You Should Be Proud To Be Patriotic | Varun Sivaram | Oxford Union
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- Опубліковано 9 лют 2025
- 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:
The Union is the world's most prestigious debating society, with an unparalleled reputation for bringing international guests and speakers to Oxford. It has been established for 190 years, aiming to promote debate and discussion not just in Oxford University, but across the globe.
When u love ur nation for what it does ...is patriotism
But when u love your country no matter what it does ...is nationalism
Search definition of Patriot in Britannica. You would be surprised.
Wrong
Patriotism is loving your country but pointed out the flaw, nationalism is defending your country no matter what it does
Thank you for a demo on how to make a confident, enthusiastic and engaging speech without actually saying anything meaning full
That is called acting.
Do you know what was meaningful to me? Can an immigrant be patriotic!
Yes, identify and affiliate with project we believe and working on, that is the country we live.
Meaningful to me!
Yes! Absolutely empty premises to reach irrelevant conclusions.
His speaking skills and confidence is damn good.
Totally astonished by your speech. What a charismatic person. Nailed it.
Didn't make any sense
I had seen many videos on Oxford union but this one won the heart not on the topic but on the way of speaking, fluency, confidence everything is superb.
This man is unparalleled they way he spoke as if he owned the place, he was composed, articulate, and his confident was invincible, aspire to be confident like him.
Great speech! How I wished this level of discussion were present in my country...
Mexico City, Mexico. Born and raised.
Confident and engaging speaker!
Electric I
Great speaker but no argument however
Confident but no point. Just confident at all. Even my younger brother can debate well than him.
You call that confident? Seems like a pussy, its a all a facade.
@@idreeskhan8885 sour grapes because he is a hjndu
He is so handsome, m so distracted by his looks that I had to hear him twice to see his point. Worth it
Perfect example of a good speaker.
Prasanna Nawar a good speaker but he had no real argument. His speech is an excellent showcase of style without substance
chattrapati maharaj ki jay
@@mitzavor8468 its up to you if u see his good looks rather than listening his good speaking skills.
@@ankugreat5373 Where did I mention his looks at all?
his accent is so annoying that my cat died immediatly.
What I took from this was that it is good and right to love your homeland like you might your own family. We need to recognize that like all humans our nation is a work in progress, no one has arrived at perfection. We need thus to have a vision for our lives and our nation. Our Constitution is a framework for that vision, which says that all people are created equal before God our Creator. Without a vision a people perish. We should not be arrogant in our patriotism, which can move us toward the dangers of arrogant nationalism where we are willing to step on other people and nations. We should come alongside and support our allies as we are able. I feel proud of this young man, whose family is perhaps from India, but who has been adopted by the US and now, from all that he has said, loves his home country the United States, and with all its flaws he has a patriotic vision and desire to see it excel.
i have had this intense desire to use the word rabblerouser for a long time and this video gave me the ideal opportunity
Can't say I love his argument, but I love his confidence, smirk and perfect hooked nose.
Man, I want to sketch his chiseled face.
>_
I don’t know if I find that cute or creepy.
Basically just said
"nah didn't hear or care about what he said
He real cute tho i wanna sit on his face"
Go watch mean girls and go clubbing you lost soul
@@armaansamirizvi3354 nah, I said I can't say I love his argument but I love his facial features (because I sketch!) And who needs to watch mean girls when there are mean girls like yourself acting important in UA-cam comment section 😂
@@Kamath.venkat then you are one hell of an easily creeped out person 😂
Good speaker. Although he has the charisma of a cult leader.
gary wood not although because
Gordon Freemason. every good speaker does ignorance is bliss what have been watching Gordon
I see Adolf
@@nitishsaxena1372 😂
@@nitishsaxena1372 Indians see a traitor
The way he is expressing things 😍😍😍😍 completely mesmerised ❣
every one love his country but the great thing is mankind
Great speaker, but he made no solid argument.
benjamin buttigieg this speech is prime example of the difference between a debater and an orator.
exactly
I didn't watch the whole video. Can you specify why he had no solid argument?
is he supposed to make an argument?
Isn't this just a sketch of why this topic, what the topic is, what the contours of the topic are- that 8 kids debate in a beautiful hall?
