PATRIOTISM DOES NOT COME NATURALLY, BUT WITH PROGRESS OF SOCIETY

PATRIOTISM DOES NOT COME NATURALLY, BUT WITH PROGRESS OF SOCIETY

Dr. Mutua’s commentary on ‘Why we should all be proud to be Kenyans’ (Sunday Nation, 6 august) was indeed a timely and thought provoking piece. In the one year that I have spent living away from home, I have always pondered over the question what makes Kenya special. Surely there must be more to it than the wildlife, the good weather, the lovely chai and friendly people that explains the magic of Kenya. Upon reflection however, many things that came to mind were not ‘truly Kenyan’ things. This is where the problem lies.

Several factors contribute to the level of pride citizens have towards their country. According to the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago, people rate how proud they are of their countries in 10 areas: political influence, social security, the way their democracy works, economic success, science and technology, sports, arts and literature, military, history, and fair treatment of all groups in society. So, patriotism does not come naturally, it comes with progress of society.

Kenya has been known to be more western than her neighbours, mimicking everything from music, fashion to diet. Today, Kenyans are suffering from a disease called ‘demonstration effect’, that is, the phenomenon of local residents adopting the styles and manners they have observed in foreign cultures and lifestyles.
Kenyans need to embrace a patriotism based on the unconditional love of their country. We need a new sense of patriotism, one that expresses our unconditional love for Kenya and lives up to our responsibility to our fellow Kenyans. Efforts and emphasis must focus around rediscovering on what it means to be Kenyan. This type of patriotism brings with it much more; when your country misbehaves, you can't just roll your eyes as if you had nothing to do with it.