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Totalitarianism is patriotism institutionalized.

quote by Steve Allen
Added by Lucian Velea
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I Am Not Proud Of My Country

I love my Homeland Country and of it's scenic sights I sing
But I don't say I am proud to be Irish as proud has a patriotic ring
And those who feel proud of their Country often go that step too far
As pride leads to patriotism and patriotism leads to war.

I have never waved my Country's flag at parade or football game
And I am not Proud of my country though I love it just the same
For pride and love are different as different as can be
And pride that leads to patriotism has never appealed to me.

Some people on flag post in their front yard fly their Country's flag
And I am proud of my Country you hear them proudly brag
But others worthiness and cultures they never could embrace
And without saying so they are telling you that ours is a superior race.

I am proud of my Country you will never hear me say
Though many feel that pride and patriotism are good and quite okay
But how many young men have died in wars due to patriotic pride
Love brings people together whilst pride and patriotism divide.

I have never been a soldier or had honours to my name
And I am not Proud of my Country though I love it just the same
And those who feel proud of their Country can take that step too far
For pride leads to patriotism and patriotism can lead to war.

poem by Francis Duggan
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YOU NEED TO BE INSTITUTIONALIZED.....by Talile Ali

I'M AN AUDITORY DYSLEXIC
THAT MEANS I HEAR THINGS WRONG
I ASK FOLKS TO REPEAT THINGS
SO THAT WE CAN GET A LONG

PROBLEM IS MY WIFE
WILL NOT ACCEPT AT ALL
THE FACT THAT I DOM'T GET IT
AND WAITS FOR ME TO FALL

YOU NEED TO BE INSTITUTIONALIZED BABE
IS WHAT SHE SAY'S TO ME
YOU NEED TO BE INSTITUTIONALIZED BABE
AS SHE WATCHES DR. PHIL ON TV

ITS BEEN LIKE THIS FOR DECADES
SHE REFUSES TO EVEN TRY
TO REPEAT THINGS WHEN I'M FUZZY
SHE THINKS ITS ALL A LIE

SHE RATHER SCREAM 'YOU'RE LYIN'
AND CALL AND YELL AND FIGHT
YOU KEEP ON TRYIN BABY
IT WON'T BE ME TONIGHT

YOU NEED TO BE INSTITUTIONALIZED BABE
IS WHAT SHE SAY'S TO ME
YOU NEED TO BE INSTITUTIONALIZED BABE
AS SHE WATCHES DR. PHIL ON TV

poem by Talile Ali
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We talk a great deal about patriotism. What do we mean by patriotism in the context of our times? I venture to suggest that what we mean is a sense of national responsibility which will enable America to remain master of her power — to walk with it in serenity and wisdom, with self-respect and the respect of all mankind; a patriotism that puts country ahead of self; a patriotism which is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime. The dedication of a lifetime — these are words that are easy to utter, but this is a mighty assignment. For it is often easier to fight for principles than to live up to them.

quote by Adlai Stevenson
Added by Veronica Serbanoiu
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If you lived, as I did, several years under Nazi totalitarianism, and then 20 years in communist totalitarianism, you would certainly realize how precious freedom is, and how easy it is to lose your freedom.

quote by Milos Forman
Added by Veronica Serbanoiu
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Because if you lived, as I did, several years under Nazi totalitarianism, and then 20 years in communist totalitarianism, you would certainly realize how precious freedom is, and how easy it is to lose your freedom.

quote by Milos Forman
Added by Lucian Velea
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Prince Hohenstiel-Schwangau, Saviour of Society

Epigraph

Υδραν φονεύσας, μυρίων τ᾽ ἄλλων πόνων
διῆλθον ἀγέλας . . .
τὸ λοίσθιον δὲ τόνδ᾽ ἔτλην τάλας πόνον,
. . . δῶμα θριγκῶσαι κακοῖς.

I slew the Hydra, and from labour pass'd
To labour — tribes of labours! Till, at last,
Attempting one more labour, in a trice,
Alack, with ills I crowned the edifice.

