What do foreigners think of America's cult like Patriotism?

[mlmooney89]

I really don't get y'all... everyone I know is patriotic but I don't know a single person that would say America is perfect. We all put our hands on our hearts for the Star Spangled Banner but then will still say the health care system is fucked. Just because something has holes doesn't mean it isn't worth saying "Hey I love this" about it.

I really think we need to differentiate between patriotism and blind patriotism.

Also Khemikal I can say I love America for being home because my life is good. I'm not going to say America is a bad home because -some- aspects are no good.

[Angrboda]

It's a false and hollow patriotism that loves home simply for being home, rather than for being a good home.  When we lose sight of the necessity that civic virtue be leveraged for that greater cause, it becomes chauvinism, jingoism.   Sloganeering and merchandising opportunities.  Pretext for war.  The object of a perverted fetish, ultimately self-serving and so...fundamentally unpatriotic.  

The types of people many seem to be thinking of, are not patriots.  They are people who employ the language of patriotism as a disguise for their own hatred of others..not any love of country or countrymen.

/twocents

I dunno. I still root for the Vikings even during years when we legitimately suck. Chauvinism? Jingoism? Wut?

[Fireball]

It's a false and hollow patriotism that loves home simply for being home, rather than for being a good home.  When we lose sight of the necessity that civic virtue be leveraged for that greater cause, it becomes chauvinism, jingoism.   Sloganeering and merchandising opportunities.  Pretext for war.  The object of a perverted fetish, ultimately self-serving and so...fundamentally unpatriotic.  

The types of people many seem to be thinking of, are not patriots.  They are people who employ the language of patriotism as a disguise for their own hatred of others..not any love of country or countrymen.

/twocents

I dunno.  I still root for the Vikings even during years when we legitimately suck.   Chauvinism?  Jingoism?  Wut?

Masochism.

[Anomalocaris]

I really don't get y'all... everyone I know is patriotic but I don't know a single person that would say America is perfect. We all put our hands on our hearts for the Star Spangled Banner but then will still say the health care system is fucked. Just because something has holes doesn't mean it isn't worth saying "Hey I love this" about it.

I really think we need to differentiate between patriotism and blind patriotism.

Also Khemikal I can say I love America for being home because my life is good. I'm not going to say America is a bad home because -some- aspects are no good.

Blind patriotism is the refusal to turn traitor when it is one's own country that is victiming another, and the continuance of support for our own brave trooops rather than those with a more honorable claim to support for defending legitimate interests against our troops.

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It's a false and hollow patriotism that loves home simply for being home, rather than for being a good home.  When we lose sight of the necessity that civic virtue be leveraged for that greater cause, it becomes chauvinism, jingoism.   Sloganeering and merchandising opportunities.  Pretext for war.  The object of a perverted fetish, ultimately self-serving and so...fundamentally unpatriotic.  

The types of people many seem to be thinking of, are not patriots.  They are people who employ the language of patriotism as a disguise for their own hatred of others..not any love of country or countrymen.

/twocents

I dunno.  I still root for the Vikings even during years when we legitimately suck.   Chauvinism?  Jingoism?  Wut?

Pity?