How patriotic are you, and why?

[GingerJoy 43]

I'd say I'm a patriot, but just because I like my country doesn't mean I should turn a blind eye to it's wrongdoings. Just like a parent who loves their child but will take action if they do something wrong.

 

Although it may have it's flaws and downsides, every government does. And I can think of quite a few places that are worse off than others. I just try to appreciate what England has to offer.

[Mr F 1,520]

I live in one of the worlds happiest countries, so not at all. This country is rich but just temprary the economy will fall like a brick  when the oil is gone. We are too positive and we are known for having traitors to the country.(ABB and Quishling) We have good but we are to optimistic and messy. 

I hope that will change though.

[Silver Letter 1,830]

I don’t believe in the concept of patriotism. Countries are just artificial things anyway. One should be loyal to their set of principles, not arbitrary lines on a map that changes over time or a colored piece of cloth. Nations leads to divisions and hostility.

[Princess Periwinkle 3,774]

Nope, not at all really. I don't suppose I'll ever move out of America, and I guess I'm glad I live here rather than in a third world country (I've visited one before, it was an eye opening experience).

 

But... I don't like our leadership here, and more than that there's this apathy I have for our country. I really just don't care at all.

Edited August 16, 2013 by Sky Chaser

[Kyoshi Frost Wolf 40,243]

No. I cannot bring myself to be patriotic about America. It is just too divided and corrupt for me to be proud of it. Plus, our culture is non-existent, unless you count horrible reality shows and glorifying boy bands.

 

The constant struggle with politics, religion, and even the health care system just leaves a bad taste that I cannot get rid of. The country, as a whole, just doesn't seem very smart given how powerful it is.

[Celtore 2,769]

(Canadian)

 

I am not a patriot in the sense that I think my country can do no wrong, I know it can do wrong and I'm fairly politically active around election time. I am proud of my cultural identity and the relatively short history of my country though. Sure we might not be the strongest country in the world, but I am quite happy with what we have. Well, besides the first past the post voting system, anyway...

Edited August 16, 2013 by Celtore

[Shanks 10,811]

It depends one mans patriotism is another mans treason in a way, case in point the American Revolution. The founding fathers were according at the time considered traitors to the British crown but are revered as the patriotic founders of a new nation. They did betray the king that is true but they were loyal to a higher purpose and that is liberty, they weren't perfect by any means but it was a major step in the right direction. Today people like myself who see this liberty going down the drain and speak out against encroachments against our rights are regarded as unpatriotic or even treasonous but who am I betraying? I am speaking out against the American government that is true, but I am doing so because my own government has been disloyal to the principles it was founded on and so in that sense I believe I am a patriot. 

[N.W. 3,619]

I am patriotic, but not about my own country, it should be obvious which on I am patriotic about, however I am more supportive of my ideas and beliefs( Not religious ones) than I am of a particular nation. 

[James 302]

I suppose another reason I don't like patriotism is that it's divisive. People are far too obsessed with identifying as a particular nationality, and identifying others as a particular nationality. No-one seems to realise that the only borders this planet has are the ones we make.

 

If humanity ever matures enough to become unified the world will be a better place for it.

[AS41 100]

I suppose another reason I don't like patriotism is that it's divisive. People are far too obsessed with identifying as a particular nationality, and identifying others as a particular nationality. No-one seems to realise that the only borders this planet has are the ones we make.

 

If humanity ever matures enough to become unified the world will be a better place for it.

 

And can you imagine what would happen if we didn't have boarders?  You wouldn't be able to move out of what you feel is a bad situation.  You don't like America?  You can go to Canada, you don't like Canada?  You can go to England, you don't like government England has?  You can go to Africa if you really wanted!

 

Boarders give us the freedom of choice.  We can choose what type of government we want to live under.  Some of us like capitalism, some of us are comfortable with socialism, some people would prefer anarchy and to live God knows where, etc.

