\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 My very British wife is somewhat amused by Americans\u2019 patriotism. \u201cWhy all this worship of a flag for goodness sake?\u201d She\u2019s not particularly impressed with George Bush, Amerian military adventures abroad, nor with certain characteristics of American culture: consumerism, obsession with image, right wing jingo-ism etc. She jokes that the British celebrate Fourth of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":557,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3069","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n
\nShe jokes that the British celebrate Fourth of July too: \u201cThat\u2019s when we were lucky enough to get rid of you lot.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n
\nI point out that patriotism can be a bit silly in any country and that the sight of the drunken English bellowing out Land of Hope and Glory <\/em>at the last night of the Proms isn\u2019t much better than the sight of maudlin Americans weeping at the raising of the flag and the pledge of allegiance or singing the national anthem at a baseball game. I ask why the English love for the rotten old royal family should be any more absurd than American devotion to the flag. At least the flag doesn\u2019t cost us several million a year to maintain.<\/span><\/div>\n
\nOn the plus side, patriotism, wherever it occurs, is a touching absurdity. There\u2019s something sweet and noble about the love of one\u2019s country. Better some sentimental patriotism than sour cynicism I reckon. Better to love your country than to hate all countries.<\/span><\/div>\n
\nAs this is an Anglo-American blog, what do people think? Are Americans more patriotic than the English? In the midst of the present Anglo American adventure in Iraq can either country stand very proud? If America can be criticized for overseas adventures, is England\u2019s track record any more noble? If the English are less patriotic is that because they are ashamed of their country, and in its present state is that about right?<\/span><\/div>\n
\nGo on. Tell me what you think. Love America and hate Britain? Love Britain and hate America? Love and hate \u2019em both?<\/span><\/div>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"