@@vamsavardhanavijay5532 yeah duh, that's what happens at Oxford union
"Patriot: the person who can holler the loudest without knowing what he is hollering about." ― Mark Twain
@Antares Patriotism is nonsense. Unless it's philosophical and can honestly criticize its country/nation.
Tell that to the soldiers who brave torture but don’t open their mouths. This argument of saying that “it’s a service like any other being paid for by the tax payer” is the dumbest stuff I’ve ever heard.
@@ey3796 You're still hollering.
Patriotism is the essence of identity and dignity for each and every Country around The World
Patriotism is where you love your country.
Nationalism is where you hate everyone else's country.
Can not believe people don't know the difference.
Of course you can be proud to be patriotic, It's like saying "I love my father." "I love my country."
What is wrong with that.
you are absolutely right. people acting and reacting politically without know the real difference.
+David Ryan surely you can say that you love something, the stupid part is when you have that sense of pride in something you didnt chose or consent to. you can take pride in your country without hating all others, regardless of your hate the pride part is idiotic. and you can love something without getting a boner from it
Do you love your country? What Country are you from?
Nationalism-(n.) *patriotic* feeling, principles, or efforts
What if you don't love your father? What if he isn't worthy of love?
10:38 "I am proud to be an american". Some fools think he is Indian.
TheAmarican I agree with you fella , he's a product of the states .
He has indian genes flowing in his veins and after all 'Varun' means Lord of water and 'Sivaram' means Lord Shiva in Sanskrit and also he wants to help India reach its goal of generating 100 gigawatts of solar energy by 2022.
@@slenderstarfish7355 we all are from Africa.😁 People dig history only as deep as they want
@@xy1877 we are not from Africa the pangea broke before the stone age.You could say that all of us are originated from water or ocean.I suggest you to study the history once again but the joke was good.😂😂
@@slenderstarfish7355 Shall I teach u some cosmology lessons 😁.
alot to learn from his presentation
@33kaus holokaust thats literally what patriotism teaches
It was brilliant.
@@legendgamers7065 patriotism liberalism secularism nazism are all different
Holocaust occurred cause hitler noticed that at first world war jews of germany betrayed germany... hitler then promoted the idea that germany belongs only to germans ... and Holocaust occured ... if patriotism was followed then it means bieng able to love the nation nation is not defined by religion .... but hitler was not nationalist .... read vipin chandra u will know it
I have been a debater all my life and this blew me away! wow
confident but what's more important is what you are actually saying. You're not in a debate to show just confidence but to make clever arguments and i am not seeing that from this speaker :(
Aleksandar Kan ,absolutely
Everyone should be patriotic.Without this you will be no where.
This kind of speaker makes his country best..😀❤
Samuel Johnson: Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel.
Patriotism- I love this country because I was born in it.
When will i speak English like him
He astonished me by his speaking I was dazzling when he was speaking...
I hope in the future I could speak English like him
he speaks about patriotism are you Indian and patriot so love sanskrit
@@manpy5504 lol
Himanshu Sir. If you are living in India then better HINDI is required not English .. This English hegemony should stop -
@@sureshpolali4616 you are absolutely right
@@manpy5504 yeah
You are absolutely right
Great speaker, weak argument.
So true. Very weak argument - Its English essay in non-English speaking counties
A mesmerizing, impressive, convincing and rational points.no comments for his personality.. it's just charming.
He resembles former president Barrack Obama, I think he is brilliant.
he bis much better looking
He's actually of Indian origin
This guy knows how to control the room
Funny how he started his speech from my favourite clip of 'the newsroom'-exact the same.
A talented speaker who settled for manufactured inflexions and unhandy adages. Abigail Adams' advice to John comes to mind, 'you do not need to quote great men to show you are one.'
He's cute and handsome! :-)
Excellent speaker and a deeper argumentation built on apparent scholarship.
I'm not as erudite or verbose as that young man so I'll say it in the way that I speak. "Fuck that was good!"
On the issue of nationalism and patriotism, quote from wiki:
"Nationalism is essentially a shared group feeling in the significance of a geographical and sometimes demographic region seeking independence for its culture and/or ethnicity that holds that group together. This can be expressed as a belief or political ideology that involves an individual identifying with, or becoming attached to, one's nation. Nationalism involves national identity, by contrast with the related concept of patriotism, which involves the social conditioning and personal behaviors that support a state's decisions and actions."
