AM I A PATRIOT?

Do I love my country? I mean, there are parts of it that I actively dislike, but on the whole I love the people, the humour, the scenery, the cities, the cultures, the tenacity and the determination of the UK to get on with things. Does that make me a patriot? That's a trickier question to answer.

I've had my face painted with the cross of St. George and flown flags from my car windows during international football tournaments. I mourn along with the nation every Remembrance Sunday but rarely visit a church unless it's to lay someone to rest or to see someone get christened or married. I guess I'm like the vast majority of Brits. I'm happy for people to do whatever they want, pray to who they want, dress as they want, even behave as they want, as long as it doesn't impinge too much on my life.

Despite the Tweets we may read or the headlines that are made, most of us are a tolerant lot. I'll agree that it seems we're becoming more intolerant as time goes by but we'll put up with a lot before we complain. But am I a patriot? I think that word has been co-opted by a certain demographic which I, myself, could quite easily be mistaken for. The white, middle-aged man, much maligned recently by Gary Neville in a video that has split opinion. I'm on Gary's side. Apologies if you find yourself on the other side. I'll explain why I am.

If you profess to love your country then what does that actually mean? It's OK hanging a few flags from lamp posts and painting a few roundabouts but how is that loving your country? If the act of patriotism is tinged with a 'Love it or leave it' attitude to others then you're arguing that only those who love their country should be allowed to stay. Samuel Johnson famously said that 'Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.' People left with nothing else can resort to patriotism and use it for dubious means. Whether that's frustrations at politicians or frustrations at how your own life has turned out, the resurrection of patriotism (surely something reserved for the Last Night Of The Proms?) feels distinctly un-British. We don't normally like to express ourselves. We don't tend to argue or make a fuss. Aren't we supposed to 'Keep Calm And Carry On'?

So no, I'm not a patriot. I have a certain love for this country built on the people I know and who live in it, although not necessarily because of all of its institutions. 

Patriotism, much like our nations flags, should not be wielded like a weapon. If it is, it ceases to be the thing in which we believe. If you've got this far then you'll have your own opinion on patriotism and the flag. Maybe you served? Maybe it means more to you than me? That's fine, because tolerance and freedom of speech is definitely something I love and can get behind.

I might even fly the flag for that!

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