Peter Wynn
1 min readSep 12, 2021

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For me, it's a no brainer. As Theodore Roosevelt said, "Patriotism is loyalty to the land, not loyalty to the President," but I do say that humanity must not stop you from sharing your land with your fellow human beings.

E.M. Forster said, "If I had to choose between betraying my country or betraying my friend, I hope I should have the guts to betray my country."

Too many leaders use patriotism to attempt to justify xenophobia (a despicable Australian politician accused a decent Australian politician of being "an enemy of the state" for opposing draconian legislation, a statement that is as offensive and false as it is unparliamentary. For example, Australia's refugee policy, while it may not be as draconian as others, is still unnecessarily punitive and lacks humanity. If a country has the resources and the capacity to accept refugees, and it has signed the convention, then accept them it should, if the UN decrees that they are refugees. Amongst those right-wing leaders, patriotism is not about loyalty to the land but loyalty to their belief regarding what their country should be.

Ensure adequate resources for all, "food, water, etc, NOT COAL, but humanity is more important than patriotism.

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Peter Wynn
Peter Wynn

Written by Peter Wynn

Diagnosed with autism at 35. Explained a lifetime of difference.

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