“Each of you, for himself, by himself and on his own responsibility, must … for himself
alone decide what is right and what is wrong, and which course is patriotic and which
isn't. You cannot shirk this and be a man. To decide it against your convictions is to be
an unqualified and inexcusable traitor, both to yourself and to your country…”
- Mark Twain
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Monday, 11 March 2013
QUOTE OF THE DAY: On patriotism
2 comments:
We welcome thoughtful disagreement.
But we do (ir)regularly moderate comments -- and we *will* delete any with insulting or abusive language. Or if they're just inane or off topic. It’s okay to disagree, but pretend you’re having a drink in the living room with the person you’re disagreeing with. This includes me.
PS: Have the honesty and courage to use your real name. That gives added weight to any opinion.
I noted in your (+other authors)book, "Twisting of the Treaty", that none other than Winston Peters is displayed and labelled a patriot! Don't think Twain would have agreed with someone so dishonourable and dishonest could be a noble honourable patriot.
ReplyDeletePeter
No. You're right. I'd like to disavow all responsibility for that caption.
ReplyDeleteI blame the editor.
Mind you, while I'm in general agreement with much that the other authors say, there are plenty of other things in there too with which I disagree.
I suggested to the editor we include a bit of boiler plate somewhat along the lines we used to use in The Free Radical Magazine: "he contributors appearance here in no way indicates agreement with all the views of the magazine, or with each other. Or vice versa."