You'll never have a quiet world till you knock the patriotism out of

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   PhenomWriterposted 11 years ago

   
   ...the human race.
   
   A message from George Bernard Shaw - was he saying any truth?

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      Brenda Durhamposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I don't think so.  I think Shaw neglected to look in his dictionary.  And that those who follow his definition of patriotism are erring hugely.
      It's offensive, actually, (at least to this American) to speak of patriotism the way Shaw did in his quotes (not just that particular quote).  He says it like it's a bad thing.   And it is NOT.

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         Paragliderposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         I think Shaw, as one of the finest playwrights and columnists of his era, actually had a pretty fair understanding of the meaning and usage of language.

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         PhenomWriterposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         "Nationalism is an infantile disease, the measles of mankind." - Albert Einstein
         
         
         ...hope you can beat Albert Einstein

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   Paragliderposted 11 years ago

   GBS talked a lot of sense in his long life!

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   PhenomWriterposted 11 years ago

   What luck for rulers, that men do not think.  ~Adolph Hitler

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      yellowstone8750posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      This is the key right here. Don't forget he was elected.

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   PhenomWriterposted 11 years ago

   Men fear thought as they fear nothing else on earth, more than ruin, more even than death.  Thought is subversive and revolutionary, destructive and terrible, thought is merciless to privilege, established institutions, and comfortable habit.  Thought looks into the pit of hell and is not afraid.  Thought is great and swift and free, the light of the world, and the chief glory of man. 
   
   ~Bertrand Russell

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   Nyunt Shweposted 11 years ago

   What Shaw has said is truth, but it's inapplicable in real world. Still we can build a little society a peaceful one if we really are committed. Start from one - that is me or you and then add like minded person/persons. From individual to a group or family; then a group of family, a ward, a village, a town etc. We do need a religion that leads genuine peace like Buddhism or Christianity to get inspiration. Meditation is a key to establish yourselves a less and less anger, greed, and ignorant.

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      PhenomWriterposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Good answer - I only hold a tiny objection on the religion-part.

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      Cagsilposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Your first couple of sentences were pretty good, but the last two are irrelevant.

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         Nyunt Shweposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         I've anticipated disagreement when I wrote down the last two lines. I do not intentionally discriminate other religions. As we all are/were influenced by one thought or another of one or more than one religion, I only mention the religions I fairly know as my guiding principles. In Buddhism, there is even a command to kill any living being. When I say Christianity, I only take 'The New Testament.' I often read Mahagita and Holy Koran, too. I should not elaborate those controversial teachings imbued  with kill commands and form of animal sacrifice here. I know there are very fine prayers of all religions. If I offend any of you by my references, you deserve my humble apology. I wish you peace.

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            Cagsilposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            I don't discriminate religions, each has a piece of value, but collective are a waste of time.
            No offense taken and I'm actually at peace.

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            PhenomWriterposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            I meant to say, inside, that we can perhaps lead to  genuine peace without allowing any formal religion to corrupt our rational ideas. Nothing sensitive...
            
            No apology needed - you can take mine.

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               Nyunt Shweposted 11 years agoin reply to this

               Thanks so much for your understanding. I terribly made a mistake by dropping 'entirely no' in line 4 that made my statement 180 degree opposite from what I really meant. The correct sentence should read,  " In Buddhism, there is entirely no command to kill any living being."
               The Buddha advises us not to take even a single word of his correct by blind faith and throws away if we found it not suitable, unprofitable and not giving us peace after we applied it on ourselves. Since His words were recorded in words about 500 years after Hid death, I think His advice is more appropriate than demanding to accept any words written in the books without scrutiny.
               If we all have this kind of attitude, may be we don't need any religion!

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   knolyourselfposted 11 years ago

   Patriotism is necessary to get people to fight wars for the ruling classes. Used to be mercenary until the invention of democracy.

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      yellowstone8750posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      We have gone, in many cases, beyond patriotism into jingoism like Germany in the 20s nd 30s.

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   PhenomWriterposted 11 years ago

   "The pioneers of a warless world are the youth who refuse military service." - Albert Einstein

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   moiragallagaposted 11 years ago

   Albert Einstein is correct, nationalism is the bigger problem. Brenda Durham has a point about patriotism, that it isn't all that bad or a negative trait altogether.
   
   I found this on the internet, discussing the difference between nationalism and patriotism: http://www.differencebetween.net/langua … atriotism/
   
   It has very interesting points that it raises. Here's an excerpt:
   
   "Nationalism means to give more importance to unity by way of a cultural background, including language and heritage. Patriotism pertains to the love for a nation, with more emphasis on values and beliefs."

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      PhenomWriterposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I have one thing to say - in terms of medical science - if a single bacterium survives, it will bring back the disease which was just about to go.

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