are you patriotic?

[leo-rcc]

I am not patriotic, but I am proud of what some Dutch people have accomplished in the past (Cornelis Corneliszoon, Antonie van Leeuwenhoek), and ashamed of what some Dutch people have done in the past (VOC, NSB). Hopefully I will be proud of what Dutch people will do in the present and future too, only time will tell.

[Giff]

I am not patriotic, but I am proud of what some Dutch people have accomplished in the past, and ashamed of what some Dutch people have done in the past. Hopefully I will be proud of what Dutch people will do in the present and future too, only time will tell.

What are you ashamed of what your country have done in the past?

I am ashamed what my country did, or rather didn't do during the WWII. Plus their coperation with the nazis.

[leo-rcc]

I am not patriotic, but I am proud of what some Dutch people have accomplished in the past, and ashamed of what some Dutch people have done in the past. Hopefully I will be proud of what Dutch people will do in the present and future too, only time will tell.

What are you ashamed of what your country have done in the past?

I am ashamed what my country did, or rather didn't do during the WWII. Plus their coperation with the nazis.

I edited my message after you quoted it, but the VOC with their active role in slavery is one, and the NSB collaborating with the Nazi's even knowing full well what happened to the Jews that were to be deported is another example. Our behaviour in Java was not exemplary either.

[fr0d0]

I'm anti patriotism for the well made reasons above (not by me)

I think patriotism is ok when talking about what makes your culture unique. I don't like the idea of cultures being absorbed and destroyed. the trick is in striking the balance. (or is that another subject?)

Also.. is there any country that's perfect? Seems like wherever you originate there has to be compromise. Friends have problems with me visiting France. I love the French and much about France. Yeah I don't like some stuff they've done, but I don't think this justifies a boycott.

[athoughtfulman]

I'm not really very Patriotic, but sometimes I wish I were. Australians tend be more patriotic (at least my generation) about things like immigrants refusing to assimilate. It seems we care more about protecting our turf than having pride in being Australian. Then again, our turf is what makes us Australian

[leo-rcc]

Xenophobia != patriotism.

[Eilonnwy]

I'm going to go against everyone and say yes I am patriotic. There is a difference between extreme patriotism and simply loving and supporting where you live. There's nothing wrong with being proud of where you live as long as it's a healthy appreciation and doesn't bully other people who may share a different opinion.

I think people are trivializing the meaning when they say it's just an "accident of birth". Yes, where you are born is completely by chance, however where you grow up greatly influences you as you are and there's nothing wrong with appreciating your influences and culture.

I don't agree with every US policy and there are many things I disapprove of and I think does horribly wrong. hoever there are ideals that this coutnry supports that I support as well. I like where I live and I want to support it help make it better and that INCLUDES voicing my opinion when I disagree with something it's doing, (I.E. I always disapproved of Bush and Iraq, but that doesn't make me unpatriotic)

I certainly agree that blind unwavering patriotism in which people believe their country is #1 and anyone who has a difference of opinion is unpatriotic/treasonous are completely wrong and insulting.

I don't hold that extreme view. I like where I live, I want it to be prosperous, I share many ideals, I am not afraid to exercise free speech when I disapprove of something, I don't think the US is perfect, I recognize there are things other countries do that I wish we could do, I don't get offended if people say bad things about the US, and i have an appreciation for the city I live in because it has made me who I am today.

BTW, I love my Football team, the Patriots. -_^ (No, not Soccer, American Football which is better than soccer any day!)

[bozo]

I'm going to go against everyone and say yes I am patriotic. There is a difference between extreme patriotism and simply loving and supporting where you live. There's nothing wrong with being proud of where you live as long as it's a healthy appreciation and doesn't bully other people who may share a different opinion.

I think people are trivializing the meaning when they say it's just an "accident of birth". Yes, where you are born is completely by chance, however where you grow up greatly influences you as you are and there's nothing wrong with appreciating your influences and culture.

