[Peptobismol]

"Have you ever bought, at the least, one cup of tea to a cop standing under the sun for the whole day? Doing things like these show patriotism."


Can't help it man

[Lt_Apple]

Dont relate patriotism with standing up for a song that we dont understand or to the law. Do you expect everyone to learn "national anthem language", in addition to the so called "national language", not to mention the "international language" and the local language along with their mother tongue. come on .. be practical.

As for the law, it changes with the government. I dont support bribing, but I cant call that as non patriotic, when we have to bribe. The same, if done by the government is called "service fee" or "convenience charge" and the like.. This is not specific to India, for instance, to get the US visa you pay $3000, wait for upto 90 days. But you can get it in 2 weeks if you pay a $1000 more. What do you call this?

I do have a lot of friends who are cops (both in US and India). In India, they get a bicycle, roam all day around in the hot sun, take directions from good for nothing / uneducated politicians all this for a meagre INR 3000 - 5000, which is half the money to lead a 'normal' life in India. The cops in US, get cars to roam around, have the latest arms and equipments, do not care who you are - they make a minimum of around $3500 - twice the money you need to live luxuriously in the US. Dont say India is a poor country. The Indian cops are definitely pathetic and it becomes worse when they get married. I have seen cops beg for a cup of tea / a cigarette.

There is absolutely no need to overdo our jobs. If we just do our jobs, it is patriotism. We can see all the expected results just by this. Be sincere in whatever you do. Try to understand people like the cops. Have you ever bought, at the least, one cup of tea to a cop standing under the sun for the whole day? Doing things like these show patriotism.

do u see that if the fees were official, it's be the same as paying taxes. but since it's not official, it's going into the pockets of the officials not to the country!

i agree with you that india should pay itself officers, and other employees a hgiher salary.

and i agree with you that just doing your job properly is patriotism.

[softy54534]

In my opinion Patriotism is
Not bringing down another country but bringing your country up.
In other words its not raising slogans against Pakistan
but
its not spitting on the roads,
its not throwing a banana peel on the road,
its paying taxes,
its not bribing the traffic constable when you ran a red light,
its standing in attention when Jana Gana Mana is played,
its not fighting for some obscure peice of land in Hoganikkal.
Its all these small small things.

[brraverishhh]

Think about people in Bangaladesh who born before 1947..

They born as Indian and been asked to Love India
After 1947 ,They became Pakistani and been asked love Pakistan
After few years ,they became Bangaladeshi and been asked to love Bangaladesh.

Did Those people really prefer that?Because of political reason they are forced to do so.

[tgs]

I dont like Pakistan - Am I unpatriotic? Not liking Pakistan is not the same as unwantedly getting involved in riots/processions/bandhs and generally bringing down the economy of our country!
I am uneducated and have seem all people around me spitting on road and so by nature I spite on road. - Am I unpatriotic?Where is your common sense????Even being uneducated do you spit inside your house??You dont consider the country yours thats why you spit on the roads!!
Gandhiji said dont pay tax for salt - Was he unpatriotic? When Gandhiji said that we were paying taxes to the Britishers!!!That time there was no OUR country!Is there any logic in your arguement??
I will not get my license (even if I drive well) unless I bribe the RTO so I bribed - Am I unpatriotic YES!!You are also increasing corruption by giving in to it!What you are is selfish!
I was made to stand in heat from 8 in the morning to 1 PM till Jayapratha MP can. I was so tried I did stand during Jana Gana Mana - Am I unpatriotic? You should have sat down before the start of our national anthem and stood when it was being sung

YES Sandeep IN MY OPINION Please note I said In my opinion..any act done which brings down the dignity,raises corruption etc etc of our country is being unpatriotic!

[tgs]

Patriotism has been wrongly understood by most of the people. This can be due to the influence of certain so-called-nationalist parties/organization, which has given totally a wrong idea.

Truly patriotic means following certain principles, which brings pride and prosperity to the people of their country.
Most of the hypocrites who claim themselves to be nationalists define patriotism by just giving lengthy speeches usually bashing other non-friendly nations. They have their own set of right-wing/ fascist/ sectarian ideologies which creates discord and disharmony among citizens. They can go to any extent even harming their own harmless fellow citizens, who disagree/ oppose their ideologies.

...The fanatics who spread violence in the name of religion are worse than terrorist and more dangerous than an alien enemy... (Quoted in the Supreme Court judgment in the Best Bakery Case)

Every normal individual, following the following principles is a real patriotic.

1. Having Ethics as the basic principle

2. Integrity/ honesty/ truthfulness

3. Understand their responsibility in the society and carry out them diligently.

4. Respect to the laws & rules. (Ex.--- Like following all the traffic rules even if the policeman is not there.)

5. Respect to the rights or concern for other fellow citizens. (Ex.--- Don’t smoke in public places, when others are around, stop playing music loud at your home/shop, it can disturb your neighbours).

