by snugglebunny 23 Replies latest jw friends
Australia has some terrible things in its past. But it has progressed well, and no doubt will continue to do so.
So, yes, I am "proud".
I am also very appreciative of the life we get to live here in this country. Not a day goes by that I am not thankful for the many, many things that could very easily be taken for granted.
I feel that this appreciation is a far greater feeling to be valued. Never take the lifestyle we get to live for granted.
That's my understanding of pride. Whatever I accomplish, nothing else is a source of pride. I can only go as far as deriving pride from how my children turn out because I had a lot to do with it.
I feel no pride or shame from other people's accomplishments, even if they share my genes.
Inculcating patriotism is just another form of mind control. I may feel lucky that I live in a country of the West, especially Europe or Northamerica, but no pride. I can also decide to defend the country I live in by using reasoning. No need for emotional manipulation, as it s often done in patriotic speeches and rallies.
I get "Gay Pride" or "pride in your work" and being proud of your children and all that kind of stuff.
I certainly don't understand being proud of "YOUR" sports team because they play half their games in or near where you live or grew up. You can be excited about it.
I have to say the same for pride in one's country. It is the same as the sports team thing. To me, one could only be a "Proud American" if they have something to do with what's happening. I will even allow for past involvement causing one to have pride in current developments. For instance, I was assigned to the very first crew of a ship in the Navy, so I could be proud of the start I helped develop and the path that ship took because of its start. (I didn't have such pride, but I can see where others might.) You could be proud that you helped put a certain person in office, but if it was just casting a vote, that's a little slim. Better to be proud of your own activism involved in that act and certainly in your current activism.
I don't really get involved in politics. Most of you faders know why. Plus, I was all-in as a JW and I was wrong. So I don't really want to be an activist again for some other causes. Oh, I love the whales and elephants and children, but I think you all know what it's like to stay un-involved in causes and why a former JW would do that.
So NO, I don't have pride in my country. I don't have hate or indifference either. I was born here, lucky to be so. But I am just as concerned about my fellow man across the ocean.
I guess there are some things that I admire about my own country as opposed to feeling "proud".
I admire our going it alone in 1939 at the out break of WW2.
I was around in 1966 when we finally realised that no government should have the legal right to kill it's own citizens and did away with capital punishment.
I watched the fleet sail out to the Falklands in 1982. That was quite something.
So yes, I do consider myself fortunate to have been born here. But not proud.
