pa·tri·ot·ism n.
Love of and devotion to one’s country.
Where does this simple definition say anything about having to kiss ass every single morning of your existence?
Where does it say that you have to believe that monarchs and their entourage are elevated to supreme beings who could do no wrong?
Where does it say that if you criticise your country you are automatically a traitor and unpatriotic?
Where does it say that if you unearth daylight robberies you are an agent of terror and unpatriotic?
Where does it say that you should never have a different view in order to be patriotic?
Where does it say that you have to have permission to even break wind to be regarded as patriotic?
Can the pricks at Al-Ayam, Akhbar Al-Khaleej, GDN and their overseers and the rest of the trash press give us a break?
Isn’t it time to fully realise that we DO have two brain cells to rub against each other and can easily discern what is traitorous and what is not?
A few learned and active people holding a seminar in a foreign country to highlight the wrongs that they have witnessed and documented is not a traitorous event, nor does it make them unpatriotic.
To me, they are actually the epitome of patriotism.
So enough already. You claim to live in a democracy, act like it goddamnit.
Comments
Patriotism
“. That means that it should NOT be based on Islam or Shari’a. In order for it to be fair to the majority AND the minority of these islands residents.”
but, dont you want democracy?? majority rules in democracy and majority of Bahrainis are muslims!
Re: Patriotism
please tell me how you assume that even with a Muslim majority that they want theocratic rule? did you go out and ask? I would bet a large amount of money that should that question be put to a referendum it would be turned down. just tell them that it would be like Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan and watch them run.
Don’t assume that just because in Bahrain the majority of us are Muslim, that we would want or even welcome Shari’a law.
Patriotism
” just tell them that it would be like Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan and watch them run.”
and do you think this is how they apply sharia’s law? Just because some countries are doing it wrongly doesnt mean its how it should be done!
Re: Patriotism
My friend, we live in a real world. Nothing is perfect. And Shari’a’s law application is far from being the perfect way of doing things.
My example of Saudi, Afghanistan and even Iran still stand. Would you actually choose to live under any of the aforementioned theocracies?
I know that you have been taught that applications of Islam and Shari’a now are the be all and end all. They are lying.
So do yourself a favour and pinch yourself.
Patriotism
The Orwellien Thought Police have every right to judge ur patriotism
Patriotism
To the question Where does this simple definition say anything about having to kiss ass every single morning of your existence? There seems to be an answer: People may love thier country AND dislike those in power.
http://fozbaca.org/archives/love_america_pc.gif
Mahmood, I sincerely hope ’they’ read and understand your words above. ( In other jargons these words provide some good stuff for a discussion on civic patriotism / constitutional patriotism).
But who needs jargon when it things must be said simply and strightforwardly.
This two years old article
http://www.oneworld.net/article/view/71239/1/5294
seems approperiate. When I read it (and put Bahrain wherever it is applicable) I was really pained. Did Bahrainis have to regress to pre-1953 conditions? But then comes a ray of hope: there is still time for a plan-B. Or?
AbuRasool
Re: Patriotism
AbuRasool, sometimes common sense is very painful. I am personally fed up of seeing paid notices of condemnation in the papers, there should a law against that. A waste of money and more importantly these notices invariably polarises a society that is already in deep sectarian divide. Fine, these organisations, clubs etc want to kiss ass as they see that is the only way their mediocre existance will be rewarded, but what pisses me off most is seeing those elected members of parliament – tyous in local speak – not just joining the fray, but leading it.
I think the time is high for the bickering to STOP. It is time now for us all, the government, the opposition and the normal public to sit around a table and sort this mess out. Let us get on with our lives for god’s sake. Let us create a productive environment rather than continue in the unending cycle of name-calling.
Here’ a start:
1. Al-Khalifa family to continue to rule this land. End of Story.
2. Get a fair contractual constitution that entrenches democracy, transparency and accountability approved.
3. That means that it should NOT be based on Islam or Shari’a. In order for it to be fair to the majority AND the minority of these islands residents.
4. Sign it, seal it, and get on with it so that people can get on with their lives.
Simple isn’t it?
Patriotism
Well actually it’s not about theocraty but plutocraty… meaning by the riches, for the riches.
