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Have we lost our Patriotism?

  • 10-12-2023 2:07pm
    #1
    Registered Users Posts: 79 ✭✭jimmy5694


    Over the years I have been wondering what does it mean to be Irish. I had the privilege to travel to the US and the UK and experienced there patriotic culture.

    British and American patriotism; people believing in there country, sovereignty, democracy and constitutional rights and also celebrating whether its to do with the Monarch or Independence.

    But, in Ireland I don't see it, when I talk to people about patriotism/loving your country the conversation seems to nearly always go to "Barry's or Lyons", "The IRA", "GAA", "Leprechauns", "Irish are the best drinkers".

    I think we have lost our way, what does it mean to be Irish?

    if we celebrate our Independence is it seen as right wing extremism?

    Our President; it seems like we don't know what his/her function is so what's the point. At one stage people wanted to give up our Presidency because the believed that such a role is a waste of time and money so why have a president. I've heard people say "Anyway our current President is old and he doesn't know what going on so why be involved".

    Another example is that people seem to be too busy and it doesn't impact me so why would I bother.

    It seems like our patriotism aligns more with the paddy-whackery then it does with characteristics of the UK and US.



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Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,211 ✭✭✭✭One eyed Jack


    It seems like our patriotism aligns more with the paddy-whackery then it does with characteristics of the UK and US.


    Try not to confuse patriotism with jingoism.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,399 ✭✭✭Bobson Dugnutt


    I think the problem with your argument is that the US and the UK are both shït holes.

    Being young is a great advantage, since we see the world from a new perspective and we are not afraid to make radical changes - Greta Thunburg



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,460 ✭✭✭blackbox


    ...and the worst thing about them is their patriotism.



  • Registered Users Posts: 79 ✭✭jimmy5694


    😂 Fine, lets take North Korea they are a lot more patriotic.




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,330 ✭✭✭✭AMKC
    Ms


    In spite of the fact that our country was colonised for a thousand years,

    It was not a thousand years it was more like 800 so yes the best part of a thousand years but still not that long.

    Live long and Prosper

    Peace and long life.



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  • Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators Posts: 10,443 Mod ✭✭✭✭Jim2007


    American and British patriotism has nothing to recommend so while you may aspire to be like them, you should not be surprised to find very few will agree with you or act like you. Our approach to patriotism is very European in nature and probably why we feel so much more at home among the EU countries than the UK every did.

    And as for this nonsense:

    Our President; it seems like we don't know what his/her function is so what's the point. At one stage people wanted to give up our Presidency because the believed that such a role is a waste of time and money so why have a president. I've heard people say "Anyway our current President is old and he doesn't know what going on so why be involved".

    That is entirely on you and your lack of knowledge on how the state is governed and the important role assigned to the President. There has never been an significant move to abolish the presidency and on top of this 73% of voters understood the significant of role the president and why it was important to have someone in that role with a bit maturity and experience of the world. If you don't understand this stuff go educate yourself.

    Bottom line, educate yourself about how the country is governed and get out into the real word a bit more and of course stop hanging around the little gang or yours because the group think is of the wall.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 611 ✭✭✭maik3n


    I think the word you are looking for here is ''Jingoism'', which is more what the US and the UK (more specifically England) has/suffers from.

    It is most certainly NOT something that we here in Republic should want or need to replicate.

    I'll happily stick with our paddy-whackery patriotism, thanks.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,632 ✭✭✭Cluedo Monopoly


    Patriotism is overrated. We are all simple humans surviving on a small planet in a vast universe. And we are doing our best to destroy our living space.

    What are they doing in the Hyacinth House?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 991 ✭✭✭erlichbachman


    Very true, it’s been lost in the last number of years, largely because we don’t actually make our own decision.

    This is a new Ireland, we don’t have much say in topics such as immigration, we can protest that the streets are not safe and maybe blame the government and change the government, but the next government will have their hands tied too, policies will still be enforced on us as part of the eu.

    We can contribute toward climate change and say that we are playing our part, but again we have no choice. Whether these are moral policies which should be enforced is neither here nor there, but in the context of having patriotism it’s difficult when being Irish is now lost in being European.