You have seen better days, dear? So have I —
And worse too, for they brought no such bud-mouth
As yours to lisp "You wish you knew me!" Well,
Wise men, 't is said, have sometimes wished the same,
And wished and had their trouble for their pains.
Suppose my Œdipus should lurk at last
Under a pork-pie hat and crinoline,
And, latish, pounce on Sphynx in Leicester Square?
Or likelier, what if Sphynx in wise old age,
Grown sick of snapping foolish people's heads,
And jealous for her riddle's proper rede, —
Jealous that the good trick which served the turn
Have justice rendered it, nor class one day
With friend Home's stilts and tongs and medium-ware,—
What if the once redoubted Sphynx, I say,
(Because night draws on, and the sands increase,
And desert-whispers grow a prophecy)
Tell all to Corinth of her own accord.
Bright Corinth, not dull Thebes, for Lais' sake,
Who finds me hardly grey, and likes my nose,
And thinks a man of sixty at the prime?
Good! It shall be! Revealment of myself!
But listen, for we must co-operate;
I don't drink tea: permit me the cigar!
First, how to make the matter plain, of course —
What was the law by which I lived. Let 's see:
Ay, we must take one instant of my life
Spent sitting by your side in this neat room:
Watch well the way I use it, and don't laugh!
Here's paper on the table, pen and ink:
Give me the soiled bit — not the pretty rose!
See! having sat an hour, I'm rested now,
Therefore want work: and spy no better work
For eye and hand and mind that guides them both,
During this instant, than to draw my pen
From blot One — thus — up, up to blot Two — thus —
Which I at last reach, thus, and here's my line
Five inches long and tolerably straight:

[...] Read more

poem by Robert Browning (1871)
Added by Veronica Serbanoiu
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Politics is too partisan, and sometimes patriotism is cast aside. Patriotism is honor and love of your country and your brothers and sisters. With politics I get the impression that it's all about what's good for the party and not necessarily what's good for the country.

quote by Ricardo Montalban
Added by Lucian Velea
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Patriotism is voluntary. It is a feeling of loyalty and allegiance that is the result of knowledge and belief. A patriot shows their their patriotism through their actions, by their choice.

quote by Jesse Ventura
Added by Lucian Velea
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I believe patriotism comes from the heart. Patriotism is voluntary. It is a feeling of loyalty and allegiance that is the result of knowledge and belief.

quote by Jesse Ventura
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Territorial integrity

Why countries are simply invaded?
Do the other countries are principally wedded?
Does their ethnic love and belonging firmly embedded?
The country’s territory annexed and added

Is it grand design to form a powerful block?
The bell should ring as per their time in clock
Will their aim succeed and keep together the flock
Fire will be raging inside giving room for smoke

It is how the nationalism and patriotism suffer
Small countries cease to exist and work as buffer
They may lie low but not at the cost of national pride
No one will tolerate the insult and shame to newly bride

They prefer to have sway and hegemony
Every occasion availed with grand ceremony
Show of strength with power and money
Why should they bother for peace and harmony?

You can’t suppress the strong nationalism?
Can’t stop it with propaganda or journalism?
Patriotism and nationalism are simple words
Many lost kingdoms even with powerful lords

History may not repeat with glorious past
Doubts should not be raised and apprehensions cast
Peace should given a chance to long it last
Nothing should be at stake as actions should be fast

Time has passed as nations used to bully
Bloodbath and humiliation not realized fully
It is emergence of universal brotherhood and faith
People are aware and not afraid of death

You may subjugate and rule the land
Reign of terror with firm iron hand
National insult and wounds may not be healed
Agony and pain can not be revealed

It is how we respect the sentiments,
Not to violate any space in continents
Respect to territorial integrity in sincerity
Respect to land and overall sovereignty

Millions want to live with peace and honour
Atrocities and tales may serve as horror
Commitments, if any, must be as clear as mirror
Why not we bid farewell to fear and terror?

poem by Hasmukh Amathalal
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Better Tomorrow Today

Today is gone,
Tomorrow is unknown,
A better tomorrow is grown,
Through todays toil and moil.

Through todays toil and moil,
The hidden treasures we'll re-coil
And dig out the gold in the soil.
Unity in mind and work is the only key.

