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  • blood & soil

    Blood and soil is kind of a thing though, to me and others. I know not everyone feels this way but some do. I wouldn't describe it as 'patriotism' as to me that's about Queen and country. Quite a formative part of my identity is a sense of belonging or attachment or something to a land, a landscape, a place. Part of that is that it's "in my blood" which I imagine I interpret in a different way to most - it's in my blood because that's where I grew up. It isn't to do with where I was born or where my parents came from, but it's blood in the sense of body.

    I've also had to fight for my identity and my pride in who I am (it's still tentative tbh). Pride shouldn't be confused with superiority. I don't think I'm better than anyone else or that being English or British is great in any sense, but it is who I am.

    I know some people have no attachment to the place or places they grew up in, it's not a right or wrong. I feel anger and to some extent shame at 'our' governments actions and lack of actions, but I don't associate that with blood and soil.

  • I've also had to fight for my identity and my pride in who I am (it's still tentative tbh). Pride shouldn't be confused with superiority. I don't think I'm better than anyone else or that being English or British is great in any sense, but it is who I am.

    I think you've basically just elegantly described patriotism vs nationalism.

  • Or the difference between ‘ethnic nationalism’ and ‘civic nationalism’

    Anytime people mention blood and soil they’re gonna get side eye.

  • patriotism vs nationalism

    I actually don't understand. I'm not into Queen and Country or xenophobia or an insistence that we can't cooperate and collaborate with other nations.

  • A Patriot is someone who loves their country. A Nationalist is someone who hates everyone else’s.

    Oscar Wilde

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