Dave Hill, over at his blog, has written a very insightful piece that delves into the heart of the ambiguity over what we define as "patriotism". Stemming from the news that academics suggest we start taking a critical approach to the subject when taught in History lessons. The idea is, simply, that you have to show that Britains past is at times morally corrupt and therefore why simply teaching kids to "love Britain" is wrong. Dave ends his very personal thoughts by suggesting that because there is a complexity in the debate that it should be discussed at schools. I don't disagree, but I don't think that is where the academics are really coming from.

We all have such differing views of what it means to be patriotic, Dave's family having a variety of mixed definitions, while many American's and some in the UK seem to believe it is more of an unconditional love that transends criticism, like some kind of weird blood-tie. It is this latter way of promoting one's home land at the detriment of others that I believe academics are striving at cutting out of our curriculum, and rightly so.

I myself know I feel patriotic, on one hand to the UK, on another to Cornwall. As time has gone on I've also grown "patriotic" about other things, the university I went to, the products I use regularly...patriotism is nothing more than a loyalty born through experience. Why is it then that you can claim that it can be taught? You can certainly inspire patriotism through historical learnings, but you have to actually live your own life to become patriotic or not, and if you feel like the state has let you down and that this country has not supported you then no amount of historical teachings will make you love this land.

It is entirely over the top to suggest that such claims by academics mean this country is being "hollowed out from the inside", just because propaganda and a stern back hand is the only way that certain people know how to keep the peace doesn't mean it's the only, or even by far the best, way. Let's do as Dave Hill suggests, let's freely debate this countries history in our schools, and even current affairs, and allow kids to grow their own sense of patriotism. In all ways this should develop a more rounded and accepting society, though when that means not grimacing and telling foreigners to "fuck off out of our country" I can certainly understand why this non-issue has been blown out of proportion by some parties.