mark is by no means infallible. Patriotism is not necessarily included in rebellion. A man may hate his king, yet not love his country.' -- Samuel Johnson

'He that accepts protection, stipulates obedience. We have always protected the Americans; we may, therefore, subject them to government.' -- Ibid.

'Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel.' -- Also Ibid.

''My country, right or wrong'' is a thing no patriot would ever think of saying except in a desperate case. It is like saying "My mother, drunk or sober.'' -- G.K. Chesterton (who also knows the mysteries of poetry and cheese :)

'Patriotism is when love of your own people comes first; nationalism, when hate for people other than your own comes first.' -- General Charles de Gaulle (crazy, De Gaulle saying something interesting)

'The notion that a radical is one who hates his country is naïve and usually idiotic. He is, more likely, one who likes his country more than the rest of us, and is thus more disturbed than the rest of us when he sees it debauched. He is not a bad citizen turning to crime; he is a good citizen driven to despair.' -- H.L. Mencken

Last one:

'Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism.' -- George Washington

While intentionally tongue-in-cheek, the main idea is that even those who might be considered authorities on the subject have different ideas on what patriotism was and is. Personally, I do not mind some flag waving now and then (though I am not a fan of 'God Bless America' at ballgames), but I am hardly a jingoistic nationalist crying 'America, love it or leave it you commie pinko swine' (or perhaps something less Cold War). I do think of the concept of patriotism embedded in human consciousness frequently, but when it comes to holidays, I would rather kick back with a beer or a vodka and cranberry juice (Cape Cod) and grill the carcass of a dead animal with some friends and family.

In any event, have a great day however you decide to spend it.

C.