So, they way I see it nationalism has to do with nations and patriotism with states. There is a difference between nationalism and radical nationalism which I see connected with fascism.
I can see how important it can be to get the nation part out, in today Multiculti world.
Being able to speak effectively and in a captivating manner is not great sign to judge a person on his governing abilities, you are just good at giving speech.
His confidence is attracted me not by his argument
Awesome. Even your opposition seemed impressed! Great job! If this was defeated means people just don't get it and Britain is doomed!!!
His argument was well delivered, but not efficiently argued, for want of a better phrase...
A nationalist puts more importance on unity through a shared cultural background. But a patriot puts more importance on unity through shared values.
Friend of mine from Stanford!
Ah, that explains it. He's from Stanford. The likes of which produces Condoleezza Rice. One of the most evil, power hungry Secretaries of State the US ever had.
Any insights on how he developed these mad oration skills?
The speaker Varun Sivaram, is a cut above the rest.
glug glug glug glug smack glug slrup glug
Let be honest... You Are Also a Handsome boy 🙃
HE is My type...
100% ALLURING...
Brains+Confident+Height+Personality+Humour+Handsome
🙃💋😉
This is the casualty of Americans - Getting carried away by looks and dressing . and assuming that they are qualified
Height? Lol
where else have I seen him? he's so handsome tho
Phenomenal speech. So so clear, so so excellent - and he's apparently a PhD Physics student now! What amazing composed English
PhD in US meaning - no job ..
@@OkarinHououinKyouma He may be CTO but not international standard. He is mediocre. We Indians have a habit of blowing out of proportion for any English-speaking foreigners. Moreover designation is US companies are bit exaggerated always
@@OkarinHououinKyouma Good sir.. India is far ahead in some areas. Our UPI system is world's best. Our COVID vaccination is going on highly efficiently. Our Stock exchange is superior in Technology to that of the USA. Once AI and ML become a reality you see INDIA will be leading in new technology. First of all, we should believe in this transformation.
When you love you patrosieam
I just want to fit in so i'm a patriotic conformed society demands it.
Just a bag of hot air! He has the ingredients of a good speaker though.
That was brilliant!
The contrast between reasoble patriotism v. Nationalism was good.
As an Irishman I think everyone should be patrotic no matter where they come from including the English
The only problem is when he explained Nationalism. Nationalism is the love of ones people, while he said it was the hatred of others, which was incorrect.
It can cause hate or I suppose you can use the term xenaphobia if the level of nationalism a person has is extreme. Nationalism at its finest doesn't always mean it'll always be fine. Thats just my opinion tho.
@@dinaf.k5372 too much of anything is usually bad news - this is true of anything
Good looking, young, educated (at Standford and Oxford), exceptionally articulate, and wealthy. I f'in hate him! Yet, I'd probably vote for him if he became a politician.
Well his dad's the president of western digital. What less do you expect?
@@polo02playfulWhat's that?
Considering a diverse population of 300 million plus people we can safely assume that despite all those negative parameters, US is infact the greatest country on Earth.
That one that must for us. This one must for me.
You're not doing a TEDx talk mate. Wind it in.
11:15 mins :he said nothing
Me : No he did, he said patriotism blah blah patriotism blah blah patriotism
Nice Guy Speaks well and confidant
Yes, i m a punjabi patriot and punjab is my country,,, i luv my punjab
Whi h Punjab?
I am Punjabi with similar background to you i am proud Punjabi/Indian ' with all our ancestors contribution to India why not India
Ok 🇮🇳
@@worldwide875 Well Indian subcontinent people mostly see us as drunk peasants at large ,,just watch the consistency of their Hindi media lol...and if not for geographic disadvantage of being landlocked between a desert called Rajasthan and mountains in north, west and east …i would more than be happy to subsist on a little bit of land we have without the fear of international blockade or sanctions from the predatory nation states of China, Pakistan and India which are purging border regions in their own way for the excuse of "progress"...and English won't object of course because not against their interest while falls in greater good according to them that's why their SAS special forces helped siege golden temple in 1980s all because that old cow Indira had to outwit Akalis by acting like Joseph Stalin until the gun she used blew in her face but the Hindi "journalists" won't say it as it simply was but keeping beating around the bush.. our state is in almost shambles but only thing these enlightened folks did was mock us....They use SJW terms like Dalit when blasphemy happens but don't point out what evil happened to a poor handicapped family of a Sikh girl in Delhi recently....I don't support separatism at all but i just deeply despise the smoke and shadow games these people play in the cities within India...Finally Liberals mostly have no backbone here - they either get manhandled or end siding with the central government to let the "law" only thing they can do is just make jokes on politics while hoping not to get arrested ..Our "country" has no strict stand over almost anything just a huge expanse of peasants who will revert back to pagan tradition out of fear that's it..
