Jingoism on the rise?

Denerick

All the newspapers have in recent weeks lamented that 'those who died for our freedom blah blah blah <insert glib platitude here>' Even the Irish Times, the most vocifourous opponent of the 1916 Rising and the Republican movement in the 1920s. I see it more and more, people who know little about Pearse yapping on about how this is a betrayal of their vision, that Ireland shouldn't blah blah blah <insert glib platitude here>

I find all of this amusing more than anything else. I recognise that some degree of patriotism is probably inevitable at times of sever national crisis. Its probably even necessary. But jingoism and patriotism is of itself, self evidently silly. Its irritating to see a top Irish writer like Joseph O'Connor, writing in the Guardian today, finishing with an even more silly platitude and flourish to his woe-be-me article (Something along the lines of 'precious freedoms blah blah blah <insert glib platitude here>'

I don't really see anything wrong with this. But it is essentially pointless. I find it the equivilent of a Catholic dragging up papal infallibility with regards to national ownership of the education system. The question of papal infallibility is irrelevant to the question of national ownership of the education system.

'What would Pearse do' is irrelevant to what we are currently facing. That is all.

oppenheimer1

Forgive me for being pedantic, but what you described isn't jingoism.

Callan57

I think you are missing the point .. anyone who has had to endure FF lackeys and their nauseating jingoism for years finds it incredibly ironic that the so called 'Republican Party' has been the one to betray the Republic & sell out every defining value of the founders of this state ... the mills of God grind slowly...

FF deserve to be consigned to the dungheap of history. Then we can move on to create a Republic based on truth, honesty and respect for the people of Ireland ... then this once proud nation will again be able to hold it's head up & we won't daily be faced with the nauseating image of the country being represented by gombeen men and slíbhíns.

It's a lesson hard learned by a lot of people but hopefully now the Irish people see the 'patriots of self-interest' for what they are.

Denerick

Callan57 wrote: »

FF deserve to be consigned to the dungheap of history. Then we can move on to create a Republic based on truth, honesty and respect for the people of Ireland ... then this once proud nation will again be able to hold it's head up & we won't daily be faced with the nauseating image of the country being represented by gombeen men and slíbhíns.

What does any of that even mean? There is nothing exceptional about Ireland. We are just people. I've bolded certain wording that expresses my point better than I could.

Manach

Sadly the only Republic without form of corruption is Plato's. The government is turning up the Patriotism in this period were they were quite content to stress that multiculturalism was a fait acomplait during the boom. I've a somber pride in both my Catholicism and being Irish. I don't natively believe in any exceptionalism in this country, but I do know we have the educated skill-set to pull through this.

Sand

I think the Irish Times was using the "men of 1916" reference as a stick to beat Fianna Fail with. Of all the plastic patriots, Fianna Fail and their supporters are the sort for whome being beaten with the "men of 1916" stick will burn. Not because they care less about the "men of 1916" but because they usually pull that trick.

COYW

Callan57 wrote: »

FF deserve to be consigned to the dungheap of history. Then we can move on to create a Republic based on truth, honesty and respect for the people of Ireland ... then this once proud nation will again be able to hold it's head up & we won't daily be faced with the nauseating image of the country being represented by gombeen men and slíbhíns.

There is no such republic on planet earth and there never will be. That type of idea belongs with the fairies. Also, can people just drop all the idealistic, greatest nation, proud nation BS. Ireland is a tiny little nation on the peripherally of Europe. The way people go on here, you would think that it is some super power nation.

Monty Burnz

Sand wrote: »

I think the Irish Times was using the "men of 1916" reference as a stick to beat Fianna Fail with. Of all the plastic patriots, Fianna Fail and their supporters are the sort for whome being beaten with the "men of 1916" stick will burn. Not because they care less about the "men of 1916" but because they usually pull that trick.

+1

Exactly. The next time they try to claim 1916, gently remind them about 2010. See how fast they disown it.

PeterIanStaker

It's a sign of the times when the paper most consistently opposed to Irish independence uses those who attained it as a stick with which to beat the government they've been supporting for years. I doubt jingoism or national pride is on the rise. The mission of the media in this country is to ensure people are as divided, demoralised and guilty as posible.

Sand

The Irish Times not the Fianna Fail paper. The Fine Gael one if anything.

PeterIanStaker

Same difference. FF/FG, Indo/Times. People think they're different, but they're one and the same like the failed parties of the failed state. They'll both trot out this empty bull now that its game over.

Iwasfrozen

*waits for Rebelheart to appear.*

JayMul

oppenheimer1 wrote: »

Forgive me for being pedantic, but what you described isn't jingoism.

It seems to be a massive problem in this country, having pride in our national heritage and our history automatically translates to a botched nationalism or jingoism. We should be proud to be Irish and what our forefathers fought to retain, not so ready to jump on the EU bandwagon.

We are capable of standing on our own two feet as a country we shouldn't be constantly looking to be taken into care by the nourishing bosom of the all seeing EU or a similar global conglomerate, we failed as a democracy when we voted yes to Lisbon treaty second time of asking.

Yitzhak Rabin

The Examiner are certainly going that route anyway:

Proclaimation of Dependence


http://www.examiner.ie/home/proclamation-of-dependence-136950.html

Lapin

In any republic the only way to gauge patriotism is by the will of the people.

Newspaper headlines and media soundbites are not a reliable or trustworthy method of assessing the mood of a nation.

The current government will claim they received their mandate to govern due to the outcome of the last election.
While this may technically correct it is obvious that the claim no longer carries any merit due to the unprecedented changes in our country since the last election. Nobody in Ireland voted for the IMF at the last election.

It is time for Cowen to ask the President to dissolve the Dáil and call a general election before Christmas.

By doing so, we will be afforded the opportunity to vote for (or ignore) any living patriots who put their names forward for election.
People who are actually in a position to do something to address the dire situation we now find ourselves in.

If anyone here is not happy with the candidates who put their names forward for election, do this.
Stand for election themselves.


Rather than constantly lamenting the dead patriots of the past who can do nothing more for us now.

OhNoYouDidn't

denerick completely misses the point shocker

Denerick

OhNoYouDidn't wrote: »

denerick completely misses the point shocker

Lol. That did make me laugh.

So you haven't noticed the wild increase in patriotic headlines in recent weeks? Or maybe given your own extreme views we would be better off in a Republican dictatorship?

Wolfe Tone

Why else do you think Gerry is gonna run for the Dail? haha