In the midst of a long @ exchange about the patriotism thang, I think I& #39;ve hit on my best available explanation for why the left can never win the game of reinventing patriotism as a progressive stance - loving a country of the NHS & welfare state & human rights & democracy etc >

It& #39;s because when the political right AND the mainstream centre talk about patriotism they really mean militarism, imperial values, xenophobia, national exceptionalism & insularity. >

When they say they despise the left for being unpatriotic they DON& #39;T mean they despise us for not loving our country, they mean they despise us for not being militaristic, imperialist, xenophobic etc. We can wrap ourselves up in flags all day & it won& #39;t make a jot of difference.

so anyway, as I was saying.... check the little union flag on the last line of this. Patriotism means British military & agents should be allowed to commit war crimes without consequence. https://twitter.com/Conservatives/status/1308846115438157824">https://twitter.com/Conservat...