Anti-Nationalism/Patriotism qoutes

[rednordman]

“patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel”

It’s a very famous quote by someone and sticks in the mind for a long time. I was just wondering if any of you know any other cheeky quotes against patriotism/nationalism?

I say this in a time when there is constant propaganda in the media ushering us to show our support for the war in Afghanistan without question. The same could be said also about the soldiers who are ‘risking it all, just so we can live safely in the paradise of the west’ :rolleyes:etc.

Not that I do not respect some of the soldiers out there, just it upsets me how when we hear about atrocities committed by an uncomfortable amount of them, it just gets ignored, or even worse, accepted as a necessary evil (stuff like bombing hospitals and schools, torture and raping innocents etc).

If there are any other threads on this subject, please link me up:)

[Revy]

“patriotism is the last refuge of a fool”

It’s a very famous quote by someone and sticks in the mind for a long time. I was just wondering if any of you know any other cheeky quotes against patriotism/nationalism?

I say this in a time when there is constant propaganda in the media ushering us to show our support for the war in Afghanistan without question. The same could be said also about the soldiers who are ‘risking it all, just so we can live safely in the paradise of the west’ :rolleyes:etc.

Not that I do not respect some of the soldiers out there, just it upsets me how when we hear about atrocities committed by an uncomfortable amount of them, it just gets ignored, or even worse, accepted as a necessary evil (stuff like bombing hospitals and schools, torture and raping innocents etc).

If there are any other threads on this subject, please link me up:)

"There's no flag big enough to cover up the killing of innocent people".
not sure if that's how it goes exactly. it's both anti-patriotism and anti-imperialism.

[RED DAVE]

Actually, what Dr. Johnson said was,


Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.Historically it was not actually written as an attack on patriotism, but on scoundrels who hide behind patriotism.

My personal favorite is by E.M. Forster:


If I had to choose between betraying my country and betraying my friend, I hope I should have the guts to betray my country.RED DAVE

[rednordman]

Actually, what Dr. Johnson said was,

Historically it was not actually written as an attack on patriotism, but on scoundrels who hide behind patriotism.

My personal favorite is by E.M. Forster:

RED DAVE:blushing:Thanks, I cannot believe that i mixed that one up.

Isnt attacking the scoundrels behind patriotism, also an attack on patriotism in itself? As in it is the ideals of patriotism, that will always push people to use it to their own advantage?

That is an awesome qoute by E. M Foster.

[Red Commissar]

"I have no country to fight for; my country is the earth; I am a citizen of the world."

"These are the gentry who are today wrapped up in the American flag, who shout their claim from the housetops that they are the only patriots, and who have their magnifying glasses in hand, scanning the country for evidence of disloyalty, eager to apply the brand of treason to the men who dare to even whisper their opposition to Junker rule in the United Sates. No wonder Sam Johnson declared that "patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel." He must have had this Wall Street gentry in mind, or at least their prototypes, for in every age it has been the tyrant, the oppressor and the exploiter who has wrapped himself in the cloak of patriotism, or religion, or both to deceive and overawe the people."

Eugene V. Debs.

[CartCollector]

"When fascism comes to America it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross." -Sinclair Lewis

[Robocommie]

"All war must be just the killing of strangers against whom you feel no personal animosity; strangers whom, in other circumstances, you would help if you found them in trouble, and who would help you if you needed it."

-Mark Twain

"All wars are civil wars, because all men are brothers."

-Francois Fenelon

[OVER9000]

A casual stroll through the lunatic asylum shows that faith does not prove anything. Friedrich Nietzsche
German philosopher (1844 - 1900)

[robbo203]

"The Communists are further reproached with desiring to abolish countries and nationality. The workers have no country. We cannot take from them what they have not got" Communist Manifesto

[rednordman]

A casual stroll through the lunatic asylum shows that faith does not prove anything. Friedrich Nietzsche
German philosopher (1844 - 1900)haha. More of faith than nationalism, but still thanks.

Thanks for the responses, keep them coming:).

[ContrarianLemming]

"Theres no finer use of a flag then a blanket"

[danyboy27]

oscar wilde made many good statement.

Patriotism is the virtue of the vicious."
-- Oscar Wilde

also

"Our true nationality is mankind."
-- H.G. Wells

[mikelepore]

So a lot of people here are against nationalism. But in a recent poll in this forum, asking how many people would support the creation of a world government, I was unable to persuade a significant number of people to say yes. Go figure....

[Jacobinist]

The only flag that should be produced is a solidly black flag, and it should come with a match attached. - Jacobinist


Do read Emma Goldman's article, PATRIOTISM: A MENACE TO LIBERTY

http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/Goldman/Writings/Anarchism/patriotism.html



"The most absurd apology for authority and law is that they serve to diminish crime. Aside from the fact that the State is itself the greatest criminal, breaking every written and natural law, stealing in the form of taxes, killing in the form of war and capital punishment, it has come to an absolute standstill in coping with crime. It has failed utterly to destroy or even minimize the horrible scourge of its own creation. - Emma Goldman

[Jacobinist]

"But in a recent poll in this forum, asking how many people would support the creation of a world government, I was unable to persuade a significant number of people to say yes. Go figure" - Mikel

Yea go figure people would be against further centralization of economics, power and authority.

[mikelepore]

"But in a recent poll in this forum, asking how many people would support the creation of a world government, I was unable to persuade a significant number of people to say yes. Go figure" - Mikel

Yea go figure people would be against further centralization of economics, power and authority.

So, instead of being centralized, by having the world chopped up by national boundaries, you can have one country that pollutes the air and water even if the rest of the world has abolished it, and another country where workers are exploited even if the rest of the world has abolished it, and another country where parents are allowed to beat the children even if the rest of the world has abolished it, and another country that gives people long prison terms for using drugs even if the rest of the world has abolished it, and another country where women are deprived of civil liberties even if the rest of the world has abolished it, ....

(Not to mention 200 separate armies pointing weapons at each other.)