Korean Job Discussion Forums

Czarjorge · Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 6:25 pm Post subject:

I felt the same way about G-Dubs. Now it's your turn to suffer through eight years.

JMO · Joined: 18 Jul 2006 Location: Daegu

I don't love my country, nor am I proud of it. My parents happened to have sex in Ireland and I was born there. That's it. I just do not understand patriotism/nationalism.

Joo Rip Gwa Rhhee · Joined: 25 May 2003

Joo Rip Gwa Rhhee · Joined: 25 May 2003

Justin Hale · Joined: 24 Nov 2007 Location: the Straight Talk Express

Czarjorge · Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 9:58 pm Post subject:

flakfizer · Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 10:51 pm Post subject:

cbclark4 · Joined: 20 Aug 2006 Location: Masan

I'd like to think that what she was getting at is that there is a lot to be
ashamed of in America in terms of racial equality, and that the fact that
an African American is at the forefront and receiving wide approval is in
fact a point of pride for all Americans.

I am ashamed of the disenfranchisement of anyone from the political process.

I for one as a McCain supporter from day one, find the Obama campaign
to be highly inspiring in many respects, the enfranchisement of huge
segments of the population in the mainstream of the body politic, very
hopeful indeed.

JMO · Joined: 18 Jul 2006 Location: Daegu

Justin Hale wrote

bucheon bum · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

Justin Hale · Joined: 24 Nov 2007 Location: the Straight Talk Express

JMO · Joined: 18 Jul 2006 Location: Daegu

Justin Hale · Joined: 24 Nov 2007 Location: the Straight Talk Express

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

After two fairly extremist views, I guess I'll jump in the middle.

First of all, I tend to be skeptical of any European who drools, rolls around on the ground and kicks his feet in the air while squealing with glee because 'his' soccer team defeated a soccer team from another country, all the while proclaiming he isn't a nationalist. I'm not saying anyone on this thread is one of those, but I think you all know what I mean.

I see no problem with a person loving his country, being proud of his country's achievements. No, you didn't have a thing to do with it, but it's a natural response. I think it's called patriotism. The reverse need not be shame. It could well be regret that the ancestors didn't do a better job, but after all, they were just humans.

I used to tell my high school students that the difference between patriotism and nationalism is that the first one means 'I love my country' and the second one means 'I want to kill the foreigners'. I still think it's true. Our nationality is just an accident and at least those of us from the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand could just as easily have been born in another country. Nationalism is kind of stupid.

Ideally, in my view, we'd all think of all humans as family, but the reality is we are divided into nation-states. I see no reason not to think of our fellow citizens as something like an extended family, with mutual obligations. We are in a legal relationship with each other that does not extend to all other people. Someday, I hope that expands, but for the moment, I see no reason why that feeling of obligation shouldn't include at least our fellow countrymen. I guess it's kind of an evolutionary thing: a new-born baby recognizes no one outside of itself as important and gradually learns to acknowledge the needs of others and the help others can give. It all comes down to a definition: Who is 'we'?