I can see why Babbs is so pissed off and going at Siddy. He doesn't like Andy but more importantly, you can say nothing about the USO because it's his country that hosts it and he's extremely touchy about it. He mostly supports Americans and Italians (because his parents are originally from there), so the talk of a rubbish schedule at the USO is pissing him off, because somehow it's going against his country. The truth of the matter is, the three other Slams are organized better and yours is not, so deal with it. And any criticism is actually a blessing in disguise because it means improvements are in order. I criticize my own country all day long because it's so messed up (Pakistan) and I have no reason to be overly touchy about it.
Patriotism is something I dislike with all my heart. It not only divides people but it also for the most part brings out the worst in people. There's always this my country is better than yours notion attached to it. And I find it disturbing. What about those poor countries? They have nothing to be 'proud' of. Does this mean we should ignore those and pound our chests because ours is 'greater' therefore above all criticism?
As Bernard Shaw once said,
Patriotism is your conviction that this country is superior to all others because you were born in it.
George Bernard Shaw