so handsomely spoke this handsome!
I like his confidence. நம்ம ஊர் பய 😊
Outstanding speaking powerful too
God and self is a much simplified understanding of reality.
People are saying he didn't make sense, i dont know what else will make them understand hahahah
This guy is the CTO of India's largest renewable energy company, that recently announced plans to file for an IPO on the NASDAQ at a valuation of 8billion dollars.
@@OkarinHououinKyouma ReNew Power
I wish I could speak like this someday..:(
Great speech Mr varun
absolutely beautiful
Well said Varun Sivaram Keep it up.
you will be fukin awesome in future.
What a brilliant and erudite argument, some of the posts below suggest he he made no solid argument, well lets see, an argument is: " a set of reasons given in support of an idea" , I think the speaker more than did that and can only surmise those posting he didn't are simply those against Patriotism.
Very intelligent and sound speaker
Indians need to learn from this and get out of blind patriotism into reasonable patriotism
I'm all for the motion and he put forward some interesting points that i'd never thought about. As impassioned as this speech was and as good as his diction is, i feel like he was trying too hard to make his point at certain times during the speech and that came off as a bit preachy. Nonetheless, a fine speech and a great representation of America.
I agree I feel like in a way he did not fully believe what he was saying as Much as he was showing how much he believed
Proud comes before a fall - proverb
Patriotism is a sickness - Bertrand Russell
Nation, Tradition Trifle Things!!!!
The important thing is religion the world view of the person!!!
Superb speaker
Listening to this I recalled the reflections of C.S. Lewis regarding this topic. 太棒了
Effective but hammed up for the US view count.
Lovely speech
Amazing speech leader
After that sensational speech by Shashi Tharoor in the same Oxford union perhaps 2 years ago, everybody is trying to emulate, but in vain ...... due to lack of content rather than of english.
So true ..
This is American accent. No one (including Americans) likes it anyway
Not to disparage the good , infact almost brilliant , effort of presentation , most of his arguments are non-sequitur , and lack substance .
For once , he says "lets come togerher", and "for shared values of liberty and prosperity" : First , never in the history of mankind have all ppl 'come together' , it always has been the group having more manpower and resources , varied kind , which has carried the motion and then wrote history books which is then taught to generations of school/univ students ,which ,for most of 'em, shapes their attitude and behavious patterns. So it then falls to what particular set of beliefs and attitudes THAT group upholds , which rests almost solely in their religion . So a group hell-bent on killing apostates for example will always be opposed by native cultures and poplulations of the country to which that group plans to migrate to , which then can not be called as 'xenophobic' or 'jingoism' , but which is invariably called as one may be bcos people wnat to show how 'educated' and 'accomplished' they are.
Second , on 'liberty and prosperity' , again those beliefs rests on centuries of hisrtory of that country, which is to say is shaped by religion . For eg, Hindus migrating to US or UK invariably carry their caste with them to that culture where it is unknown in first place , and if given chance , most of 'em wud also go for child labour, so for most part their chant for 'liberty etc' is just a charade for the reasons mentioned above.
Now coming to the speaker i think Most of it was memorised ( wuich is not an easy thing to do nevertheless) and i wonder how well he could argue face-to-face or one-on-one .
But in any case for his presentation and coherence he deserves 95+ on 100 .
NISHANT JAKHAD got your point. nice
3:36 here's when debate starts
A English speaking, English habits and an English dressed is what the British wanted out of a Indian brown guy, They are getting many. What the white man did not realize, once a brown guy acts like it, white guys will be redundant. Incredible speaking skills tongue and brain are in prefect sync.
