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There was an item on the Beeb this morning about the present campaign to have St George's Day made a Bank (public) Holiday - a campaign that I fully support. But one of the show's presenters asked of one of the guests, "Don't you think there's too much English jingoism these days?" Of course, I disagree - I believe that with a few exceptions (like myself) most Englishmen and women are the reverse of jingoistic; they seek every opportunity to denigate England and its institutions. What do we all think? Is there too much jingoism in England these days - and is jingoism even the best noun to use to describe a measure of pride in one's country? Richard English | ||
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I wouldn't know since I don't live there, but we do hear a lot in our media that often the English aren't very positive about their country or their people. I do agree, Richard, that you are not one of them. | |||
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"Jingoism" has its roots in the British "gunboat diplomacy" of the later part of the nineteenth century.
We've got the ships, we've got the men, we've got the money too We've fought the Bear before, and while we're Britons true The Russians shall not have Constantinople. It is generally used nowadays in a pejorative way, rather in like Chauvinism. Probably the best word to use in this context is patriotism, although in these cynical times that, too, sometimes has negative overtones. Build a man a fire and he's warm for a day. Set a man on fire and he's warm for the rest of his life. | |||
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Jingoism is to patriotism what Donnie Darko is to Harvey. "No man but a blockhead ever wrote except for money." Samuel Johnson. | |||
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I hadn't realized jingoism came from Britain. I should have known, though, since the Brits invented everything. Here's what Wikipedia has to say:
And here's the derivation and definition of jingo from the OED Online:
The first citation is from 1879. I hadn't known that jingo was also a verb:
There's also jingodom, jingoesque. and jingoish. | |||
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When I first read this thread, I remembered thinking that jingoism would not be the word I'd use for the concept I think Richard was writing about. BTW, what is the reverse of jingoism? | |||
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I haven't bothered to Google it, but I recall from my schooldays that the rhyme (which was reproduced in my English textbook) ran as follows: "We don't want to fight, but by jingo if we do We've got the men, we've got the ships and we've got the money too!" I regards jingoism as more extreme than patriotism - although today I have put my English flags outside the front door and, by jingo, I intend to boast of my Englishness to all who will listen! Yesterday I was proud to be at a ceremony in West Wittering to commemorate the death of one of England's greatest sons - Sir Henry Royce - who died on 22 April 1933. The sleepy road past his old house was jammed with around forty Rolls-Royces of all ages. Richard English | |||
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