Is Patriotism A Menace To Society?
“Patriotism assumes that our globe is divided into little spots, each one surrounded by an iron gate. Those who have had the fortune of being born on some particular spot, consider themselves better, nobler, grander, more intelligent than the living beings inhabiting any other spot. It is, therefore, the duty of everyone living on that chosen spot to fight, kill, and die in the attempt to impose his superiority upon all the others.”
~Emma Goldman
Would you agree with this?
.
I’m not sure patriotism in of itself is evil, but unfortunately it can be manipulated by those with bad intentions to achieve evil ends. The Nazi’s used German patriotism in this way. Like most social animals human beings tend to be clannish, but problems really seem to arise when one nation develops a superiority complex, thumbs its nose at other countries and refuses work together with (or at least listen to) other countries to achieve unified goals on important issues.
Totally stupid quote.
Self-preservation is the main factor of being patriotic.
Self-preservation is a normal human trait.
“…patriotism is a word; and one that generally comes to mean either my country, right or wrong, which is infamous, or my country is always right, which is imbecile.”
— Patrick O’Brian
I know the history of Emma Goldman. she is one broad I would have enjoyed slapping
Emma Goldman ran an anti enlistment and draft organization during the First World War in the New England area. What she didn’t see was the Jewish populations in the New England area were happy to enlist, be drafted and serve. Even though many of them were running from their home land of Russia who had forced conscriptions, they said they had something to serve for here in the US. While not all supported the war, many did and served bravely. Goldman is a disgrace to those immigrants who served.
Emma goldman was arrested many times and was naïve to the fact that her own people around here were willing to fight for a nation that gave them refuge from Russia. Ironic, the same freedoms she used here in the US to preach against the US, she would have been killed in Russia for.
If you don’t have boundaries then you can’t establish a defense.
If you can’t establish a defense, then you are going to be dead or starving.
Only if it’s misguided, like everything else.
But there is nothing wrong with loving your country and wanting to defend it.
Absolutely. When we are attacked spurned by the patriotism of another country we see it as horrific. There is no reason to think that our patriotism is any better.
True patriotism can enrich society, but seeing people wrapping themselves in flags and wearing them on their lapels does not a patriot make!
Teabaggers call their actions “patriotism,” while our Founding Fathers collectively turn in their graves.
People who dedicate their lives to helping make their country better are true patriots, IMHO.
I completely agree with that.
Pride and self-worth based on Nationality are nothing.
Patriotism is like Nationalism, and i consider most “isms”–classism, sexism, racism–a bad thing
This assumes that we just appeared in these “little spots” and I do not agree. Time and circumstance have put most of us where we are and determines much of what we have become. As in all things, patriotism in moderation is fine.
yes
Patriotism brings a country together. Without patriotism there is no UNITED States of America.
Nope. Besides, does the author have factual data to support this definition of the term?
How did this quote ever circulate…unless it was for the sheer stupidity.
When the rest of the world was still trying to figure it out, our Founding Father’s got “it”. Now, the rest of the world still is trying to catch up, and still the model of the Constitution proves as true as was then today.
Nazi Germany proved ultra-patriotism is a dangerous thing, especially when people stop questioning the actions of their governments or giving up freedoms like freedom of speech and political association because they have been scared by tales of foreign or domestic threats.
try this…pass it on…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIserga9P…
I think Ms. Goldman was thinking about nationalism when describing her view of patriotism. Also, I think the “iron gate” metaphor is misused here by her; “iron curtain would be better. Gates open, and in this description it sounds like the gate never would open.
It depends on which society you mean. A normal, safe and secure society relies on patriotism. Without it, that society will cease to be normal, safe or secure. A society run by liberals who use words like ” Uber ” and fear the truth can not survive with patriotism.
It is a miserable creature who has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself.
I love the way these liberals scream for their rights, and scream for tolerance, but refuse to tolerate any belief other than their own, and so quickly damn those who provided the rights they cling to so dearly.
Emma is questionably sane. To paraphrase a statement from a popular comedy, Everybody on this site who has just read this statement is just a little dumber for having done so. Thanks, just what I needed after a long difficult day.
It could be considered irrational to sacrifice your some of your own utility for the sake of the general public provided the rewards are less than not making such a decision based off of patriotism.
As for the quote, well it would only benefit one to fight given that fighting provides them a better spot to live in, but to superimpose your superiority is waste of time considering the costs outweigh the benefits.
Now what I described in the first paragraph is the game theory of the public good, but it is possible for an entire society to give up some of their own individual wants and still benefit by making society as a whole better. A good example would be WWII. Had Americans been selfish and said they’re going to do their own thing, they would been conqured like the French. But Americans were much more patriotic and therefore more motivated to sacrafice their own wants.
This behavior reflects that of environmentalists and philanthropists. So as far situations such as the revolutionary war, great depression, or WWII, then yes, patriotism may seem like a dirty trick to get people fixing things, but it would benefit. Otherwise it would just encourage people to behave irrationaly as if it were a public good.
no. Goldman’s formulation is simplistic and self-serving. Blind patriotism is dangerous, but a lack of patriotism and the desire to serve one’s fellow citizens is much worse. It allows people to abdicate moral responsibility for their actions or lack of action. And the cause Emma Goldman served ultimately killed many millions of Russians, Chinese and others in its jealousy of patriotism and all other human emotions.
No, it isn’t a menace to society and no I do not agree with Emma Goldman.
“Patriotism assumes that our globe is divided into little spots, each one surrounded by an iron gate.”
Our globe is divided into little spots that are surrounded by iron gates. The spots are referred to as countries and the gates are more commonly known as borders.
“Those who have had the fortune of being born on some particular spot, consider themselves better, nobler, grander, more intelligent than the living beings inhabiting any other spot.”
Are they not? Would you consider a society which condones slavery the equal of a society which opposes it? The truth is that some societies are superior to others. I know it is not politically correct of me to say so, but that doesn’t change the truth of my words.
“It is, therefore, the duty of everyone living on that chosen spot to fight, kill, and die in the attempt to impose his superiority upon all the others.”
Wrong again. There are peaceful means of convincing people that their is a better way. It doesn’t always involve fighting, killing and dying.
EDIT
“Why is it so grand to believe the place where you were born is greater than the place someone else was born?”
I am not saying it is grand, but it is true. One place can be greater than another and it is the people of that place that make it that way. I would love it if everywhere in the world, all cultures were equal, but they are not. That is just a fact, regardless of whither you wish to acknowledge it.
“You are who you are, not where you come from.”
Wrong. Where you come from and your experiences while growing up plays a big part in who you eventually become. How can you completely disregard the effect that culture plays in a person’s developement? Are you honestly going to try to tell me that regardless where you were raised, you would still be the same person today? I don’t think so.
“Superiority complexes are nothing to be proud of.”
It’s only a complex if you believe it and it isn’t true. If you believe it and it is true, then it is fact.