Let's consider the definition of the word:
Patriotism; the quality of being patriotic; vigorous support for one's country.
To fully understand this, however, we must better understand the definition of a country:
Country; a nation with its own government, occupying a particular territory.
So by google's definition, patriotism is the act of vigourously supporting the government and people of the occupied territory that you consider to be your home.
So what about the previous occupants of said territory? In most cases, the current inhabitants of any given location are in fact immigrants, or even descendants of those that have conquered and murdered the previous inhabants of that area.
Does that mean that patriotism is the justification of said conquering and mass murder?
Perhaps not. Perhaps it simply means that you support the people that currently live there, even without approving of the way in which that territory became theirs.
So does this mean that you support all the actions of your government? A government that enforces taxation on it's people in an ever worsening economy, making life very difficult for the people they're supposedly there to help.
I'm not simply talking about the income tax they force you to pay and use to fund genocides. There is also council tax, a road and car tax, as well as sales tax on everything you buy. In the end, almost two thirds, if not more of the money you earn busting your arse all day goes to paying some sort of tax.
I really should stop calling this tax, because the correct word is extortion.
Pay us money or you're going to jail.
That's definitely extortion.
So I ask again. Is this what you consider patriotism? Supporting a government that oppresses it's people, while not supporting the other governments that your governments are in bed with?
These politicians must be laughing their arses off. They are not patriots. They know how profoundly absurd the very idea of it is.
They are not patriotic when they use the word austerity as an excuse to impoverish their nations even further, to get more money for themselves.
They are certainly not patriotic when collude to commit mass murder and theft of other nations, creating new enemies and uncertain times for their people.
Ironically though, they use their conditioned populous of patriots to get approval for their despicable acts.
Patriotism is and always has been a man-made construct, designed to keep the people of this world divded. The citizens of each country are taught to be patriotic while those in charge support each other, regardless of what nation they call home.
If the people of the world ever came together as one and decided that they have enough of forced taxation, of perpetual war, of constant lies and propaganda and of having their children's minds warped into good consumers who think that buying this and that is what life is about... If the people of the world ever stopped shouting out " America!" or "England" and other silly shit, and instead took a look around and noticed that we are all being fucked by the same monolithic system, then there would be a shift in the power balance of this world.
In fact, scratch that. The power in the world is always with the people. We have just been made to forget that. But, we need to remember.
So, no more of this shouting out your countries name and thinking that makes you a good citizen. Fuck being a good citizen/slave.
No more patriotism, How about humanism instead?
Don't support the people of the territory you're currently occupying.
Support the people of the world that you live in. That means everyone.