 

Not referring to you here James:

Like I said, I don't understand why some of you are complaining, you can move.

Edited August 16, 2013 by AS41

[James 302]

And can you imagine what would happen if we didn't have boarders?  You wouldn't be able to move out of what you feel is a bad situation.  You don't like America?  You can go to Canada, you don't like Canada?  You can go to England, you don't like government England has?  You can go to Africa if you really wanted!

 

Boarders give us the freedom of choice.  We can choose what type of government we want to live under.  Some of us like capitalism, some of us are comfortable with socialism, some people would prefer anarchy and to live God knows where, etc.

 

Not referring to you here James:

Like I said, I don't understand why some of you are complaining, you can move.

 

Do you know how hard it is to move to another country? Some people don't have money, some people aren't given any chances or privileges, and most countries aren't exactly accepting of new people are they? You make it sound like anyone can just jump on a plane an be living in a new country the next day, it doesn't work like that.

 

Borders, and separating people are what make enemies, how long do we have to separate ourselves from our fellow humans based on nationality? Are we not all Homo Sapiens?  A world without borders, and a unified humanity is the future I hope for, the internet shows us that it can be possible.

[Scootalove 10,684]

I'm not really that patriotic in America, since I don't show any patriotism in America at all. I know some governments don't work but, I wouldn't focus too much on that.

[RiseofSpectrum 359]

Hellz yeah, I am. I like Portugal, with the nice weather and beaches and what not.

Our country is on a huge crisis and nobody cares. Everyone is chilled (except the commies, but they're always a yelling minority).

 

Well, I do not define patriotism as considering my country superior to others, but instead, devotion on the culture and language you grew up with. And, yeah, I love being portuguese, and I love Portugal, even if the country's falling apart.

[AS41 100]

Do you know how hard it is to move to another country? Some people don't have money, some people aren't given any chances or privileges, and most countries aren't exactly accepting of new people are they? You make it sound like anyone can just jump on a plane an be living in a new country the next day, it doesn't work like that.

 

Borders, and separating people are what make enemies, how long do we have to separate ourselves from our fellow humans based on nationality? Are we not all Homo Sapiens?  A world without borders, and a unified humanity is the future I hope for, the internet shows us that it can be possible.

 

You do realize you're talking to a guy who had nothing to start with and moved 8000 miles away to one of the hardest countries to move to in the world, right?  I don't want to hear about how difficult it is.  Some people need to stop wasting time, bitching about how much their country sucks and how bad life is and do something about it.

 

Borders create wars?  How the hell do you figure that?  Wars aren't created because of governmental laws which should be obvious considering that in some parts of the world, homosexuality carries a death sentence, yet we're not fighting them.  What causes wars are extremest with weapons that want to make a point.  Also, even if we were all one government, do you really think we could survive economically without being broken up by borders?  Peoples ideals would clash so badly it would do nothing but end up with a ton of civil wars as they resisted the government change.  I can't even begin to imagine what a mess it would be.

 

Whatever though, I'm not into arguing this.  Like I said, move if you're not happy and don't tell me how difficult it is because I've done it.

 

Edit:

 

You know what, I'm done looking at this thread.

Edited August 16, 2013 by AS41

[James 302]

Borders create wars?  How the hell do you figure that?  Wars aren't created because of governmental laws which should be obvious considering that in some parts of the world, homosexuality carries a death sentence, yet we're not fighting them.  What causes wars are extremest with weapons that want to make a point.  Also, even if we were all one government, do you really think we could survive economically without being broken up by borders?  Peoples ideals would clash so badly it would do nothing but end up with a ton of civil wars as they resisted the government change.  I can't even begin to imagine what a mess it would be.

 

I didn't say wars, I said enemies, as in people you view as in opposition to you. I'm not talking about unifying humanity under one government or ideology, you completely misunderstood what I said, I'm not talking about destroying countries or cultural identities either. I'm talking about making everyone realise that the borders between countries don't mean anything, that we are all on the same tiny speck of dust floating through space, that we are defined by the fact that we are human, not by our nationality.

