You Should Be Proud To Be Patriotic | Varun Sivaram | Oxford Union

Varun Sivaram argues for the motion that 'This House is Proud to be Patriotic'.
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Varun Sivaram opens the case for the proposition with an intriguing question: "Why is America the best country in the world?" Sivaram takes a wry look at this question, and recounts that America leads the world in only three categories: number of incarcerated citizens per capita, number of people who believe angels are real, and defence spending -- where America spends more than the next 26 countries combined.

However, Sivaram elucidates what patriotism isn't -- "It's not extreme, blindfolded or disparaging", but rather "an affinity for, and identification with, one's country". Moreover, he advocates how patriotism is a transcendent extension of our interpersonal relations, and that nationalism and jingoism are merely distortions of the term.

Filmed on Thursday 14th November 2013
MOTION: This House is Proud To Be Patriotic
RESULT: Defeated.

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ABOUT VARUN SIVARAM:
Varun Sivaram is a Rhodes Scholar and former Senior Advisor to the Mayor of Los Angeles.

ABOUT THE OXFORD UNION SOCIETY:
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