"Patriotism Is The Virtue Of The Viscious..."

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Hi Guys,
Just a sort verse, inspired by Oscar Wilde's Quotation.

'Come Over Here, Boy! The Battle Has Begun'
Said The Patriotic Racist, To His Idolising Son

You'll live by tribal standards, tribal doctrine, tribal law
And thus, from influence external, you'll defend your tribal shore
When forced you unto corners, shall you wage your tribal war
For, you're the nature of the tribe, and nothing more!

You'll disregard of others, if their ways, they'll not desert
For, though you preach and teach for hours
Unto yours' they'll not convert
Much better are they, that abide in a way
That, believe they, will keep them from hurt
Than them that would kneel, on the ground, at your heel
And embrace, but, your sacred...dirt!

The more adhered unto commune, be it country, church or team
The more adverse you'll be to others, be without
You'll revel in your triumphs, as you chase your perfect dream
And unto those that be without, you'll cast your doubt

Upon pedestals, pulpits and terraces
Stand the angry, complacent and proud
Taunting their victims to feed on the seed
Of the crop, from the field they have ploughed
So certain are they, in the way, that they play
That they voice unto others, out loud!
Leading poor sheep into darkness and sleep
When, but all did they seek
Was a crowd.

Be you patriotic - Be you Racist, in your heart!
I pray that others, on your turf, shall never tread
Obsessive and erratic, will you tear their limbs apart
Or simply, kick them in their heads until their dead.

So Proud, of your Nation, Religion, your Team
Shall rejoice you, each conquest, you win
But, many have died, whilst of 'Glory' they cried
Never knowing that...Pride...is a sin!

Open to critique

Kind regards.
Mark...

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Type: Question • Score: 1 • Views: 26,163 • Replies: 34

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@mark noble,

When as a teenager I read the 'Importance of being Earnest' it was the most hilarious thing I ever set eyes on. However, reading more about him made me realize that his being a homosexual male made him a social outcast and therefore I can see his disillusionment.

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@mark noble,

the title brings to mind Billy Bragg's song The Few

At night the Baby Brotherhood and the Inter City Crew
Fill their pockets up with calling cards
And paint their faces red white and blue
Then they go out seeking different coloured faces
And anyone else that they can scare
And they salute the foes their fathers fought
By raising their right hands in the air
Oh look how my country's patriots are hunting down below
What do they know of England who only England know

From the stands of the Empire Stadium
Come the heralds of the New Dark Age
With the simplicities of bigotry
And to whom all the world's a stage
These little John Bullshits know that the press
Will glorify their feats
So that the general public fear them
And the authorities say give 'em all seats
And the wasted seed of the bulldog breed
Is shouting here we go
What do they know of England who only England know

Our neighbours shake their heads
And take their valuables inside
While my countrymen piss in the fountains
To express our national pride
And to prove to the world that England
Is just as rotten as she looks
They repeat the lies that caught their eyes
At school in history books
But the wars they think they're fighting
Were all over long ago
What do they know of England who only England know

And the society that spawned them
Just cries out Who's to blame?
And then wraps itself in the Union Jack
And just carries on the same
Oh look out, my country's patriots are hunting down below
What do they know of England who only England know

1 Reply

@djjd62,

Hi Djj,

You always bring a wealth of worth in your posts.
That's a brilliant poem from a brilliant mind.

It's a damn good song too.

Thank you djj. Have a splendid day.
mark...

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I agree completely. Patriotism is fundamentally the same to the psychology the KKK would use to advocate it's beliefs. It's the idea that you prefer someone who has things in common with you, for no real reason. I remember when the coal mine exploded killing many miners, the public attacked the president of the company. One of his defenders stated "No way would he do that, he's a patriot." So? In what way does being proud of your birthplace justify you morally for something completely unrelated?

1 Reply

@Sentience,

Hi Sentience,

Or just being "PROUD" even?

Thank you for your worthwhile comment Sentience.
Have a truly splendid day, Sir.
Mark...

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@mark noble,

No, you have the right to be proud, it's an emotion that is necessary for evolution (then again, so is choosing being racist), but only for things you have achieved. Being born in a certain country does not mean you have achieved anything. You can be happy for yourself, or consider yourself lucky, but you can't be proud of it.

The people who would be 'proud' of it in the sense of an achievement want to have a reason to be able to consider themselves greater than someone else, where none exists.

1 Reply

@Sentience,

Hi Sentience,
Being proud (arrogant, smug, conceited, self-elevated, etc) is often mistakenly used in place of "Being pleased".
Are you making this mistake or do you truly believe "Pride" to be beneficial to the soul/essence of a person?

