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

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 🤷‍♀️

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

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'm with you pascal. I'm proud of many things I think of as British. However, many of the things that are important to me, such justice for all, and fair play, are not exclusive to Britain.
I am also a citizen of Europe, and, indeed, the world, surely?
I voted Remain. If some people see this as traitorous, that's up to them.

AGAA4

Patriotic - showing love for your country and being proud of it. English dictionary. Simple really.

I love my country and am proud of it but I also regret leaving the EU.. I also love being European

Someone who appreciates the good things in their country, and is proud to uphold the values, I suppose.

I've not ever really considered it before.

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 🤷‍♀️

Patriotic - showing love for your country and being proud of it. English dictionary. Simple really.

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.

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!

Thanks Cossy!

I am proud of the achievements of my country - and never more so when living in Norway and chatting to my GP, who expounded royally on our NHS (on which they modelled their health service) - and told me about the brilliant, cutting-edge, medicine / surgery he learned about when visiting the UK to attend conferences, etc.

... and he also said how welcoming, friendly and 'open' he found the British people...

My OH is Swedish by birth, but came here in the 70s and then became a British Citizen after being naturalised - because he's an Anglophile. He is fascinated by our engineering triumphs from the Industrial Revolution onwards.

As am I.

So lots to be proud of.

Patriotism obviously means different things to different people.

If instead I was asked what made this country great I would say those who for centuries have fought for freedom of expression, freedom from slavery, freedom from discrimination, freedom from far right fascism, and freedom from injustice.
The enemy can sometimes come from outside our borders but can also be within. So here’s to the brave parliamentarians and common people who stood up and fought for what they believed in so that we can now all enjoy the freedoms they didn’t have.

keepingquiet

To be proud of upholding the values of my country: freedom, democracy, tolerance, upholding the rule of law, free speech and Yorkshire Puddings.

Especially Yorkshire Puddings!

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!

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.

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.

By "non-patriots" I assume you mean traitors - that's the dictionary definition anyway.

But, what if we non-patriots / traitors really believe that our country was better off say, economically, and certainly regarding conditions / rights within the workplace, as a member of the EU?

Would that alter your perspective?

Or are you one of those who frequently told Remainers to "go and live in the EU if you love it so much"?

... entirely missing the point of why many Remainers wanted to remain.

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.

If I genuinely believe my country fared better within the EU - how does that logically make me "un-patriotic" - because I was concerned about "what happens here" just as much as you, but had a different point of view about it?

Mum2three

I completely agree with HPQ, absolutely outrageous, and totally unfounded, to accuse anyone of being unpatriotic because they voted remain!

It’s because I DO care about both our country and those living in it, that I voted both Remain and Labour, and I would so again, given the chance.

Where, and when, has ANYONE suggested being “patriotic* as having a mental health condition?

Honestly, you couldn’t make it up! I would say what I truly think about many people who voted leave and Remain, but I have no wish to be banned!

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.

oh dear

Cossy

Babs03

I don’t like that it is often linked to committing war crimes abroad, in fact don’t really like the word at all, imho I would only ever say I love the UK, I would never say I am a patriot. But also I feel we should all feel a kinship and compassion for people all around d the world. Medicine without borders could not be described as patriotic because it operates world wide as does the Red Cross. Borders keep us safe but can also make us narrow minded and unkind. I know what I have said will not be popular but is just my opinion.

Fabulous comment!

great words Babs03 I agree

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.

You are wrong of course but won’t bother explaining why because I doubt you really want me to do so.
And seeing as I don’t particularly like the word patriot am not bothered about being called a non-patriot. And my old dad who fought against fascism in the Second World War never called himself a patriot and was all for the EU.
Anyway have a good day.

I did try to work it out, ever so hard, but it has too many politically negative and complicated connotations for me to feel comfy using it.

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.

I refer to my previous post, how dare you say that those of us who voted to Remain are unpatriotic. It is this attitude that gives the word patriotism a very bad name. If this is the club, I don't want to be a member.

What if one is a citizen of, say, Iran or Afghanistan? Should one be patriotic about one’s country then? I think it’s a very loaded term.

Unfortunately I think the word has been taken over by the right. For me it now has a connotation of Farage and Robinson shroud waving ‘Let’s make Britain great again, and get out Johnny Foreigner’ rather than what it originally stood for. It’s sad.

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.

M0nica

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.

I was just about to say that! Sadly, like the Union Flag, the word patriot has been adopted by a certain type of person, generally intolerant and dismissive of any other opinions. We saw the ugly side of patriotism before and after the Brexit referendum when those of us unhappy about the result were accused of, amongst other things, being unpatriotic.

Babs03

I don’t like that it is often linked to committing war crimes abroad, in fact don’t really like the word at all, imho I would only ever say I love the UK, I would never say I am a patriot. But also I feel we should all feel a kinship and compassion for people all around d the world. Medicine without borders could not be described as patriotic because it operates world wide as does the Red Cross. Borders keep us safe but can also make us narrow minded and unkind. I know what I have said will not be popular but is just my opinion.

Fabulous comment!

I don’t like that it is often linked to committing war crimes abroad, in fact don’t really like the word at all, imho I would only ever say I love the UK, I would never say I am a patriot. But also I feel we should all feel a kinship and compassion for people all around d the world. Medicine without borders could not be described as patriotic because it operates world wide as does the Red Cross. Borders keep us safe but can also make us narrow minded and unkind. I know what I have said will not be popular but is just my opinion.