Selectively Juggling

When I hear the word ‘patriotism’ I’m left with an acrid taste in my mouth. It immediately conjures up images of those far-right extremist groups who have violently misappropriated the word and concept.

I’m Australian and very proud, and thankful to have been allocated that Lott in life. Yet, I’m consciously aware of the fact that the world is a kaleidoscopic mix of people, values, cultures, meanings and histories. I fully embrace and value difference. I don’t see one culture or ethnicity as being infallible, including my own. I’m well aware of my countries faux pas. And although intensely loyal and proud of aspects of my cultural heritage, I can’t be ignorant and arrogant enough to ignore parts of my cultural history that are violent, dark and oppressive.

I’m a humanist, and deeply mindful of human rights and social justice needs. I believe that although I’m fiercely loyal and ethical, I wouldn’t use the word ‘patriot’ to describe myself. I am a citizen and value the rights, responsibilities and laws of my country. Yet, I’m also a global citizen and respect life’s intrinsic and explicit cultural differences and commonalities. Seriously though, in the game of life I could have been born in another time, place, country, gender, ethnicity, religion, class system or level of functioning.

When I hear the word ‘patriotism and patriot’ it’s now synonymous with violence, indoctrination, mass or collective delusions and hysteria, brainwashing, insular thinking and insurrectionists. Had you asked me this question prior to 2016, I would have responded completely different. Where once I would use the word patriotic to describe heroic, committed courage and conviction, I’d now refer to those individuals as loyalists. Perhaps it’s time to reappropriate the word ‘patriotism’ and purge it of its current derogatory meaning and associations.

However, I’m a fierce lioness when it comes to my family, and would defend them to my death, if needed. All those idiots draped in offensive flags, wearing obscure masks and threatening violence, that’s not patriotic. That’s simply domestic terrorism.