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Why did you see this as confusing and convoluted? My interpretation is that he's saying the human psyche requires this and if a tame and healthy version of patr
by hackerlight 4y ago
Why did you see this as confusing and convoluted? My interpretation is that he's saying the human psyche requires this and if a tame and healthy version of patriotism and national pride isn't provided by the centrist elements in society, then that vacuum will be filled by a populist demagogue who weaponizes it. It seems debatable but highly plausible.
- doetoe 4y agoI am not the person you are reacting to, and while I guess your interpretation of Orwell's intent is correct, Churchill's patriotism can at most be considered tame and healthy when directly compared to Hitler's. It was deeply rooted in a sense of superiority that not only nowadays is considered extreme, but even then (not by all obviously).
- dalbasal 4y agoI am he, lol. Agreed, and it's explicitly that British superiority which Orwell defends in the essay, carving out for it a special place separate from "nationalism" that communism, Trotskyism, Irish republicanism, zionism, etc. are condemned for. I kind of like the controversial nuance though. It shows that these ideas aren't supposed to be scientific, absolute and such.
- qikInNdOutReply 4y ago.. and he is absolut on point, it just hurts to admit, that those who strife for a idealized version of humanity, might feed the darker side while doing so.