6. Not accepting bribe is OK. Do not also give bribe. The one who gives is also as much guilty as the one who accepts. The giver encourages this system. Let us discourage this by refusing to give bribe. ( Ex.--- don’t try briding the traffic policeman, when you are caught violating certain traffic rules, instead pay the fine)

7. I strongly believe that it is an ethical duty of all the educated and privileged people to care and uphold at least one or few backward, uneducated, and underprivileged peoples. (Ex.--- support at least one under privileged child for his/her study).

8. Most important is do your work sincerely with time punctuality. You not doing your work properly can influence the entire chain of work. You not moving a file from your department can delay or cancel someone else job. Never deprive someone of anything because of your disregard or negligence. It can be any job. When you do your work to your at most ability in the stipulated time, this improves the productively of the country. When the productivity is high, people get work, they earn. Once they earn they also spend… they buy more than their basic needs… to cater their need… more business are opened… this creates more job. Ultimately, there is prosperity of the nation.

In conclusion, patriotism is not just loving your geological location or hating other non-friendly countries. But taking responsibility for self, being accountable for the work, respecting the rules and regulations, not being indifferent to fellow humans in need, following certain principles for righteous living, and above all being productive which will lead to the growth and development of all the fellow citizens.

[Beerinkol]

BlahBlah,

How true it is !! Wish all those tax evaders see this reply!

[Raj_Copi_Jin]

I was intrigued by this ongoing discussion and did a dictionary search for the exact meaning of Patriotism. Before each one of us in the Hub start giving out our own definitions of the word, let us consider what the dictionary defines it as:

Merriam Webster: Love for or devotion to one's country.

Another meaning from Dictionary.com says
Love of country and willingness to sacrifice for it

I think that about says it all!

[brraverishhh]

Hi!

Patriotism itself is related to certain geographical area. The foolish patriot loves the geographical region and the rivers, mountains, seas etc. of that particular area but he does not love the people in that region. He hates people of his own nation who do not belong to his religion, sect, language, caste and class. He always hates other countries, and most of time he wish there should be a war and his country should teach a lesson to the other countries. The funny thing is that he or no one from his family never wishes to join military. For him, exhibiting flags, shouting slogans, singing patriotic songs is the right way of patriotism.

Some of my friends think that I do not love India, because I do not see cricket match, even if it is between India and Pakistan. I have also heard if someone appreciates the play of Pakistanis, such patriots become angry.

What do you think about the right way of patriotism?

Mahavir Chavan

[Beerinkol]

Global mindset has somehow become a fashion today.

[Big A]

What do you think about the right way of patriotism?

If you want my answer in one sentence,it is 'paying your taxes'.

[Big A]

Excellent thought, Joe!! Another example would be the erstwhile USSR breaking down into many independent countries.

As all thinks USSR is not 'United states of soviet Russia' but is 'Union of soviet socialist Republics' which means that it forms a union of different countries and cultural groups coming under one roof with common agenda. The USSR declared the rights of the countries that ' they were free to be in this union or can get separated anytime they wish to from the union' . So it should be understood that USSR did not not break into many independent countries but it was already many independent countries and as the union got dissolved the countries were left alone after '1991'.

[Lillie_Steins]

Vanga Joe!! Romba naala kanoom?

Excellent thought, Joe!! Another example would be the erstwhile USSR breaking down into many independent countries.

When countries change their geographical borders, how do you define Patriotism?

[HedgeYourBets]

Another meaning from Dictionary.com says
Love of country and willingness to sacrifice for it

I think that about says it all!

Love and sacrifice are vague terms.
Just let us know, how does one love his country?
and what should one be willing to sacrifice?

I hope, I had answered that in my earlier posts.

[LottiFurmann]

I totally agree with ssanjinika’s view. We should be more disciplined and must care for other’s right too.

[doctorzlo]

How does one prove corruption when there's a clampdown on the media????? Who would the whistle-blowers be in such a system????!!!!

Just curious, Pa!!

Niro,There can't be such a 'clampdown' on the media in the present world in any democratic society.I am quite sure atleast in my country the media is quite free to write what they want.Just recently,the Indian Express came out with an investigation report on how the relief money meant for the flood victims in Bihar were diverted/misused by an IAS officer and his allies.Patna Deputy Magistrate Gautam Goswamy is on the run as I type this and his accomplice Santosh Jha is under custody.Again the Indian media played a big role in bringing 'Tiger Pataudi'[Nawab Mansoor Ali Khan,who once led the Indian Cricket Team] before the law in a hunting case.They unearthed the Petrol Pump Scam where the followers of the then ruling party ran away with all the loot in the form of petrol pumps.

What I want to say is that is that the Indian media is as free and probably stronger than the media in other nations.

[Peptobismol]

Patriotism is helping to keep your country clean!!

Not just admire the habits of others in more advanced countries, while you throw out everything from your window and expect somebody else to clean up after you!!