I don't agree with every US policy and there are many things I disapprove of and I think does horribly wrong. hoever there are ideals that this coutnry supports that I support as well. I like where I live and I want to support it help make it better and that INCLUDES voicing my opinion when I disagree with something it's doing, (I.E. I always disapproved of Bush and Iraq, but that doesn't make me unpatriotic)

I certainly agree that blind unwavering patriotism in which people believe their country is #1 and anyone who has a difference of opinion is unpatriotic/treasonous are completely wrong and insulting.

I don't hold that extreme view. I like where I live, I want it to be prosperous, I share many ideals, I am not afraid to exercise free speech when I disapprove of something, I don't think the US is perfect, I recognize there are things other countries do that I wish we could do, I don't get offended if people say bad things about the US, and i have an appreciation for the city I live in because it has made me who I am today.

BTW, I love my Football team, the Patriots. -_^ (No, not Soccer, American Football which is better than soccer any day!)

Are you surprised at being the only patriot to respond thus far?
I just wonder what you make of the rest of us.

[Edwardo Piet]

I don't see how I can be proud to be in a country when everyone else is a country. If my country is anyway better than any other country then what has that got to do with me? What have I got to be proud of? I was just born here. It was an accident.
I don't get proud of accidents no matter how 'great' they are. Especially when they have absolutely nothing to do with me personally.

I'm happy to be in the UK. But that's not patriotism - at least by my definition anyway.

I despise patriotism. I don't see how you can be a 'bit patriotic' either you are proud of your country or you are not. If you are - I think that's stupid, it doesn't make any sense. And the prouder you are and the more serious about it - the stupider it is, in my view.

If you aren't proud of your country but just 'like it' or 'feel grateful' or are "Happy to be here" - then I don't define that as patriotism.

I compare patriotism with my own experience here in the UK with people hating people because they are 'southerners' 'northerners' and vice-versa. It's a sheer accident and people can't help where they are...

I mean country is one thing - and then when you start breaking down small parts of the country so patriotism isn't just about the nation but it's also about the region[/i[] within the nation - I think that's just so stupid and it shows that it's the whole underlying stupid meaningless bullshit idea that an accident that has absolutely nothing to do with what you do - a sheer accident of birth - is something to be proud of - that whole underlying idea - is [i]bullshit.

How can you be proud of your country when you could have just easily been born somewhere else? And if EVERYONE should just be proud of the country they happened to be born then what's the point in that? If everyone is proud of a sheer accident - and guess what; everyone's born SOMEWHERE! - then where's the meaning in that? No where! That's because the whole idea is stupid. How can you be proud of an accident? You don't choose where you are born! So how can you be proud of your country? Happy - yes, Glad - yes. Proud - how exactly? Seems just stupid to me.

I don't get it.

It's like if I genuinely thought "I'm proud to be English. I'm proud that I was born here rather than another country - I mean it was a real achievement for me. I'm telling you - a real achievement. I'm proud that I was born in England too rather than Scotland or Wales. I was born here and I'm proud of that. And because I was born here then that means that England is also clearly better than Wales and Scotland too - because I wasn't born there. I'm proud to be born here. I was born here and not somewhere else and that makes me proud - real proud. I am proud that I was born here because I like it here and I like it here because I was born here. I'm proud of that."

What exactly is there to be proud of? Where does the genuine, deserved, fitting proud go exactly?

It sounds like really stupid thinking to me. Doesn't mean the people are always stupid - people vary. But the idea, the concept - the habit, this patriotism thing itself - I think is really stupid thinking. It just doesn't make any sense.

And once again - if you are not 'proud of your country' and are simply 'happy' or 'grateful' then I'm not defining that as patriotism. I mean that would make me a patriot! I like the UK! But I am certainly no patriot! I am not proud of anything that 'my' country has done or whatever. I wasn't even born for a start!

Besides if I was to actually feel proud for my country (and I think it would be stupid to do so anyway as I have said) then what about all the things NOT to be proud of that went throughout history? Have I got to be all ASHAMED of them? Once again - I had no part!

EvF

[Overmars]

i am not patriotic, my country had some fine scientists, artists and rulers in the past but now there is nothing to be proud about being Romanian, the corrupt scoundrels rule Romania and they f***ed up everything, that's why we are despised by our fellow E.U. citizens who see us as pariah