Saint George's Day.

[Martin Norris]

A very Happy St. Georges day from me to users of this forum, yes even those of you who are not English.
By the way I also believe that there is nothing wrong with celebrating St. Patricks day, St, Davids day and St, Andrews day.

[martindtanderson]

I don't see a point in any of it, just an excuse to drink in most cases.

I'll get my coat...

[Alexia]

Daily Star provided all it's readers (pffft) with a free centrefold St George's Flag yesterday. Didn't see a free Welsh flag on March 1st, or Cornish flag on March 5th, or Irish/NIish flag on March 17th. Doubt I'll see a free saltire on November 30 either.

I also notice Frijj are selling an English-flag branded milkshake. That's going to sell well west and north of the border, isnt it...

[Nick Harvey]

Our local baker's was selling Belgian Buns with a red cross on them instead of the cherry in the middle yesterday.

Don't they realise that Belgians are bloody foreigners?

I suppose we're going to have to put up with Belgian bloody everything now that down-at-heel bank clerk's in charge.

[Sput]

Care to take us through the reasoning of this xenophobic rant nick? Come to think of it I CAN'T QUITE REMEMBER why you like the BNP. Care to walk us through that again? I think it's important for us to understand why it's the only logical conclusion for someone in your situation.

[Nick Harvey]

I thought all gods were nationalists, automatically. It comes with the territory.

[Alexia]

I thought all gods were nationalists, automatically. It comes with the territory.

There's a difference between nationalism and patriotism. Patriotism is love of your country and your identity as a member of that country, which extends to pursuits such as sport, language and culture.

Nationalism is a sad, small-minded political beast dedicated to the elimination of individualism in favour of forcing a homogenous whole upon a naturally diverse population for no good reason whatsoever. Nationalism shamelessly uses patriotism as a weapon through which to pursue its dirty aims.

[Nick Harvey]

Nationalism is a sad, small-minded political beast dedicated to the elimination of individualism in favour of forcing a homogenous whole upon a naturally diverse population for no good reason whatsoever. Nationalism shamelessly uses patriotism as a weapon through which to pursue its dirty aims.

Errrrr, conclusive proof of my point then.

[Sput]

I thought all gods were nationalists, automatically. It comes with the territory.

Damnit, who can resist that nick harvey charm?!

[lukey]

Hmm, I'd say patriotism is pretty shitty, futile and divisive on its own.

[Alexia]

Hmm, I'd say patriotism is pretty shitty, futile and divisive on its own.

While I'd invite you to elaborate upon your point, I'd just like to point out that throughout human history, our congregational nature has led to us developing tribal identities to which we readily identify - these extend to various things such as gangs, sports clubs, even being fans of television presentation. Patriotism is simply another such identifier. I am a proud Welshman. Being Welsh allows me to identify with six million other people around this planet, whatever their politics, language, colour, creed or gender. Being Welsh allows me to have a distinctive sense of "home" and therefore of culture, language, music, sport etc - all important personality definors. Being Welsh allows me to be proud of the few square miles on this planet within which I had the immense fortune to be born. And yes, while being Welsh also allows me to define myself against others (English, Irish, Scots, Cornish, Manx etc) it also allows me to therefore find the similarities.

To expand upon my point, and to reflect the initial letters of the words themselves, Patriotism is a positive way of looking at your identity in relation to your country, and Nationalism is a negative way.