Dear Lego,

What makes you think that the only alternative to nationalism is socialism and internationalism?

Lack of nationalism is merely a sign of intelligence - Why should anyone feel proud for something they have not even made? Replacing this with internationalism is therefore even sillier - for we have not created the world!

As Pericles just mentioned, "people-driven [by a] need to be part of a specific, identifiable sub-section of humanity". Many get this satisfaction from a local sports team, or a political party, or any other type of club. This is an acceptable weakness, but not something to be proud of. Ultimately we should not identify with anything, not even with our own body and mind. Ultimately - until then, we should rather identify with smaller groups to which we actually contributed significantly in person.

Regarding the cessation of Western Australia, Pericles, I support the cessation of all states. Occupying a whole continent by just one country is ridiculous. The commonwealth of Australia is way too large and the larger a body is, the less flexible and accommodating to individual needs and wishes it is.

Yuyutsu
"Lack of nationalism is merely a sign of intelligence"

Where to begin.
Nationalism is simply tribal behaviour but on a national level. This has been part of the human condition for thousands of years. Human beings prefer their own kind for reasons of belonging and security. I fail to see how disliking your own kind and feeling isolated relates to intelligence.

Yuyutsu
"Many get this satisfaction from a local sports team, or a political party, or any other type of club. This is an acceptable weakness, but not something to be proud of. Ultimately we should not identify with anything, not even with our own body and mind. Ultimately - until then, we should rather identify with smaller groups to which we actually contributed significantly in person."

Should not be proud of anything! Not even our own body and mind!
My goodness, this is nihilism. Are we allowed to do anything without shame?
Actually, this is a perfect example of the impracticality and self-hatred that festers in Leftist thinking.
Keep up the good work yuyutsu.

imajulianutter
"You should know the survey was taken after a b-b-que on Australia Day in Western Australia. It involude very limited questioning, was not broadly based, and was undertaken by a left-wing leaning academic from a university in West Australia."

Thanks for that. I didn't know it was such a "casual" research interview. Sounds so professional.

Also, the data from the interviews could have been reported positively instead of negatively. Could not the researched data be interpreted as pride instead of racism? Or as protecting shared values?
No. It's easier to report it negatively and induce shame.

Hi Yuyitsu.

All human beings have a compulsive human need to feel that they are part of a group. That human need is programmed into our DNA.

Realisation of this concept, was first proposed by the eminent psychologist Maslov, who published it in “Maslov’s Heirarchy of Needs.” All human beings do not have one identity, they have multiple social identities. A man may identify himself as male, European, Australian, a Labor voter, a hunter and a fisherman, a Bulldogs supporter, and a father. It is not a “weakness”, or something to be ashamed of, Yuyitsu. Unless you believe that being human is something to be ashamed of?

The idea that “intelligent” people do not have identities, is contradicted by the fact, that those making that claim are implying that they are identifiable members of “the intelligent ones.” One of your own identities Yuyitsu, is that you see yourself as “intelligent”. So you are parroting the slogan which firmly identifies you as an educated, intelligent, stong, Brahmin, who can then look down your nose at the “weak”, “unintelligent” ones who are unfashionably "patriotic”. Your attitude is indicative of social snobbery, my dear Yuyitsu. The paradox of the “intelligent” caste, is that their values endorse Socialist Egalitarianism combined with social climbing superiority.

Interestingly, the concept that an “intelligent” person should not have an identity, is purely a Western concept. It would be regarded as total insanity in collective societies. In non western countries, social identity is far more important than personnel identity. In most eastern countries, a person would introduce themselves in the manner of, “I am a Howeitat of the Bula clan, I am a sheik and a hajji, my name is Abdullah.”

Dear Aristocrat,

"Are we allowed to do anything without shame?"

Unlike the Leftists/Socialists (which you strangely associate me with), "allowed" isn't in my dictionary. At most I may point out and tell you: "Look, this course-of-action is wiser than that", then leave you at that. I also don't have a policy of "disliking my own kind".

Re "feeling isolated", it is people who identify with groups that feel most isolated when the object of their identification turns its back to them (or even simply doesn't shine their face at them as usual). God never turns His back to you, so once with God you should never feel isolated.

One should ULTIMATELY feel neither proud nor ashamed of anything, but the road is long and the vice of nationalism/patriotism isn't the worst or the first in line to be eliminated.

Dear Lego,

"All human beings have a compulsive human need to feel that they are part of a group. That human need is programmed into our DNA."

Compulsive indeed! Fortunately, we don't need to remain slaves to our DNA.

Being human is neither to be proud nor ashamed of, but it is an error of perception and ultimately we should realize that we are not humans and never were, that we only wear a human body for that many decades, then shed it off.

Intelligence is God-given, so being proud of it is a mistake/weakness. That does not imply that intelligence in itself should be denied (eg. the Tall-Poppy Syndrome).

Being a Brahmin is not a social position, but a fact: either one is, or one isn't. It has to do with one's stage of spiritual evolution, not with a social caste. For the record, I do not endorse Socialist Egalitarianism. I also do not endorse social climbing superiority: Brahmins by nature tend to keep to themselves, seeking isolation with a focus on God rather than on society. They have no interest in domination. However, when they do interact with society they teach and bless those who seek their wisdom.

Eastern countries have their failings too!

It may have escaped the contributors to this comment thread, but Anne's article was not concerned so much with the study and its supposed confirmation of flag identification and racism.

Go and read it again. Wasn't it instead concerned about the level of hatred subsequently directed at those who conducted and published the research? (Yes, the argument isn't all that clearly put, but there you go.)

Discussions of racism and flag waving do provoke extreme reactions in Australia.

The lefties might be annoying, but aren't we kidding ourselves if we don't acknowledge that certain forms of flag waving do go together with hot-headed nationalism in this country (just like in other countries), and that nationalism and racism are often brought together in the denegration of groups that are not our own?

I for one am sick and tired of abusive online racists trying either to disclaim their racism or justify it. It has to be one of the unprettiest things about the internet.