Patriotism

"Submitted" to SMH

Abbey Bowman (Letters, January 8) seems to miss Lisa Pryor's point ("Flying the flag for an upside-down kind of patriotism", January 6-7). The rednecks referred to certainly don't "ache for others to be" Australia-loving people. They want this land all for themselves. It isn't patriotism, it is xenophobia, racism, NIMBYism, and a misplaced sense of right.

"Pride" should begin with who you are - what you have achieved, and what you contribute. Not where you (through no choice of your own making) were born. Likewise, "patriotism" should not be blind love for the country where one resides - its climate, and natural beauty (again, "accidents of nature"), but pride in what our country stands for, how our citizenry treats each other, and for how our government represents us.

"Patriotism" comes with a responsibility to contribute to the society constructively to enhance our privileged existence here for all. It is not a blind acceptance that this place is great, we're here, it's all ours.

Shall we all start feeling patriotic about AWB, Children Overboard, Deaths in Custody, Stolen Generation, Cornelia Rau, David Hicks, Cronulla Riots, and now Kunthea Ker?