Reflection Paper 1

"We do not have any of that nonsense in England because we have never attempted to have any of that philosophy in England. And, above all, because we have the enormous advantage of feeling it natural to be national, because there is nothing else to be. England in these days is not well governed; England is not well educated; England suffers from wealth and poverty that are not well distributed. But England is English; esto perpetua. England is English as France is French or Ireland Irish; the great mass of men taking certain national traditions for granted. Now this gives us a totally different and a very much easier task. We have not got an inquisition, because we have not got a creed; but it is arguable that we do not need a creed, because we have got a character. In any of the old nations the national unity is preserved by the national type. Because we have a type we do not need to have a test."

This passage means that as an English man or French man living in their native country it is not necessary to have a creed because they are brought up on tradition and character.  Their natural way of living is based upon their culture, society, how they carry themselves, even the kind of food they eat are all things when put together make up a sense of good character.  It is the norm of that particular country and as a society they have nothing else to be because every other individual in that country are living the same culture and tradition. 

I chose this passage because the author compares the old world to the new world.  He says, " In any of the old nations the national unity is preserved by the national type."  By having a tradition or national type carried out by generation to generation it unifies that nation through preservation of the "normal/traditional" character whereas in the new world where there are so many traditions being mixed together some national traditions are taken for granted.  I personally love culture and tradition.  I also don't agree with some other culture's traditions therefore being a part of a society where a creed or belief isn't necessary for their people it shows that as a society their culture is preserved through their people collectively having and sustaining good character.