Gavin, 5 February 05
Why do I not mind being in a pub full of English rugby fans watching a match on telly (even if, unlike today, they were to be winning) whereas having to endure patriotic fervour brought on with national soccer games is just unimaginable? Been wondering that all day – still no closer to an answer, anyway it has gotten me thinking on the whole question of supporting teams and how that relates to nationalism.
Not being a really sporty person I still like to watch. I’ve never fanatically followed a team – I kind of defaulted to Liverpool as a kid. Partly because their captain at the time, Emlyn Hughes, was a Barrovian. But living a few years on Merseyside and I haven’t wanted to get myself along to Anfield – so the loyalty force was never very strong in this one I’m afraid.
When it comes to national sporting events I really have problems. If anything I’d be cheering Scotland, but to be honest that is usually likely to be as much reacting against the English patriotism around me as it is a result of my ancestory.
Patriotism and nationalism are concepts that I’ve always found it really hard to understand . To base an identity on mere geographical circumstance of birth seems absurd. No more logical than the racists who choose skin colour as their means of identification. In my mind patriotism, nationalism and racialism are points on the same spectrum.
The internet has potential to be a great tool for building communities. The limits of geographical boundaries are only manifest in the differing languages used. But more and more when groups form they base their identity on common understanding and shared goals.
When the interests of governments collide they are quick to use the nasty bile stored by nationalism. In years to come it will be harder to demonise enemies as barbaric and wicked by playing on their being ‘foreign’. As people of differing nationalities join to form virtual communities they will not be foreign or unknown and common interests with netizens of other lands will become more apparent.