Remember this before you answer "Pride and prejudice walk hand in hand, as do pride and shame share the same skin."
Pride comes before destruction and humility before honour.

Great chatting Sentience...
Mark...

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@mark noble,

By that definition, then no, being proud is most generally not a good thing.

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@mark noble,

mark, anything carried to extreme becomes a monster.

I keep observing the question: Is the confederate flag a racist symbol? It's just a flag; those who use it for the PURPOSE of such are the ones who create the problem.

I would like to say that your poem is well written regardless of its intention. When verse elicits an emotion or rational thinking, it is a good one.

1 Reply

@Letty,

Hi Letty,
thank you for your critique. I agree "All things in moderation".

As for flags - They institute an identity, as a team does with its' colours, or a group with their badge. And it is the unity therein that promotes division without (beyond).

Wave your banners, crave your badge
Reel to your triumphs and losses.
praise your manners, raise your flags
And Kneel, to your relative crosses.

Have a terrific day Letty,
Mark...

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Patriotism is just an extention of tribalism. Human nature is to group and defend. The division markers are pretty much arbitrary. As the technology and economy expand to include more people nationalism tends to crumble, just like tribalism tends to crumble once an economy has surpassed a hunter/gatherer band. The primary tactic of all in grouping is the dehumanization of the other. Even among people who profess to value all human life equally, if you poke around, they discriminate against someone. In that discrimination X thing about the discriminated group of people is not up to par with (my beliefs) about what it means to be a good person. Advocating the legal rights of all people is not the same as not discriminating. We must discriminate. Our need to belong does not coincide with our ability to form a group. We cannot be in a group of "all humans" the range of diversity is too wide to keep track in a songle person's idealogy about themselves. Also if there were no comparison against other groups, one could not have an identity, which is primary to the psychological welbeing of a person. its a sort of catch 22, we have to compare ourselves with other humans and employ dehumanizing descriminatory tactics to feel human.

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Hey Mark.

It's odd that when you post a poem, more often than not, I have been pondering on the same issue recently. This can be said for this verse, at least.

Nationalism and religion are bred out of fear. Fear of what? Fear of losing security, power, not having 'something more' after death, fear of death itself etc. It leads to a multitude of conflict, as you've rightly pointed out, because as soon as a person identifies themself with an opinion, sect, religion, country, even football team - they are creating a division between themselves and the opposite religion, team, opinion...

For any real posititve change to happen in the world, we need to reject all of these things.

I'm not talking from opinion or theories, nor am I saying something that is new, or at all creative. Everything is fact. Everything.

Have a brilliant day, my friend.

Mike

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@Transcend,

Hi Mike!

Always great to hear your take on it! I don't think it odd that it agrees with mine, either.

You and I appear to see the essence beneath the substance. And I am truly grateful not to be alone in my views.

So glad to call you, my friend, my friend.

xxx
Mark...

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@GoshisDead,

Hi Russ,
I compared myself to others for far too long in my younger days. I concluded this: I am equal to everyone and everything - no more and no less important than any of, but different in relation to my views and attributes. I can't possibly think any differently - I don't hate, I don't get angry and I respect everyone's differences.
Is that so wrong?
I wear no badge,no colours (though I do like bright colours), raise no banner and am part of no group other than the whole.

Great hearing (reading) from you Russ! I agree with nearly all of it, by the way.

Have a terrific day, Russ.
Mark...

1 Reply

@mark noble,

mark noble wrote:

Hi Russ,
I compared myself to others for far too long in my younger days. I concluded this: I am equal to everyone and everything - no more and no less important than any of, but different in relation to my views and attributes. I can't possibly think any differently - I don't hate, I don't get angry and I respect everyone's differences.
Is that so wrong?
I wear no badge,no colours (though I do like bright colours), raise no banner and am part of no group other than the whole.

Great hearing (reading) from you Russ! I agree with nearly all of it, by the way.

Have a terrific day, Russ.
Mark...

Does this mean you are an Island?

1 Reply

@GoshisDead,

Hi Russ,
Literally or metaphorically?

Thank you Russ. prosper to the hilt, Sir!
Mark...

1 Reply

@mark noble,

well I suppose you could surround yourself with water

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@GoshisDead,

Wouldn't it be fair to say that some people are more prone to seek the group than others?

I consider myself more of a peninsula.

1 Reply

@GoshisDead,

Hi Russ,
I do live on an island. It's the UK.

xxx
Mark...

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"Patriotism Is The Virtue Of The Viscious..."

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