Unity in mind and work is the only key,
The only key that will make us see,
Stop what is pulling us into the sea,
The pull of corruption and egotism.

The pull of corruption and egotism,
Of egocentric leaders lead to tribalism,
Will we ever cease from nepotism?
When will patriotism be part of us?

When will patriotism be part of us?
And we together live in peace with no fears?
Of the ruthless, violent beaconing neighbours,
Let we be of single nationality.

Let we be of single nationality,
Converge our concentration positively
Focusing fully on our future formalities.
By multiplying our efforts and determination.

By multiplying our efforts and determination,
Together we'll achieve our vision'
Of bettering the standards of our nation
And making the 2030 vision a reality.

poem by Marbet Daniel
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Patriotism

Patriotism is the seed of violence.
Don’t grow it. Instead, thrash it.
Patriotism has no place for future.
Shed away all inhibition about it.
19.06.2006

poem by Rm. Shanmugam Chettiar
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I Wont Hide My Disgust

Some like to question my patriotism.
Because I express pessimism,
With negative criticisms.
If anything I should be accused,
Of being idealistic.
I joined the military when just a kid.
I wanted to protect this great land,
From enemies that threatened...
Where my family and friends would stand.
As I did!
And proving to myself and others,
I was that brave and fearless man.
That was during the Viet Nam era.
When many my age,
Were trying to pass college entrance exams.

Two weeks after my high school graduation...
I was pledging allegiance to this great nation.
In an Air Force uniform!
I bravely adorned.

Friends I knew who lost their lives,
Weren't considered warriors...
But to my surprise were despised.
It took me years to get over this.
As I witnessed some had gone to college,
To earn degrees that made them capitalistic materialists.
Of course those of us who went through that...
Became very upset about this and quite pissed.
And some of 'them' on us...
Turned their self righteous self centered greedy backs.
As they licked their fingers...
From eating fast food snacks!

These are facts that happened!

My heart is with the soldier,
Because I understand that mindset at hand.
However...
It is unfortunate,
Those who sit and make decisions to begin conflicts...
Are rarely the ones who stick their necks out.
Like the ones who sit alone in barracks!
Getting five minutes to shit...
Keeping their spit boots shined!
Putting their lives on the line.
And rehearsing this at a moment's notice.
They are NOT the ones heard moaning and whining,
About what belongs to them...all the time!
And having no idea just how precious their lives are.

[...] Read more

poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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A Pole and The Rope

A pole and the rope not visible at all,
Pulled and rewind cord, perfect of all.
From the middle of the heart,
The cable extends near and afar,
From the center of the nation,
The chain prolong to space station,
When the pole is the love,
The rope is the responsibilities.
Stuck to the invisible pole of love,
Our responsibilities inspire us to excel,
For each and every one of them,
Whom we love and cherish.
From the pole of patriotism,
Our duties start to end in victory.
Is there any difference?
Between the love and patriotism,
The poles, around which our life goes around.

poem by Veeraiyah Subbulakshmi
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In Former Songs

IN former songs Pride have I sung, and Love, and passionate, joyful
Life,
But here I twine the strands of Patriotism and Death.

And now, Life, Pride, Love, Patriotism and Death,
To you, O FREEDOM, purport of all!
(You that elude me most--refusing to be caught in songs of mine,)
I offer all to you.

'Tis not for nothing, Death,
I sound out you, and words of you, with daring tone--embodying you,
In my new Democratic chants--keeping you for a close,
For last impregnable retreat--a citadel and tower, 10
For my last stand--my pealing, final cry.

poem by Walt Whitman
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He Is His Father's Son

His father a decorated soldier a noble hearted one
And he the ballad singer sings of battles fought and won
A true chip of the the old block when all is said and done
He has his father's D N A and he is his father's son.

'Tis not to listen to war ballads that I have come in here
I came in for to quench my thirst with a cool frothy beer
He ends another war song to another loud encore
Yet why do they applaud him and beg him to sing more?

His songs fire the patriotism in them by keeping old wars alive
And ballads of old soldiers insure that wars survive
The songs he sing are very old and have been often sung
Of brave men who risked their lives in war and of brave men who died young.

