What is a Patriot and what does it mean to you?

Flags can be weapons and declarations of aggression.

Unfortunately that is what the English flag has been maainly used for in recent years.

Kandinsky

*I'll almost guarantee that nobody declaring Welsh, Scottish or Irish patriotism will encounter criticism, but contrast that to any English declaration*

Absolutely this.
And much of Wales voted Brexit.
But that’s ok.
It’s only the English who can’t be patriotic or fly the England flag without being called ‘right wing’ -
Some very mixed up weird people around.

It’s a question of moderation and intent, the Union Jacks widely flown in NI 20+ yrs ago was deliberate intimidation and patriotic declaration.
Less prominent now, Belfast is much more friendly.

M0nica

mum2three

I would say that a patriot is someone who has a strong sense of belonging to their country and is concerned about what happens there. This is why I would class all those who voted to remain in the EU to be non-patriots. Your first duty is to your country.
The popularity of Reform is a sign of the strength of feeling which still exists in spite of those who see patriotism as a mental health problem.

This post completely illustrates my definition of a patriot given further up

Anyone who uses the word patriot is a rightwinger who thinks anyone with a loyalty to their country who does not share their views is a woke commie

or in this case - a remainer- which to some is an insult so vile it can only be used to describe the worst miscreants in society!

I grew up with a former Royal Marine father who fought in ww2 and two grandfathers who fought in ww1. All three gentle, kind men who would describe themselves as patriots.
I identify as English, love many things about my country, especially the irony that helps keep our feet on the floor.
Posts like yours mum2three make me feel like an alien.
MOnica - thanks

My immediate reaction was to think of Patriot missiles. On second thoughts not as stupid as it sounds.

I'll almost guarantee that nobody declaring Welsh, Scottish or Irish patriotism will encounter criticism, but contrast that to any English declaration

Absolutely this.
And much of Wales voted Brexit.
But that’s ok.
It’s only the English who can’t be patriotic or fly the England flag without being called ‘right wing’ -
Some very mixed up weird people around.

Babs03

I think the word patriot is a very American word to use, I doubt very much that any British service men or women who have seen active service would describe themselves as patriots, certainly nobody returning from the Second World War would probably use that word. But I think is more widely used in the US.

I'll almost guarantee that nobody declaring Welsh, Scottish or Irish patriotism will encounter criticism, but contrast that to any English declaration......
The second world war was 80 years ago, times move on..

Cossy

We seem to bandy around lots of words here on GNs, which might mean many different things to different people.

My “vision” of a patriot is:-

Someone who loves their country
Someone who is devoted to serving their country
Someone will to fight to defend their country
Someone who would put their country’s needs and wants before their own
Someone without an agenda

What does Patriotism mean to you?

All that but I can’t imagine the young generation would want to fight for this country, especially after seeing some of the struggles ex soldiers have had to endure, MH, can’t get housing ( I know of two who live homeless), some have taken to drink & alcohol. They come out of the forces & there is no support for them.

I love my country and would fight for it if I had to. I love the tolerance and friendliness of our people and the weather, the beauty of the place, the vastness of it. In fact
‘ I love a sunburnt country’ as Dorothy Mackellar said. I am confident in flying our flag on occasions as well as the Original Owners Flag. My Dad was definitely a British patriot, he fought in the RAF and saw most of his mates killed and he was very, very British. I don’t feel that particularly for the UK now, I don’t like their leaders and I just have nostalgia for the friendly and supportive way it was when I was growing up. I think it has gone to hell in a handcart but I am absolutely certain I will get nasty comments rained down on me for saying that.

I think the word patriot is a very American word to use, I doubt very much that any British service men or women who have seen active service would describe themselves as patriots, certainly nobody returning from the Second World War would probably use that word. But I think is more widely used in the US.

New England Patriots was my immediate thought MOnica

I think there is now a deep semantic difference in meaning between patriotism and being patriotic, on one side and describing yourself or someone as a patriot.

These days describing yourself or someone else as a Patriot immediately brings to mind the extreme rightwing preppers of the USA. Living in a remote area, carrying a rifle, and supporting Donald Trump

Whereas to describe yourself or someone as patriotic or to speak abstractly of patriotism means a respect for the law of the democracy you live in and being proud to be able to disagree with it, without being considered a traitor.

I love and am loyal to my country, though not happy with people that abuse it.

woodenspoon

What is a patriot? Surely, somebody who loves the country they are born in and live in. They are loyal to their country. The dictionary says they would be willing to fight for their country. Whether you remain or leave is not really relevant to the word. Nor is Yorkshire puddings however tasty they are.

I had a feeling things on this thread might get a bit fractious so threw in the Yorkshire Puddings for a joke.

Patriot? Someone who knows how to laugh about how ridiculous their fellow countrymen can be.

Good knows we need our sense of humour these days!

petra I had a tear in my eye when I saw the white cliffs on our way back to Southampton 😿

"I have a feeling that 'patriotism' is something which implies pride in one's country, without feeling that everything it does is necessarily right, and 'patriot' sounds to me a bit more right-wing... Anyone else feel that there is a difference, however slight?"

I do think that the word patriot has been adopted by the far right and seems to denote a feeling that goes beyond pride to 'supremacy', implying that patriots don't just fight to defend their own country against attack but will attack those within their own country whom they feel don't belong, whether they are a danger to said country or not.
Patriotism being from the same word strikes me as similar so must beg to differ on that one.

Wheniwasyourage

Crossed posts, Cossy!

Crossed posts, Cossy!

Dickens

Well I'm at a loss to know exactly what Patriotism demands.

Because, on social media...

I was told I was "unpatriotic" because I voted Remain - and when I 'empathised' with a Leave voter, I was actually called a "traitor".

So I don't really know what Patriotism is - I'm just proud of the good things that my country of birth has done.

Will that do?

Yes, it will do for me too.

I have a feeling that 'patriotism' is something which implies pride in one's country, without feeling that everything it does is necessarily right, and 'patriot' sounds to me a bit more right-wing... Anyone else feel that there is a difference, however slight?

Babs03

Thanks for this thread Cossy, it has certainly made it clear to me why I feel dubious about using the word 'patriot'.

Thanks Babs

It’s really not an expression I would use but I just wondered what people here actually took it to mean

Thanks for this thread Cossy, it has certainly made it clear to me why I feel dubious about using the word 'patriot'.

GrannyGravy13

I love the UK.

I am proud when I see multiple Union flags flying in London for State Occasions. (The more the flag is flown, the less association with those who choose to use it for their political agenda)

I respect our Royal Family, our democracy, our many freedoms.

The varied landscape from wild seas, farmland, architecture, our history and museums, hills and forests as well as tourist areas.

So I can only assume that I must be patriotic 🤷‍♀️

Here here 👏👏👏👏.
This will probably sound mawkish to some but, I well up a bit every time I come into Dover.

I think two of the things I am most proud of in this country is our freedom of expression and our freedom to vote in a democracy. So an earlier post in which it was stated that those who voted Remain were non-patriotic is in fact illustrating the opposite to this, belonging more to a totalitarian state where those who don't vote as they should deserve to be denigrated and made to feel as if they don't belong.

MayBee70

I’m proud that, in a world that politically seems to be veering towards the far right, we have elected a centre left government.

👍👍👏👏👏👏👏

I’m proud that, in a world that politically seems to be veering towards the far right, we have elected a centre left government.

“ Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel” is a very old quotation

Those who are reduced to using Patriotism as a justification for their opinions probably fit that description.