Nationality, Patriotism and Identity

Originally posted by Seitse
Seeing the U.S. is not exactly seeing the world, rb.

Quite the opposite, really.

We ARE the world.

(stolen and modified from Louis the XIV)

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Can't you love your country without pretending the world was 'shaped' by it?

Originally posted by Palynka
Can't you love your country without pretending the world was 'shaped' by it?

Pretending?

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You're celebrating St George's Day with continental beer? Seems a bit odd, but I suppose I'd drink a Corona on the 4th of July.

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Did you hear about the rest of the world's history, as well?

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So remind me what English culture consists of, that I might celebrate my spacial heritage tonight.

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My sense of identity is pretty strong, actually. I don't need to feel the world owes us anything in order to love my heritage.

I'm just laughing at your idea that England somehow is responsible for shaping the modern world. Certainly you can be happy for your achievements, just leave the rest of the world out of it. It's too big for any one nation.

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Did those achievements arise from something particular about the English? If so, please elaborate.

Do those acheivements somehow relate to what it is to be English now? If so, please elaborate.

Is cultural grouping of the past relevant to that of today? If so, how long in the past can one look back with pride and do the abhorrent actions taken by the group in the past impact upon the good?

And finally, please define the boundaries of the group with reference to the above questions. For example are English migrants included, what about immigrants? After how long might an immigrant become part of the cultural group? Etc.

Originally posted by Starrman
So remind me what English culture consists of, that I might celebrate my spacial heritage tonight.

black pudding, beatles, cloth caps and whippets, warm beer, the Royals, Spitfires.

Originally posted by Starrman
Did those achievements arise from something particular about the English? If so, please elaborate.

Do those acheivements somehow relate to what it is to be English now? If so, please elaborate.

Is cultural grouping of the past relevant to that of today? If so, how long in the past can one look back with pride and do the abhorrent actions taken by t ...[text shortened]... hat about immigrants? After how long might an immigrant become part of the cultural group? Etc.

History matters. Anyone born in England today will be born into a particular environment because of said history. In that sense, such achievements relate to what it is to be English nowadays.

Originally posted by Palynka
History matters. Anyone born in England today will be born into a particular environment because of said history. In that sense, such achievements relate to what it is to be English nowadays.

Okay, but how does that relate to celebrating St George's day and what are the specific parameters of that history, are English people in general aware of them?

Originally posted by Starrman
Okay, but how does that relate to celebrating St George's day and what are the specific parameters of that history, are English people in general aware of them?

I'm not aware of them myself, so I can't answer that one...