J is for Jingoism

J is for jingoism. I use jingoism to represent the ugly side of nationalism, patriotism, generally loving one's country in a way that excludes and divides rather than includes and celebrates diversity. To me jingoism is the attitude that says there is just the one way to love your country or to be a good citizen or representative of the country. It seems to me to be the attitude behind the ugliness that seems to pop up around the days of national celebration like Australia Day or Anzac Day. The attitude behind those horrible stickers with either the Australian flag or an outline of the mainland on them and the slogans along the lines of "fuck off, we're full" or "if you don't love it, leave". I really hate those stickers and find it hard not to judge the people that have them. In a way I can vaguely understand people having those attitudes, through ignorance, or maybe just true belief in something I just fundamentally disagree with. I think I'm right, but they probably do too, and from arguments I've had with people that have these ideas, I don't think there's anything I can say to change their minds.