He sings of young men who went to war that was the choice they made
These old men now who on war memorial day march in the big parade
With their bravery medals on display they won't leave old wars die
The war that was to end all wars another old war lie.

The son of a war hero of war he choose to sing
Though too much of patriotism is not a healthy thing
A true chip of the old block when all is said and done
He has his father's D N A and he is his father's son.

poem by Francis Duggan
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It Is A Tragic Time We Live In

It is a tragic time we live in with the violence in the World of today
For God and for National fervour the price in death is huge to pay
Two wrongs never ever make a right or words to that effect the wise say
It did take more than one side without a doubt to start the war of us against they,
Our political leaders are our reflection mirror for our predicament we have ourselves to blame
By giving power to the fear and war mongers some seek glory in acts of shame
Patriotism and Religion have led to more deaths through violence than any other two things one could name
And human blood it is shed by the barrel for the power hungry in their lust for fame,
In a World of redneck racism the rose of peace is in decay
They cannot be brought back to life the dead people in their graves forever they lay
Billions are spent on the manufacturing of war weaponry whilst people of hunger are dying
For the making of deadly weapons of mass destruction the gift of life to others they are denying
And because of Racism, God and Patriotism millions are condemned to suffer and die
And war by the so called good waged on evil is such a despicable lie.

poem by Francis Duggan
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My Wish Is For A Perfect World

The World might well be different if religion and patriotism
died
And if mistrust and greed died with them there would be peace World wide
But with these four still prevalent what hope for harmony
And what hope for love and tolerance for all humanity.

That the clergy bless the troops for war seems hard to understand
To go and throw their lives away for religion and land
That man should kill his fellow man not written in God's will
The fifth commandment clearly state the words 'thou shalt not kill'.

Intolerance, greed and mistrust all of these go side by side
With lust for land and religion and patriotic pride
All these have given rise to wars and yet we've failed to see
The mistakes our fore fathers made nor learnt from history

I am not condemning religion in case you get me wrong
And I have great respect for those who worship God in song
But when religion lead men to war 'tis there the wrong come
in
For wars are caused by ignorance where winners cannot win.

And as for patriotism that has the strangest ring
Of the noble men who died in war the ballad maker sing
They thought it the great sacrifice to give their lives for land
But the most who lived to reap the gain never took gun in hand.

And as for greed and mistrust of those what can one say?
For human self enlightenment I hope to see the day
For all human beings have good in them or so 'twould seem that way
But some can't reach their higher self and somehow go astray

It's up to every individual to live good as they can
To make this world a better world for family of man
To learn more about tolerance and live in harmony
My wish is for a perfect world but that may never be

poem by Francis Duggan
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Without Death, Bloodshed and Suffering

Without death, bloodshed and suffering wars are never won
And only hatred and grief survives when the fighting is done
And war heroes honoured in every war street parade
By war men the memories of war not allowed for to fade
The politicians the praises of the war dead do sing
Their politicizing of war for sake of power not an honourable thing
For God, Flag and Country and National Pride
Far too many good young people in wars have died
one war leads to another war as the wise one did say
And millions for patriotism in wars with their lives do pay
For the sake of war the war men create us against they
And for the love of a flag the young and brave die in wars today
And on Rememberance Day the war men parade up and down
In a show of patriotism through the streets of the town.

poem by Francis Duggan
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Written In July 01

One might have thought that time would heal and hatred would subside
But politics, religion and so called patriotism the things that divide
And in Northern Ireland trouble once more brewing and old hatreds live on
And those for peace are left to rue the latest chance for peace near gone.

The Loyalists and the Republicans with the same brush are tarred
For decades due to their intransigence the chance for peace they've marred
Old hatreds handed down from father to son and nurtured and kept alive
And in such a hostile atmosphere peace struggles to survive.

These troubles in Northern Ireland have gone on for far too long
And parents must take some blame for this for they ought to know right from wrong
Their children never encouraged by them for to integrate
They keep them rooted in the past and teach them how to hate.

Of a lasting peace in Northern Ireland it would be nice to hear
But peace seems further from there now than at this time last year
And one would have thought that time would heal and hatred would subside
But politics, religion and so called patriotism are the things that still divide.

poem by Francis Duggan
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