There are people to whom I am connected on Facebook (yes, I know...)

[Monty92]

Erm, game of two halves?



Seriously though, there's no greater stupidity than patriotism, I think George Carlin said it best.

“Pride should be reserved for something you achieve or obtain on your own, not something that happens by accident of birth. Being Irish isn't a skill... it's a ****ing genetic accident. You wouldn't say I'm proud to be 5'11"; I'm proud to have a pre-disposition for colon cancer.”

I think that's a really ****, reductive quote that shows absolutely no understanding of what the essence of patriotism actually is. Of course, patriotism can manifest in horrible, unpleasant ways. But you and the lad Carlin seem to be implying that it can only ever be a negative thing.

[Burney]

Oui, ils vont vendre leurs maisons pour 15,000 euros, pour retourner en Angleterre et... quoi? Prendre une maison de council, peat-etre?

J'aime 'maison de council'

[Burney]

I think that's a really ****, reductive quote that shows absolutely no understanding of what the essence of patriotism actually is. Of course, patriotism can manifest in horrible, unpleasant ways. But you and the lad Carlin seem to be implying that it can only ever be a negative thing.

To be fair, he was just a comedian. One shouldn't really seek profundity from someone whose job it is simply to make people laugh.

[Sir C]

J'aime 'maison de council'

J'etais sur que tu connaîtrais comment ca veut dire.

Alors, mais nous sommes drole!

[The Jorge]

To be fair, he was just a comedian. One shouldn't really seek profundity from someone whose job it is simply to make people laugh.

Saying George Carlin is *just* a comedian is like saying Dennis was *just* a footballer

[Sir C]

Saying George Carlin is *just* a comedian is like saying Dennis was *just* a footballer

Perhaps they are comparable in their fields. They're equally qualified to comment on matters as profound as patriotism, of course.

[Burney]

J'etais sur que tu connaîtrais comment ca veut dire.

Alors, mais nous sommes drole!

Oui, mais je crains que nous sommes proches des limites de mon français. Nous devons donc cesser.

[The Jorge]

I think that's a really ****, reductive quote that shows absolutely no understanding of what the essence of patriotism actually is. Of course, patriotism can manifest in horrible, unpleasant ways. But you and the lad Carlin seem to be implying that it can only ever be a negative thing.

OK, please tell me what a positive manifestation of patriotism is then. It's just arbitrary stuff, isnt it?

I mean, I'm happy that William Wilberforce abolished the slave trade, that Nye Bevan created the NHS and that Alan Turing created the difference engine but I'm not sure I'd feel comfortable taking pride in it, it's not my achievement even if we share the same passport.

It's great Yuri Gagarin was the first man in space but that he was a fellow caucasian male has no bearings on my feelings and neither do I resent Laika or canines in general for getting there first.

[The Jorge]

Perhaps they are comparable in their fields. They're equally qualified to comment on matters as profound as patriotism, of course.

Why is patriotism so deep though? As I say, it just seems arbitary to me.

[redgunamo]

Answer that yourself; have you not previously stated your "pride" in your Irish roots?