Nearly 2,200 years ago, the Chinese poet, Chu Yuan, went to the King of the Chinese kingdom of Chu to warn him about the impending dangers facing the kingdom, due to the King's corrupt government. The King refused to heed Chu Yuan's warnings and in despair and protest Chu Yuan tied a big rock around himself and threw himself into a river on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month.

To prevent the fish from eating Chu Yuan's body, his followers made rice delicacies which they threw into the river for the fish to eat instead. These have evolved into today's rice dumplings that are prepared for the Dragon Boat Festival. The Dragon Boat races that are held today are a later innovation to commemorate Chu Yuan's "patriotic" sacrifice.

I find myself questioning whether Chu Yuan couldn't have been more patriotic by trying to contribute constructively to the kingdom. His suicide did little to establish peace and prosperity in the kingdom, except if being the cause of a festival is considered as such.

Patriotism is certainly an over-rated quality. It is often used to cover up mindless acts of obedience, or to justify sneering and denigrating remarks and acts against others. Patriotism is frightening to those not caught up in the same patriotic euphoria. Just listen to hordes of Americans chanting "U-S-A, U-S-A" at every mass opportunity to get a sense of this. Observe the cheerleader, GWB, using patriotism to threaten the world, unless it too cheers for his side. There seems to be only one global patriotism allowed today.

It's enough to make me want to tie a rock around myself.

13 June 2002

Dion Marc Delport

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