Smitten 🥰
No word ...!!
Peter Tatchell campaigned for years to lower the age of Consent to 6 years old . You can find a photo on the net with him holding a placard saying , NOT ALL SEX WITH CHILDREN IS UNWELCOME !!
Gautam buddha " a blind loves for our one , creat hates for other "
Patriotism will be of an Individual to a Tribe whose Values they uphold more than any other, that you need to consider when its all down to the wire and the ship is going down in flame, who are you going to stand with to fight till the end. Whose values that meets yours will you fight for survival. Its not related to where you were born, because largely today you are the giver, the producer, the creator for wherever you were. If you were born in one nation, you were created not off that nation but of your older generation. That generation took its strength maybe when that country didnt exist? Thus they created the nation that you were a citizen of. You later grew up while you parents gave you a life and taxes were paid to that country. Therefore its strictly a business agreement. You dont pay your tax, that country will jail you. Which clarifies the nature of relationship. Your nation of birth may not be the one your values match, or they may be.
Earlier patriotism was about the tribe, that became kingdoms. It had one ethnicity. Today nations are becoming multi ethnic, then rightly how does Patriotism, a child of one ethnicity survive? Earlier we did that for our ethnic groups survival. Today we are frankly more mixed up. There is no point of being patriotic to a government, which is selected to do a job for taxes it takes with force. Frankly if we found another way, we'd end government.
This leaves one answer to me, Patriotism is about upholding core values we want to protect today, that assures our way of life. This is no longer in ethnic oneness. Say, I live in India, born here, and what must I safeguard and hold a weapon to go fight for tomorrow, in a World War scenario? Patriotism is who're you gonna pick up that weapon for? It may come down to losing your country and people, or losing humanity's best values what gives humans the value of greatness in your eye - if they are different. What if your mum and dad are from two different nations? Which side of family will you shoot? Maybe Patriotism is indeed Dead.
I really like this comment! It sheds light onto these behaviors.
You nailed it dear...Kudos to you
Lot of labels, good for debates and discussions, not very helpful for progress. Identity was briefly mentioned, and misplaced Identity being the root cause was never brought up. What is your true Identity? With your parents? With your birth place? With your nation? With your religion? You breath the same air (the right word is share) that everybody else breathes. Try breathing your nation's air only. If something as fundamental to your sustenance as air cannot be bound, why do you want to bind yourself to anything?
Your nation is people and the environment. If your country has good values, you can love and be proud of your country easily. Or else it will make it difficult. Not that you won't try and improve the situation. Patriotism is undying love for one's country for what it has given you. If your child follows a bad path, you would try and correct them. You don't give up. Beyond Patriotism is the love for this planet Earth. Looks like everybody takes for granted most things that are gifted by nature.
Lol what a tool. Even though he is a good speaker. Still not convinced.
Why don't you address his argument and explain why it isn't adequate?
Mattheaus The Apostate No need. Look on the youtube sidebar. Like 3 people already did it for me.
Drigger95 No, that's a copout. I want you to explain why he is a "tool, " and why his argument was lacking.
If you can not do this, any criticisms you have are void.
Don't waste my time. His examples are all one sided and he clearly has no grasp of the topic of the debate. I'm not going to sit here and write paragraphs for you on youtube. If you want my arguments, watch Matthew Handley.
Drigger95 Than provide some less "one sided" examples of your own, or don't bother criticizing.
Don't lean on others to make your own argument. Make it yourself.
Aaaaand I’ll call bs on their definition of nationalism. What nationalism is is just an idea that every persin living in that particular country has a responsibility to uphold and advance the quality of livibg in that country and that no one is entitled to enjoy that unless they contribute to it. That’s it.
Nailed it
The patriotic side seems to be too much focused on describing what patriotism is Not, such as its not nationalism , but fail to describe what exactly it is and why its necassary, The non patriotic sides have really good points to consider.
Patriotism is the last resort of a scoundrel.
I am proud of my country, good and bad. If you are embarrassed to be patriotic get off Twitter and Facebook and get into the real world.
Great presentation.
his confidence feels kinda shady to me. he has something in his voice that feels very afraid and aggressive. his argument was good, but i think he's be able to convince human right activists more if he presented it in a more peaceful way