  • Registered Users Posts: 79 ✭✭jimmy5694


    Seems like a true patriot 👍.

    First off I don’t aspire that our patriotism should align I’m simply comparing.

    Secondly And as for this nonsense:

    Our President; it seems like we don't know what his/her function is so what's the point. At one stage people wanted to give up our Presidency because the believed that such a role is a waste of time and money so why have a president. I've heard people say "Anyway our current President is old and he doesn't know what going on so why be involved".


    is not my belief, im relaying what a lot of people have stated to me in various discussions - I do apologise if I hadn’t made that clear enough.

    For your information I’m very much in the real world.

    Thanks for your comment.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,190 ✭✭✭✭Ash.J.Williams


    All the people shouting patriotism these days are neerdowells



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,958 ✭✭✭✭Frank Bullitt


    You just said “I don’t see it”, can you define what “it” is, exactly?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,222 ✭✭✭✭Danzy


    To be moderately proud, verging on self respect is now considered a mortal sin by our new priest like activist class.


    It's a very bizarre situation.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,202 ✭✭✭✭ILoveYourVibes


    I see patriotism as wanting to help your people.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,222 ✭✭✭✭Danzy


    Nearly all those talking about solidarity and working class politics today are bored rich kids.


    Politics has become detached from a lot of people.



  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 24,063 CMod ✭✭✭✭Ten of Swords


    Not "all" people though?

    Just "your" people?

    I think we know how this plays out...



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,428 ✭✭✭SuperBowserWorld


    Most people will sidle up to whoever pays the bills and who they can defer to and blame when the **** hits the fan. Anybody who has a different opinion is shot down.

    The never ending war in Ukraine and the slaughter of children in Palestine, which we financially, by proxy, and indifference, support, is an example of this.



  • Registered Users Posts: 2,841 ✭✭✭TomTomTim


    Exactly. It's literally Hitler to love your nation and your people, and to defend their existence. Anything but unwavering support for the new order, is nothing short of Nazism. So get inline Paddy, and embrace your demise.

    “The man who lies to himself can be more easily offended than anyone else. You know it is sometimes very pleasant to take offense, isn't it? A man may know that nobody has insulted him, but that he has invented the insult for himself, has lied and exaggerated to make it picturesque, has caught at a word and made a mountain out of a molehill--he knows that himself, yet he will be the first to take offense, and will revel in his resentment till he feels great pleasure in it.”- ― Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Brothers Karamazov




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,202 ✭✭✭✭ILoveYourVibes


    your community. Your people are the people around you. If you try helping people too far off .. you often end up doing more harm. All the people in my community are my people regardless of colour /religion. The people of Dublin no matter where they come from are my people. The people of Ireland no matter what their origin. I dont put them above others. I see securing our rights as securing human rights for all.


    Is that not patriotism?

    And yes I believe in a united Ireland. I see partition as an injustice that needs to be corrected with respect for unionist rights. I believe it should be done democratically. 80% of deprived areas in the north are irish. Still. I dont believe the british want to change that. I think they need to keep it that way.


    I believe in a border poll but i dont hold with this we need a supermajority that just says that one protestant vote is worth 2 catholic ones all over again.


    And regardless of the polls outcome the Irish nation has a right to be united and to be able to look out for each other.



  • Registered Users Posts: 41 notJoeJoe


    I wouldn't mind patriotism as long as it was just a bit of craic like "Wahey look at these cool things we do and people we have! Aren't we great?"... but a lot of people in this thread seem to think that patriotism is 'suppressed' because "muh immigrants" or whatever. I've got plenty of migrant friends who love living in Ireland and defend it when people say badmouth Ireland.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,202 ✭✭✭✭ILoveYourVibes


    Badmouthing is fine. Accepting abuse or anti Irishness it shouldnt be. Like we can take a joke. But a joke is a joke and there is a line.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,942 ✭✭✭growleaves


    I'm a time traveller from the future.

    I feel a strong attachment to Airstrip Zone Seven of the United European Imperium. We no longer recognise race or nationality.

