I know you are opposed to nationalism and patriotism - but representing your country means a ****ing lot to a lot of people.
Enough to overwhelm them to the point where they cry uncontrollably during their national anthem.
That is a major reason why international rugby is inherrently more intense than club rugby - the emotional intensity.
If you compromise that (by allowing players to switch their allegiances) then you only serve to erode one of the things that makes the international game great.
oh and I forgot to mention...just because you don't cry uncontrollably during the anthem doesn't mean you don't love your country as others and aren't moved. Just because you have a bit of control and prefer discretion doesn't make you a horrible emotionless villain. It's a little subtle, a bit too much for some I've found, but it exists. Some can be proud without wielding flags, or being thick and/or demonstrative at all times.
Bruce Dickinson and his English flag, that's a gimmick, it's a populist commercial move to appeal to a certain targeted public, create a "thing"...it's okay, it's just that it's in very, very bad taste for me and incredibly thick and downright primitive. *IF*
IFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can state my opinion without being shot from 15 snipers at the same time, fuccking North Korea around here. And I thank you in advance for letting me explain my position, very grateful, no, really. Thank you.
I have certain conclusions about France I've come to after years of experiences and observations and careful assessment, but some I'd rather keep for myself (unless I"m asked directly). You don't have to be manifesting all, spewing everything out.
Another important point for me is, "my country" is only the culture really. My government, the politics, all that doesn't represent me. I "belong" to France in that I revel in being part of a culture and civilization my forefathers have built before me. But those are things between me and myself, and NO ONE else -
I don't need to show everybody how patriotic I am, I don't need to be happy with everything France is or does, I don't need to be a number in the sheep herd, part of the unique thought phenomenon, I don't need to hate Englishmen just because I'm French, or eat oysters for Christmas or even enjoy French literature particularly. People can call me very French or not French at all it doesn't change what "French" or "France" means to me.
My frenchness isn't a virtual property for others to relish and feed on, it's between me and myself and that only. And ppl like some of you here who get extremely excited over such topics and what nationalism means and ooh how important it is and big words like treason and all that and how empty you are if you don't subscribe to all that...understand some think differently. That's just a fact, it's a lot harder to judge people than what we think most of the time. We love it to be simple, but it just isn't at times.