 

Look at this picture;

 

 

All of humanity exists here, you can't even see where one country ends and another begins, the borders that we've made to separate ourselves from each other seem pretty meaningless when you look at the entire planet.

Edited August 16, 2013 by James

[RiseofSpectrum 359]

People, people... War is a natural state for the human kind, the last time there weren't any wars on this planet was over 4000 years ago. Borders do exist, and in some cases, people are not happy with the borders they have. Hence, a country may have territorial claims on another. In a meaningless example, Portugal has territorial claims on Spain over Olivença (a small village near the border), and no one cares. In an actual meaningful example, both Koreas have claim on each other, or better yet, China does not recognize Taiwan, and Taiwan (who is STILL called Republic of China) does not recognize China. However, what truly causes war are resources. Every single war has been fought over resources and/or diplomatic positions.

[Tails_155 68]

I think that depends on what is definitively patriotic. Protesting to better a country you love, or criticizing its faults so it can improve can be entirely patriotic. I LOVE my country, I just hate a lot of the things that it's done.

[HunterScars 505]

i am a very patriotic person i love my country and wish only to see it prosper 

( for those of you who don't know me im AUSTRALIAN ) 

[Kaska 30]

Well living in south Africa I like Russia a lot more... Soo the patriotism thing might be out. Damn I has gotten so bad that I'm starting to learn Russian!!!

So Здравствуйте! Сомяаds!! (Russian for hello)

[MaestroNep9997 26]

Well, I'm quite patriotic actually, even though I know that there're both good and bad things happening in my country.

 

Anyway, I shan't be revealing my nationality here, due to personal reasons... 

[akalink 163]

Even though my [u.S.A] government is corrupt I am patriotic toward the judicial system. It is something that can be taken for granted, but a system that declares you are innocent until proven guilty is a good system. Sadly it isn't perfect.

[Iron Shield 88]

I am patriotic.

 

I don't think my country is superior, and I'm not for politics so I'm too worried about the government at the moment.

 

I'm patriotic because I have a great love for my homeland, so much that I wanted to join the military since I was 12 so that I may serve my country.

 

I love the country side/farm land, I love Lake Simcoe ever since I've lived by it's beauty since I was 5 and have seen at both sun rise and sun set. I love my country's natural treasures. I have a family military heritage and I attempted to walk the military path, but I didn't succeed over math. I was planning to move south to America to join the U.S military instead, but later I changed my mind as my love for my homeland is greater than my love for the dream of being a soldier (lifetime career).

 

I wouldn't mind going on adventures across the world.

[Commissar Alexer 763]

I'm very patriotic, probably even nationalistic. I love my country and i would even kill and die for it.

 

Rot-Weiß-Rot bis in den Tot.

[James 302]

I'm very patriotic, probably even nationalistic. I love my country and i would even kill and die for it.

 

Rot-Weiß-Rot bis in den Tot.

 

Well, isn't that lovely. That's pretty much how I decide if I think something is morally objectionable, if there's someone willing to kill another human being for something, then you know it's a very dangerous belief, especially if many people hold that belief. You would kill for something as ridiculous, and ultimately meaningless as a flag?

 

Sometimes aspects of humanity just prove themselves to be utterly deplorable, nationalism does this more than anything else.

[Commissar Alexer 763]

Well, isn't that lovely. That's pretty much how I decide if I think something is morally objectionable, if there's someone willing to kill another human being for something, then you know it's a very dangerous belief, especially if many people hold that belief. You would kill for something as ridiculous, and ultimately meaningless as a flag?

 

Sometimes aspects of humanity just prove themselves to be utterly deplorable, nationalism does this more than anything else.

Well, i'm at least honest. Many talk they would die for their country but almost nobody talks about killing for it.

 

From dying alone you can't win a war.