    Besides, how would having a 'nationality' affect your ration allotment? You're not going to get an extra portion of frieze-dried ammonia packets by invoking archaic designations like 'Irish'.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,222 ✭✭✭✭Danzy


    It leads to trade unions, that is what it leads to.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,078 ✭✭✭joseywhales


    Walking around beating your chest and exaggerating your loyalty and passion does not really make one patriotic. Unfortunately it can only be proven in a test. Anyway we have plenty of peaceful patriotism, in general the majority of Irish people welcome and are supportive of Irish culture, music, language and sports. I can only speak for myself but I am proud of my ancestors for all they strived for , in extremely dire circumstances. Also I think we have a great balance of temperament, we never let really lose the run of ourselves. We could do without the tendency to be a little corrupt institutionally but sure we all have work ons.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,202 ✭✭✭✭ILoveYourVibes


    I feel Irish in my soul.


    I know that this is real sean nos and some some american young one warbling. Cuz I am Irish.


    Shane Mc Gowans funeral was the first Irish funeral many had seen abroad ... its part of me


    Its fluid ... It can be denise Chaila .. it can be phil lynott. It can be All that Ireland can be.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,202 ✭✭✭✭ILoveYourVibes




  • Registered Users Posts: 900 ✭✭✭sameoldname


    The problem I have with nearly every self-declared "Patriot" I've ever met is that when you get down to it, they actually hate just about everything to do with modern Ireland. They actually pine for some version of Ireland in the past that more than likely never existed.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,392 ✭✭✭✭Furze99


    Yes I think we have lost a sense of patriotism to some extent. There was a time when people made do with less in our country, were happy to work to leave it a better place than when they grew up. Now people seem to be more mé féin, what's in it for me etc.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 605 ✭✭✭InAtFullBack


    The tactic of conflating patriotism with racism used to wash a few years back, but not anymore.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,571 ✭✭✭eightieschewbaccy


    Thing is, celebrating Irish culture is perfectly fine. If anything, I'd say the people who get perpetually offended when Irish cultural events celebrates how Irish culture has changed.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,826 ✭✭✭NickNickleby


    Best definition of patriotism I ever heard was:

    ".... ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country"

    JFK inaugural speech January 1961

    When I saw iloveyourvibes post above, that's what came straight to mind.



  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 12,813 Mod ✭✭✭✭riffmongous


    The patriotism of Tone and Thomas Davis, yes, the modern 'patriots' who seem to be the scrapings off the very bottom of the barrel of what Ireland has to offer, hell no



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,469 ✭✭✭silliussoddius


    The funny thing about the idea of patriotism is that it’s usually very similar to the person’s own personal beliefs.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,130 ✭✭✭I.R.Y.E.D


    Given how fast these "patriots" grab their ankles for English scrotes that advocate attacking Irish people, is an indication of exactly what they are



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 41,104 ✭✭✭✭Annasopra


    If "patriotism" is about waving Ivory Coast Flags, jumping on crazy conspiracies on covid and vaccines, promoting white and christian supremacy then no thanks

    It was so much easier to blame it on Them. It was bleakly depressing to think that They were Us. If it was Them, then nothing was anyone's fault. If it was us, what did that make Me? After all, I'm one of Us. I must be. I've certainly never thought of myself as one of Them. No one ever thinks of themselves as one of Them. We're always one of Us. It's Them that do the bad things.

    Terry Pratchet



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 41,104 ✭✭✭✭Annasopra


    Tell that to all the "republicans" and "patriots" promoting white supremacy

    It was so much easier to blame it on Them. It was bleakly depressing to think that They were Us. If it was Them, then nothing was anyone's fault. If it was us, what did that make Me? After all, I'm one of Us. I must be. I've certainly never thought of myself as one of Them. No one ever thinks of themselves as one of Them. We're always one of Us. It's Them that do the bad things.

    Terry Pratchet



  • Registered Users Posts: 526 ✭✭✭chrisd2019


    Many might describe the UK and USA as more Imperialistic than patriotic.



  • Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators Posts: 10,443 Mod ✭✭✭✭Jim2007


    None your not, you have not even bothered to education yourself, as you have just admitted your are just gullibly parroting off what you have been fed by others. The constitution is there for you read as are many good books and articles on the topic. The fact that you confuse patriotism with jingoism and parratot off what you are fed, means you can't be taken seriously.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 786 ✭✭✭scottser


    121480194#Comment_121480194

    Apologies, you are quite correct

    Post edited by scottser on


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,843 ✭✭✭✭Strumms


    Patriotism is to my mind… wish to be proud of your country, to want it and our citizens to be successful, to have services and opportunities for citizens , quickly when things go wrong…… be it with health, work or whatever…

    that citizens and our wellbeing, welfar, happiness and success is the ultimate priority.



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  • Registered Users Posts: 2,841 ✭✭✭TomTomTim


    Which ones exactly? Ethnically speaking, the Irish are a global minority group, one of the smallest in the world actually. Yet anyone who wants to preserve what's left is instantly a supremacist, even though very few of those people speak of or push supremacist rhetoric. As you know fine well, you're using American imported nonsense like "white supremacy" in the hope of shaming people into doing nothing about our ever growing dilemma. It's too, an absolutely abhorrent attack one of the worlds smallest minority groups. A very shameful thing to see from a great defender of minority like yourself.

    “The man who lies to himself can be more easily offended than anyone else. You know it is sometimes very pleasant to take offense, isn't it? A man may know that nobody has insulted him, but that he has invented the insult for himself, has lied and exaggerated to make it picturesque, has caught at a word and made a mountain out of a molehill--he knows that himself, yet he will be the first to take offense, and will revel in his resentment till he feels great pleasure in it.”- ― Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Brothers Karamazov




  • Registered Users Posts: 2,759 ✭✭✭DeadHand


    I'm pining for a version of Ireland where men weren't beheaded in their own homes and junior infants weren't slashed and stabbed on their way home from school.

    It certainly existed.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 41,104 ✭✭✭✭Annasopra


    Bit of a daft question really. The "patriots" promoting white supremacy are the people I am talking about.

    It was so much easier to blame it on Them. It was bleakly depressing to think that They were Us. If it was Them, then nothing was anyone's fault. If it was us, what did that make Me? After all, I'm one of Us. I must be. I've certainly never thought of myself as one of Them. No one ever thinks of themselves as one of Them. We're always one of Us. It's Them that do the bad things.

    Terry Pratchet



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,222 ✭✭✭✭Danzy


    What about Socialists who push for a final solution to Jews and a roll back of LGBT rights



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,409 ✭✭✭corner of hells


    Patriotism to me is remembering a female relative of mine fought in 1916 ,was captured and imprisoned for short while . She must have experienced the highs of battle and the terror of knowing she could die.Her name is well known and her experiences documented.

    History doesn’t tell us if her husband got his dinner the night she was captured.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 41,104 ✭✭✭✭Annasopra


    It was so much easier to blame it on Them. It was bleakly depressing to think that They were Us. If it was Them, then nothing was anyone's fault. If it was us, what did that make Me? After all, I'm one of Us. I must be. I've certainly never thought of myself as one of Them. No one ever thinks of themselves as one of Them. We're always one of Us. It's Them that do the bad things.

    Terry Pratchet



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,344 ✭✭✭suvigirl




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,222 ✭✭✭✭Danzy


    An excellent book.


    It's happening again in modern SF. Id say we'll see a time in SF when in Dublin and elsewhere they'll be no army commemorations and the leadership will be firm on it.

    The sticks are back.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 605 ✭✭✭InAtFullBack


    The default custodians of republicanism and patriotism in Ireland would like a word...




  • Registered Users Posts: 234 ✭✭niallpatrick


    I'd describe myself as a conservative Irish nationalist and pay no heed to others patriotism. I know what I am and don't care what others say or believe in.


    I won't take crap from anyone who approaches me on the street and tries to instruct me on whats right for Ireland, be it right wing or left wing. Unfortunately SF have gone full swing leftie and are traitors to Ireland and the true Irish natives but thats my personal opinion and they won't get another vote from me. What is a real patriot? God knows, am I one? Prepared to die yes but prepared to kill is a zero from me.



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