Laas Leivat
These days it’s much easier to find a negative rather than a positive quote about patriotism:
“Patriot, the person who can holler without knowing what he is hollering about.”
“Each nation feels superior to other nations. That breeds patriotism and war.”
“Patriotism is the willingness to kill and be killed for trivial reasons.”
“One of the great attractions of patriotism – it fulfils our worst wishes. In the person of our nation we are able, vicariously, to bully and cheat. Bully and cheat, what’s more with a feeling that we are profoundly virtuous.” …….and so forth. A few of these quotes are ancient.
For many, patriotism is brutal, injurious and inhumane, like a superstition artificially created and maintained through a network of lies and falsehoods. It’s something that robs man of his self-esteem and dignity and increases his arrogance and deceit. Some claim it to be an outdated concept, archaic, even reactionary.
Webster’s dictionary puts a different spin on it. Patriot: a person who loves his country and zealously supports and defends it and its interests; one who is directed by zeal for public safety and welfare. This gives it a rather narrow but still a positive, perhaps old-fashioned colouring. Wikipedia, probably the source of the most recent, widely accepted definition has a similar perspective on the concept: A patriot is someone who feels a strong support for their country.(Loe pikemalt Eesti Elu 13. dets. paberlehest)
Patriotism – no place for it in the modern world? (6)
Viimased kommentaarid
Kommentaarid on kirjutatud EWR lugejate poolt. Nende sisu ei pruugi ühtida EWR toimetuse seisukohtadega.
Reply comment: Interest in Estonian language not declining as fast as you think.
When Putin spoke “Tere tere. Vana kere” this week at a Russian press conference (but he meant the Estonian “vana pere” for “old family”; http://www.postimees.ee/263717... ), some of us were reminded that the Ukraine is also now a “brotherly country” for Putin as he solidifies Ukraine’s move away from the EU ( http://www.diena.lv/pasaule/pu... ).
In the anticipated upcoming push and pull for EU versus Eurasian Union loyalties, will we next see a rising interest in the Estonian language among high level officials on both sides? Some are betting on seeing such trends for 2014.
When Putin spoke “Tere tere. Vana kere” this week at a Russian press conference (but he meant the Estonian “vana pere” for “old family”; http://www.postimees.ee/263717... ), some of us were reminded that the Ukraine is also now a “brotherly country” for Putin as he solidifies Ukraine’s move away from the EU ( http://www.diena.lv/pasaule/pu... ).
In the anticipated upcoming push and pull for EU versus Eurasian Union loyalties, will we next see a rising interest in the Estonian language among high level officials on both sides? Some are betting on seeing such trends for 2014.
What you say is true.
I'm proud to be Estonian!
Most of us, both at home and abroad, are good people that anyone would wish to have as a neighbour.
Our language is very beautiful. Beyond Estonia's borders, it's as useless as Shakespeare or Goethe.
It's a pity that we don't try to develop our appreciation of it.
I'm proud to be Estonian!
Most of us, both at home and abroad, are good people that anyone would wish to have as a neighbour.
Our language is very beautiful. Beyond Estonia's borders, it's as useless as Shakespeare or Goethe.
It's a pity that we don't try to develop our appreciation of it.
With a population of 1.3 million people, we Estonians are a small group of people who need to stick together and support each other. We are family. That is my definiton of Estonian patriotism.
Arvamus
TRENDING
