On Patriotism,
Confused Reflections...
By Christian Morisot
“Love of country is the first and last love after the love of God.”
Verlaine
Like religion, the homeland has its worship, its temples, its martyrs, its popes. The first Christians died for their God; in 1914-1918, more than 1.6 million Frenchmen died for their country.
“Love of country is the first and last love after the love of God.”
Verlaine
Like religion, the homeland has its worship, its temples, its martyrs, its popes. The first Christians died for their God; in 1914-1918, more than 1.6 million Frenchmen died for their country.
Since the war taught some nothing, it is interesting to hear the patriotism of the time regarding the slaughter of the French soldiers. The homeland, it was said, is a historical reality from which one can hardly escape; nature imposes it upon us like our parents. What constitutes the homeland, according to Renan, is the shared possession of a rich legacy of memories, the present-day consent, the desire to live together, the will to continue to uphold the heritage one has received.
Thus, for the “super-patriots,” everything national is sacred, even the soil, even murder. Barbusse said on this subject: “Chauvins invoke the sweetness of their family cradle to incite wars. Love of the native soil has become nationalism.” The legitimate love of country is distorted and disfigured. This sentiment leads to distrust, hostility, and hatred of others, to a refusal to accept their differences… While nationalists may deny preaching hatred of foreigners, they forget that their negative, exalted patriotism is a perpetual denigration, a moral offense, a foolish challenge to other countries. Despite these writings, it remains true that love of humanity does not make us renounce our love of our homeland. Lamartine wrote:
The Marseillaise of Peace:
Thus, for the “super-patriots,” everything national is sacred, even the soil, even murder. Barbusse said on this subject: “Chauvins invoke the sweetness of their family cradle to incite wars. Love of the native soil has become nationalism.” The legitimate love of country is distorted and disfigured. This sentiment leads to distrust, hostility, and hatred of others, to a refusal to accept their differences… While nationalists may deny preaching hatred of foreigners, they forget that their negative, exalted patriotism is a perpetual denigration, a moral offense, a foolish challenge to other countries. Despite these writings, it remains true that love of humanity does not make us renounce our love of our homeland. Lamartine wrote:
The Marseillaise of Peace:
"Nations, a pompous word for barbarity;
Only ignorance or error has a homeland;
Fraternity has none.
My homeland is wherever France shines,
Where her genius dazzles.
Every man belongs to the land of his intellect.
I am a fellow citizen of every thinking man.
Truth is my country."
This very rich text presents themes that constitute militant patriotism.
In the aftermath of the Great War of 1914-1918, the delegate of the National Union of Veterans developed a theme at a national congress that would spark a storm of controversy today:
“For us French, the Fatherland is the unity of race and language; it is a shared ideal. The Fatherland, understood in this way, is the position from which one can best serve humanity, so that as the country improves and refines itself, patriotism diminishes. It is these purified patriotisms that turn towards extremism, less for what it is than for what it should be.”
For your consideration:
“The business crisis persists, and unemployment is affecting too many workers from all walks of life.
As a result of the global imbalance between production and consumption, those deprived of work fall into poverty and are driven to revolution and war.
The excessive gap between producer and consumer prices severely impacts both producers and consumers.
Honesty and trust are disappearing from social relations, and selfishness and materialism are triumphing.
Young people, even more than we are, are worried about the future.”
Direction for action:
“The time for stopgap measures and piecemeal solutions is over. We must have the courage to think big and prepare a new order.”
We must:
“Serve instead of being served. Fulfill our duties before demanding our rights. Place moral and spiritual values above material values. React against dishonesty, demoralization, and selfishness.” Combat sectarianism in all its forms and wherever it comes from. Rediscover the meaning of the family home. Restore human dignity.
Undertake financial recovery. Seek budgetary balance through the immediate and targeted elimination of all unnecessary spending and the vigorous repression of fraud and waste.
Avoid excessive taxes and inflation, which breeds misery and ruin.
Simplify public accounting and eliminate unnecessary and costly administrative red tape.
Note: These remarks were written in the aftermath of World War I; unfortunately, they remain relevant today! History repeats itself!
In the aftermath of the Great War of 1914-1918, the delegate of the National Union of Veterans developed a theme at a national congress that would spark a storm of controversy today:
“For us French, the Fatherland is the unity of race and language; it is a shared ideal. The Fatherland, understood in this way, is the position from which one can best serve humanity, so that as the country improves and refines itself, patriotism diminishes. It is these purified patriotisms that turn towards extremism, less for what it is than for what it should be.”
For your consideration:
“The business crisis persists, and unemployment is affecting too many workers from all walks of life.
As a result of the global imbalance between production and consumption, those deprived of work fall into poverty and are driven to revolution and war.
The excessive gap between producer and consumer prices severely impacts both producers and consumers.
Honesty and trust are disappearing from social relations, and selfishness and materialism are triumphing.
Young people, even more than we are, are worried about the future.”
Direction for action:
“The time for stopgap measures and piecemeal solutions is over. We must have the courage to think big and prepare a new order.”
We must:
“Serve instead of being served. Fulfill our duties before demanding our rights. Place moral and spiritual values above material values. React against dishonesty, demoralization, and selfishness.” Combat sectarianism in all its forms and wherever it comes from. Rediscover the meaning of the family home. Restore human dignity.
Undertake financial recovery. Seek budgetary balance through the immediate and targeted elimination of all unnecessary spending and the vigorous repression of fraud and waste.
Avoid excessive taxes and inflation, which breeds misery and ruin.
Simplify public accounting and eliminate unnecessary and costly administrative red tape.
Note: These remarks were written in the aftermath of World War I; unfortunately, they remain relevant today! History repeats itself!