Anyway, this meeting was a great start, how many peoples had to start their liberation overseas? Chechens calling from Europe and Middle-East? De Gaulle calling France from London? Sheikh Sabah in Saudi and UK ?… just a few examples, hard to count all of them during those last 50 years.
It seems that freedom of speech runs to nearly 0 in Bahrain, except for those rats spreading their misinformation, desinformation, intoxicated information, in the GDN.
Behind those devastating media machines, hides a sub-category of creatures, those paid to write this dirt.
I found the UK meeting a sane kickstart, whatever man says, whatever man calls its attendants ( islamists haha, anarchists hahaha, communists hahahaha haha! ); whatever… this is true patriotism to love your land, to love the idea that freedom and liberty could one day shine there. This is true patriotism to go across dark paths to resist and to liberate your land; this is again true patriotism to use any strenght, any overseas power, any spiritual or physical workforce, to preserve your ideology, to defend the Truth.
Where’s the democraty in Bahrain? where’s the governement by the people, for the people? Do you call this a parliament?
As someone said here, let’s sit around a table and sort it out. But know that democracy is unfortunately, only the expression of the majority. Of course you can try to include minor actors with an appropriate electing representative system, but only to balance parliament discusses. Democracy involves that people’s representatives are wise enough to communicate and then to elaborate laws for the Nation’s future. It’s about bestowing the different bell sounds of the population, not to masturbate in the front of the mirror, repeating “hey, i’m a MP!…fuck the minority”. Sadly, it seems that no minority can, more than ever, correctly express in any democracy on earth. Democracy is only a kind of regime, it’s not the perfect pill, the perfect remedy to heal all societies diseases.
Funny to see that when the West doubts about itself, the Gulf rushes into its neighbours errors.
Maybe they sold the democracy without the instructions. Maybe they never had any instruction as it used to work correctly to contain the crowds until minorities started opening the mouth.
When i look at how regimes are applied to masses, i’m not saying Shari’a is the best, nor the democracy!( sorry no big D )
Some people found such a powerful way to devide Bahrainis, leading sectarism. And i think they are about to reach their goal, a soft civil strike, just enough to make people arguing, arguing and arguing again, while some others get the cash and fuck the real Nation up. Plutocracy… because after all, it’s only about the money here, and, like anywhere else!
Ana
Re(1): Patriotism
Amen!
I agree, Mahmood, with your four points. I, for one, do not an argument with any of them. Indeed, I have consented to even more than that when I publicly sworn allegiance to the consitution on the 16th of December 1973 .
I am for having [b]any [/b]form of contactual charter to be signed and sealed in order that we all get on with our lives.
Re(2): Patriotism
Amen!
I agree, Mahmood, with your four points. I, for one, do not an argument with any of them. Indeed, I have consented to even more than that when I publicly sworn allegiance to the consitution on the 16th of December 1973 .
I am for having [b]any[/b] form of contactual charter to be signed and sealed in order that we all get on with our lives.
[i]
AbuRasool[/i]
Re(3): Patriotism
We can live in hope, and work toward reality too. I don’t think the above 4 points are inconceivable. I suspect that point #1 is the one that is held in fear most. I have heard just about everyone (other than Al-Khawajas and their political affiliates) consenting to that particular point. So let’s get on with it.
The next few days are going to be rather interesting though, let’s see what would happen at tonight’s Al-Wefaq general assembly meeting #1. Do you think their hard-liners would force it to dissolve itself and declare itself a political party? Thus putting it at complete loggerheads with the regime? Or will the moderates within that society win and register? Hopefully also standing for parliament?
I hope moderates (on both sides) win. We’re all tired of this stalemate.
Patriotism
1. Al-Khalifa family to continue to rule this land
WHats that about??? Do you guys know what democracy is?? I mean come on, Alkhalifa have no right to rule, WHATSOEVER! They have done nothing but steal and abuse the people of Bahrain. Why should we accept them as monarchs in our country.
I’m sorry but that is not some small issue that we should get over and go on with our lives!
But then again maybe its just us Alkhawajas who have something against dictators, for everyone else… goodluck with that!