Anger and the Stoics

[Gyakuto]

Patriotism makes us instantly suspicious. Which I don't think is something you could say about the USA

Yes, I think it’s because we can’t believe anyone would be patriotic toward a country that is so obviously flawed; a country that doesn’t care for it’s elderly, young and poor. One whose Royal family harbours a probable paed*phile, who’s head of state spends a lot of time entertaining despotic country’s of the middle East in order to peddle them arms while his subjects sleep on the streets. A country that allows known murderous rapists join it’s constabulary and murder again, that protects paed*philes in it’s Church etc It’s not unique to the U.K. but I think we don’t allow ourselves to gloss over these unpleasantnesses completely by brain washing us with oaths of a allegiance every morning in our schools etc. We don’t fall as far for the rhetoric.

 

[Prince_Alarming]

Yeah, I mean it's more that when somebody starts talking about how much they love this country we start wondering what they're trying to pull- and generally speaking we're right to be suspicious.

 

[Prince_Alarming]

It has to be said that the fash don't help much either. As soon as somebody comes over all patriotic we instantly wonder if he's a closet goose stepper

 

[Haruhiko]

Yeah, I mean it's more that when somebody starts talking about how much they love this country we start wondering what they're trying to pull- and generally speaking we're right to be suspicious.

I love my country, and I'm deeply patriotic but I think it's a family trait. Both sides of my family have a history of public service. Three knighthoods on mum's side and one knighthood on dad's, and my great grandfather was a very close confidante of Elizabeth during her trips to Australia.

My ancestor was on one of the first ships to arrive here and was instrumental in feeding the new colony through his farms, as well as negotiations with the indigenous.

My point is, while patriotism can be an excuse by many to be racist or bigoted, by others, it's a symptom of appreciation.

Also, @Gyakuto , are not Haiku literature of fiction?

 

[isshinryuronin]

are not Haiku literature of fiction?

Haiku just fiction,
Or a snapshot of real life,
Its essence laid bare.

 

[Haruhiko]

Haiku just fiction,
Or a snapshot of real life,
Its essence laid bare.

I see what you did
That is a meta answer
I saw what you did

 

[isshinryuronin]

That is a meta answer

Not sure what this means. I was just inspired by your post to compose a quick haiku exploring its nature. I'm quite happy with it.

 

[Haruhiko]

Not sure what this means. I was just inspired by your post to compose a quick haiku exploring its nature. I'm quite happy with it.

A wanky way of saying "self aware/contextually relevant to itself"

Blades cut through the air,
Ishin Ryu’s swift embrace,
Honor shapes the soul.

 

[Gyakuto]

My ancestor was on one of the first ships to arrive here

When it was a British penal colony?

My point is, while patriotism can be an excuse by many to be racist or bigoted, by others, it's a symptom of appreciation.

Patriotism is fine, but doesn’t bear close scrutiny.

Also, @Gyakuto , are not Haiku literature of fiction?

Haiku are based on heightened actual moments, and a good writer of haiku works to perceive such moments often and distinctly.

I don’t dislike fiction, and do read it occasionally, but I prefer other genre, especially when I want to understand something.

 

[drop bear]

Hmmm, I rarely read fiction…

I know a guy like that. In to philosophy. But not in to fiction.

Which i think is strange as fiction is a mechanic that allows us to experience new ideas.

 

[Gyakuto]

In order to reflect Japanese language haiku, leading experts suggest English language haiku should have about ten syllables; it makes them pithier like the originals. Try it!

Sunday morning sun
anxious anticipation
martial exertions

compared with…

old woman
in every wrinkle
sunshine

or…

chilly air
moon peers down
tachikaze

If it’s a humorous verse, strictly speaking it’s ‘senryu’

thin eyebrows
once adorable
now chilling

pushing work on me
she pushes me
not to push myself

 

[Gyakuto]

I know a guy like that. In to philosophy. But not in to fiction.

Which i think is strange as fiction is a mechanic that allows us to experience new ideas.

And is this guy deficient in his thinking and understanding of things because he doesn’t read fiction?

 

[Gyakuto]

Many of us might not be overtly patriotic, but if Putin tried to invade Britain, then I know we’d do our very best against him and with relish

…. they’d probably have me making sandwiches and cups of tea for the fighters

 

[Buka]

There was a young man from Nantucket.

That was the type of haiku I grew up with.

 

[Buka]

Yeah, I mean it's more that when somebody starts talking about how much they love this country we start wondering what they're trying to pull- and generally speaking we're right to be suspicious.

My dad was born in 1888 in northern Italy on failed farm land at a poor time in northern Italy’s history.

In 1910 he got work as a dishwasher and toilet cleaner on a ship to England because he heard there was work there.

He sought work in London. You applied to the back door in any establishment you were looking for work in.

He was met with signs on the back doors with bold letters that said, “No dogs, no Italians.”
My family is Italian.

But it was the poor people of London that provided him with work. Enough work that eventually got him work on a ship to the United States.

He made it to the States, became a citizen and joined the United States Army. He fought in World War One and was awarded two Purple Hearts.

He taught me not to judge people by whatever my opinion was or what they looked like, but rather, on their merits

It was the poor people of Great Britain that got him to the states. Had they not, I wouldn’t be here on Maui and probably wouldn’t have existed in the first place.

 

[isshinryuronin]

There was a young man from Nantucket...

...Whose haiku could fill up a bucket.
He reached with a grin
In a state of mushin
And pulled another out of his pocket.

 

[Prince_Alarming]

Oh, I wouldn't put up with anybody else trash-talking my country. It's my country, and I have the right to complain about it.

 

[drop bear]

And is this guy deficient in his thinking and understanding of things because he doesn’t read fiction?

Yeah. A bit.

 

[Prince_Alarming]

This is a land of liberty and courage, and I have the RIGHT to be a disaffected malcontent

 

[Gyakuto]

There was a young man from Nantucket.

That was the type of haiku I grew up with.

There was an Irish girl from Lunt,
Who had a big black hairy dog…