Patriotism

Patriotism is a great thing, but it can be overdone.  Some people become obsessed in their belief of the greatness of their own country.  Also, the greatness of themselves.  They cannot understand why people of other nations don’t show respect to who they are and their country.

Patriotism is all about the ownership of land, and as all the land on this planet is part of the planet, which belongs to everyone, there can be no ownership of any specific land.  There can be guardians of areas of land, but no ownership. 

Over the thousands of years since human beings walked the planet, mankind has taken to dwelling in various places where water and food was in abundance.  So why do we think we are owners of that land?

As we grow up, we learn the culture of our country.  We don’t know any other until we meet people from other nations or travel to other places.  Strangely enough, cultures can be different on another side of a mountain or across a river.  Seems impossible, but culture was around when travel was difficult, thereby each village and town developed its own culture and way of life.  Quite often there was a difference in certain words of the same language. 

As each of these villages and towns grew, people mingled with the next village or town, thereby joining their culture and language.  This continued over centuries until a large barrier, such as mountains, a large river or a sea, stopped the progress of slow migration.  These contained areas, spoke the same language, had developed the same culture and became what we call today a country.  They were quite different from the people on the other side of the mountains, large river or sea. 

Because the language was different it was hard to communicate.  Each country considered themselves different and thought the other country’s culture wasn’t as good as theirs.  This made them believe they were better than other places.  Especially when they travelled and took over other countries, like the Romans. 

To the Romans, their culture and way of life was the best.  Obviously, the countries they invaded didn’t believe that, but certain ways that were useful and clever were adopted by the invaded people and became part of its culture.  Even after the Romans left and its Empire dissolved the invaded country’s adopted culture remained. 

I lived in England when I was small and went to Primary School there.  I was taught, as were all school children, about Britain and its Empire.  It was great with what England did and how it helped those nations we took over. 

When my mother was as school, she was born in 1910, she was taught about the British Empire, but her teacher told her all Empires come to an end.  And when you go back in history, this is the case.  Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Viking, Persian.  All countries that conquered others around it, changed the culture until the invaded countries got their land back.

During the time when my mother went to school several of the nations under the British Empire were gaining self-governance.  They still kept the Monarchy as Head of the Nation, but ruled and ran the country according to their ways.  The Empire was breaking up. 

I find it difficult to write this, but the feeling of greatness amongst many of the British who went to school when I did, still believe their country is better than others.  I now see it in the likes of America, Russia and China.  All countries that were taught as small children their country was the best. 

There is a saying “Teach a child when young and you have them for the rest of their lives”.  Unless you see other places of the world and see how they live, why should you believe any differently? 

It is the patriotism that has been taught to children that has caused problems.  It is this patriotism that quite often is used to encourage followers to fight wars, to demean other races, to believe their native country is better than those from other nations. 

As I said at the beginning of this article, this planet belongs to everyone born and alive on it.  Mankind is only here because the planet is here.  This means instead of believing one sector is better than another, we should all be working as one to protect the land, water, animals and foliage.  In other words, we need to be guardians where we live, not promoting where we live is better than anywhere else.

Patriotism, was a great way to protect one’s own country, but patriotism, doesn’t work when there is an invasion.  We can stand up to the invader, and so we should, but in the long run, the original owners will rise against the invader  This causes problems.  Maybe instead of invading, we should all learn to live together and become patriotic to this Planet. 

Julie Finch-Scally ©