Patriotism?

So, I still forget that we have a king now rather than a queen; a Labour government rather than a Tory one. Nor am I hugely interested. I should be: the government, after all, could legislate for ecocentrism... or at least greater ecocentrism. But my level of cynicism is such that I feel it's all much of a muchness these days, who's in charge. Basically, I suppose, capitalism and consumerism and the market and corporations are in charge.

Even so, as I walked through London the other day - and by the way I must have walked for over four hours in total... at least. Maybe five - oh, right, that sentence I left hanging... Yeah, so as I walked through London I felt deep affection for the city. Even for signs of empire and victory.

Even the gold-painted (rather than plated) Albert outside the Royal Albert Hall grabbed my attention.

I often feel love for the country when I am in the country... looking at the hills and the hedgerows, copses and streams. Rural England in early summer, unbeatable. But I love London too. Standing in Trafalgar Square, with a busker singing beautifully and people from all over the world milling about... I felt so fortunate. I felt love.

I sent a picture to my dad, who is a patriot, saying "I love our country". Then I noticed, in the background, urgent police sirens, and a car raced up the road, the thrill of the fast car in rush-hour traffic! What adrenaline! And I thought, maybe we are about to be bombed and my last message will be that, "I Love my country" and my dad would send it to the papers in fury that "they" could do this to "us".

As I walked along, thinking how readily love for something morphs into hatred for something else, I saw Edith Cavell.

And I read the inscription...