The Long-Distance Patriot

I've discovered something about myself recently. Well not so much discovered as come to terms with. I know this sounds bad, considering Australia is a brilliant country. But around the point of Australia Day in Canada and in the midst of a lot of "Aussie Pride", I realised I am only patriotic when out of country. As in, I like to claim being Australian only when I'm in another country, but not so phased about it when in my own country. I think because patriotism when practised in your own country always seems to have the tinting of racism embedded inside of it. In the U.S, it's the redneck conservatives, in Australia, it's the douchebag bogans with their southern cross tattooes and mullets. I've heard that in places like Germany for instance, types of patriotism carried out in public are considered reminiscent of Nazi days; an imagine in which they understandably don't want to publicise and therefore don't really carry flags in the yard or any of that jazz.

I've frequently voiced my deeply seeded desire to become a 'citizen of the world'. I just think patriotism is over-rated. Everyone loves a team to barrack for, of course it makes things more interesting; and of course I'm proud of where I come from and I couldn't promote a country to visit more than Australia. I think it's just the idea of patriotism that annoys me. Seeing as most patriotism is basically anger-generated, for instance the picking of one side automatically comes with an intense hatred for another side. In my following of the Socceroo's at the 2006 Germany FIFA World Cup I found myself despising Italian's for at least another 6 months. Even in the recent 2010 World Cup I was slandering Italians, basically saying they deserved the shit form in the World Cup and teasing their country...only to be introduced minutes later to my new work colleague 'Fillipo' from Bologna, Italy...who also overheard the whole conversation (interesting day at work). I just realise that when I was in Australia, I really wasn't too excited about my own country. But I am, when around non-Australians, proud to be Australian.

In saying all of this, I am proud of Australia for the beautiful country that it is, and I am lucky to have come from there. But I am in no way ever going to expect special treatment, wonder and awe, or think I am better than anyone else just because I was popped out onto Australian soil.

Nope, my next tattoo won't be a boxing kangaroo, it won't be the Australian made food logo (lame?) and it definately won't be a southern cross.