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The Progressive Patriot: A Search for Belonging Paperback – 1 May 2007

by Billy Bragg (Author)

39 ratings

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What does it mean to be English? What does it mean to be British? Is the cross of St George a proud symbol of a great tradition, or the badge of a neo-Nazi? In a world where British citizens can lay bombs to kill their countrymen, where religious fundamentalism is on the increase and where the BNP are somehow part of the democratic process, what does patriotism actually mean?

Our identity can change depending on what company we are in. For example, someone could describe themselves British to one person, Scottish to another and, say, a Londoner to another, and be right every time. But problems arise when someone tries to tell you what you are, based on your skin tone, religion, accent, surname, or whatever.

This book is Billy Bragg's urgent, eloquent and passionate response to the events of 7 July 2005, when four bombs tore through a busy morning in London, killing 52 innocent people and injuring many more.
A firm believer in toleration and diversity, he felt himself hemmed in by fascists on one side and religious fanatics on the other. The suicide bombers were all British-born and well integrated into our multicultural society. Yet they felt no compunction in murdering and maiming their fellow citizens. Inclusivity is important, but without a sense of belonging to accompany it, what chance social cohesion...

But where does a sense of belonging come from? Can it be conferred by a legal document? Is it a matter of blood and soil? Can it be taught? Is it nature or nurture? The Progressive Patriot is a book we all need to read. It pulls no punches in its insights and its radical vision offers a positive hope for a country teetering on the brink of catastrophe.

Print length

384 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Black Swan
Publication date

1 May 2007
Dimensions

12.7 x 2.39 x 20.32 cm
ISBN-10

0552772429
ISBN-13

978-0552772426
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Product details

Publisher : Black Swan (1 May 2007)
Language : English
Paperback : 384 pages
ISBN-10 : 0552772429
ISBN-13 : 978-0552772426
Dimensions : 12.7 x 2.39 x 20.32 cm

Best Sellers Rank: 163,629 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 33 in United States Film History
- 795 in Popular Music
- 1,059 in Rock & Pop Musician Biographies

Customer reviews:
39 ratings

Product description

Review

An intriguing and timely book, which opens a new angle on the debate of what it means to be British and a patriot ― Daily Express

Charming and engaging... The Progressive Patriot flows with integrity and commitment ― The Independent

Whatever your views, there is much to be inspired by here, and much you will want to rant right back at. ― Sunday Telegraph

From the Back Cover

What does it mean to be English? What does it mean to be British? Does the rise in popularity of the St Georges flag represent a new beginning or symbolize the return of the far right? Is the Union Jack too soaked in the blood of empire to be the emblem of a modern multicultural state? In a country in which all of us are born under two flags, what does it mean to be a patriot?

In 2006, Billy Bragg saw his home town become the front line in the debate over who does and does not belong in twenty-first-century Britain an apparent reaction to the terror attacks on London of 7 July 2005, when four British citizens from the immigrant community killed fifty-two innocent people and injured many more.

This book is an urgent, eloquent and passionate response to these events.Reflecting on his family history and revisiting the music that inspired him, Billy Bragg pits his own values against those of traditional Britishness in a search for a sense of belonging that is accessible to all and in so doing, offers positive hope to a nation no longer sure of its own identity.

An intriguing and timely book, which opens a new angle on the debate of what it means to be British and a patriot Daily Express

Whatever your views, there is much to be inspired by here Sunday Telegraph

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Customer reviews

5 star		71%
4 star		20%
3 star		5%
2 star		2%
1 star		2%

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Dr. Laurence Baldwin

Uneven but interesting take on English identity

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 21 August 2010

Verified Purchase

Billy Bragg is a well known singer songwriter and activist, and this is a very personal account of English identity. He examines both the history of dissent in England and his own family history as a way of examining how he came to his own views, and rounds it off with a passionate plea for a proper, modern Bill of Rights in this country as a way of countering the rise of fascist organisations like the BNP (British National Party), who have been particulalry successful, until recently, in his own East End of London. It's an interesting account of Englishness (rather than what it is to be British, for the Welsh and Scots seem more secure in their own identity), but it is rather uneven in the way it is written. At times the account becomes too personal, almost autobiographical, with long sections on the rise of Punk music and his part in the music scene of the time. Interesting in itself, but too much detail compared to the more measured historical analysis of English identity. Perhaps I was expecting more of the latter and not expecting the depth of autobiography, I certainly enjoyed that part more, and became restless when the focus switched back to his own family. Probably this should be two books not one, each one a litle more focussed...

5 people found this helpful

Helpful

Quinten Fyfe

A must read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 April 2017

Verified Purchase

Well done billy in an extremely knowledgable and historical view of the origins of the briton .
Its a great reminder of who we are and how we came about as a society . Nothing wrong with progressive patriotism as long as we remember its about everyone .

Helpful

Pat Haggerty

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 December 2017

Verified Purchase

fab

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James Marshall

there are so many more aspects to one of our greatest thinkers and writers

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 21 December 2014

Verified Purchase

Disappointing, there are so many more aspects to one of our greatest thinkers and writers.

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Anita

Four Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 December 2015

Verified Purchase

Helpful

Amazon Customer

passionate patriot

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 October 2010

Verified Purchase

I've always felt that flying the Union flag should be for us as flying the starts and stripes is for Americans, an uncomplicated show of pride in the country. I've also felt that the national front and the bnp have stolen that from me.

So reading Billy Bragg's book has been a pleasure for me - discovering that a favourite musician has thought deeply about this and written a book.

The history is explained well and personally. I loved that, but I have to say I thought the book lost its way a bit about 2/3 of the way through. I can't be sure if that's because it was where Bragg's narrative and my own memories were almost the same...

Well worth reading, as a perspective on punk if nothing else!

4 people found this helpful

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P C Allen

yes, home is where you belong and feel valued and respected, this book has great insight and hope.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 January 2015

Verified Purchase

Thanks Billy. Your book has helped me clarify not only where I call home, but as a gayman where Ii belong as a white male, European and part of a World LGBT family. I believe, Love and prosper. Paul

Helpful

AmazingGrace

A short history

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 June 2014

Verified Purchase

I really like this book because it is clearly well-thought through. It is easy to read with an attractive sense of personality that enlivens the history.

Helpful

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