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

New England Patriots was my immediate thought MOnica

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 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.

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.

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..

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.

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

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

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.

Flags can be weapons and declarations of aggression.

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

M0nica

Flags can be weapons and declarations of aggression.

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

Surely the England flag is flown most often at sports events, and St George’s day not as a political statement.

M0nica

Flags can be weapons and declarations of aggression.

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

The England flag is flown at all sporting events England play in.

I ignore the other uses, do not give them the oxygen of publicity.

I am English it is my national flag.

I am not ashamed of it or my country.

nanna8

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.

Not from me you won’t.

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.

That’s absolutely true, it’s only the English who are made to feel that way, the other nations are fine with feeling patriotic.
I think I define patriotism much as you do OP.

I don’t get who it is that is making the English feel that way?

The English making the English feel that way, maybe?

We live in a diverse community in a small conservation area on the outskirts of a City.

I see as I walk around our Avenues Pride, Palestinian and Ukrainian flags.

I bet if I flew a St George’s Cross the local Facebook page would have me down as a racist bigot.

Sago

We live in a diverse community in a small conservation area on the outskirts of a City.

I see as I walk around our Avenues Pride, Palestinian and Ukrainian flags.

I bet if I flew a St George’s Cross the local Facebook page would have me down as a racist bigot.

Wouldn’t that be because it’s not custom and practice to fly your country’s flag in your garden if you live there? We don’t do that in Wales, and I’m sure the Scots don’t either, but I think if you’re a foreigner in a new land you are more likely to want to do so to support your own country if it’s at war, as both Ukraine and Palestine are.

Sago

We live in a diverse community in a small conservation area on the outskirts of a City.

I see as I walk around our Avenues Pride, Palestinian and Ukrainian flags.

I bet if I flew a St George’s Cross the local Facebook page would have me down as a racist bigot.

No, they wouldn’t, however, much better to fly the Union Jack.

Sadly, some have “hijacked” the English flag for their own agendas.

Nevertheless, I see a ton of English flags in the football, especially the World Cup.

Casdon

I don’t get who it is that is making the English feel that way?

I think it's Farage and his ilk telling their supporters that they are being made to feel that way.

There's nothing like feeling persecuted and misunderstood for reinforcing group solidarity in the face of perceived victimisation.

I am very pleased to be British, and largely share 'British values' of tolerance, inclusivity, politeness etc. I even queue without moaning . I feel very lucky to have been born here, and not somewhere like Afghanistan, for instance.

Am I 'proud' of being British? No, how can we be proud to have been born somewhere - our place of birth is entirely random. Pride is a deadly sin, in any case, so people being proud of their pride in their country just doesn't add up for me.

I wouldn't be much good at combat-style fighting, but I fight (peacefully) in other ways for what I believe to be right. Not because 'my country' is involved, as so much depends on who is claiming to be representing us, but because I don't think we should expect other people to do things and then moan about the results when we haven't bothered ourselves. We all have a stake in society, so should all make an effort to make the UK the place we want it to be. I think it is unpatriotic to expect a free ride in life - a country is only as good as the sum of its citizens' efforts.

If there were a war or invasion, I like to think that I would do what I could to help to resist, though.

The word 'Patriotism' suggests blind adherence to what others tell us is 'British', which is not an admirable thing, I think. How can it be patriotic to support something when it is in fashion (because it is currently 'the British way'), and not support it when times change? 'British values' used to include the idea that slavery was acceptable and that there was a racial hierarchy, for instance. A patriot would have been someone who was prepared to fight for things like that. Now (thankfully) things have changed, and with them those values have reversed, so a patriot would be someone with very different views. How can the concept of 'patriotism' mean anything when it shifts so much?

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?

I used to be proud to be a British citizen when it was Great Britain but it's not Great anymore.
So I don't love my country anymore , I wouldn't serve it and I wouldn't fight to defend it .
My late father served in WW2 and for what ? Nothing ! If I was younger I'd emigrate .

Patriotism to me means proud to be the nationality to which I belong.
It doesn’t mean I endorse everything that the leaders of the country do, or the things my country did in the past, or that I think the behaviour of some citizens who claim to be patriotic is good.
It is true as some have already said, that being Welsh, or Scottish or Irish means it’s okay to be patriotic about your country, but sometimes, reading posts on GN, it seems that doesn’t apply to being English.

MissAdventure

The English making the English feel that way, maybe?

That’s it, a certain element of snooty Guardian readers am guessing 😄