Pride for one's country

I don't really get it. I could understand wanting others to understand and experience a culture you have grown to love, but stuff like buying only American cars to support US economy I really don't understand (this is just an example, let's not get into Japanese vs American cars).

Why would you want your country to be better than other countries? Do you only like your own country?

I do love my country. . . . .I don't know about buying Fords and Chevys to support it (a very odd form of patriotism), but I do have some pride in my country.

i don't get nationalism. Having an interest in history and culture is one thing, but feeling genuine pride for something as random as your place of birth i don't understand. It's not an accomplishment, it doesn't make you special (maybe lucky) and chances are you did not do f'all to make it what it is.

I dont care much about nationality at times, but I am glad that I live in a great country anyway.

People who don't "get" patriotism disgust me. Go to some deserted island with all the other anarchists and have your chaos. :xDark__Link

That'd be a sweet place to spend a weekend at.

Why wouldn't you be proud of your country as a whole? Makes no sense to me. You the citizen makes up the country. So if you have no pride in that you have no pride in yourself.

People who don't "get" patriotism disgust me. Go to some deserted island with all the other anarchists and have your chaos. :xDark__Link

Scuze? that sentence made exactly ZERO sence. The last time we had a peak in patriotism, world war 2 broke out.. That's som awesome stability for ya'..

[QUOTE="Dark__Link"]People who don't "get" patriotism disgust me. Go to some deserted island with all the other anarchists and have your chaos. :xshivaskunk9mm

Scuze? that sentence made exactly ZERO sence. The last time we had a peak in patriotism, world war 2 broke out.. That's som awesome stability for ya'..

Except not in that order.

[QUOTE="Dark__Link"]People who don't "get" patriotism disgust me. Go to some deserted island with all the other anarchists and have your chaos. :xshivaskunk9mm

Scuze? that sentence made exactly ZERO sence. The last time we had a peak in patriotism, world war 2 broke out.. That's som awesome stability for ya'..

HAH, lol. Patriotism is a little bit different than facsism buddy.

I think America is a good place to live and it has a lot of good people, btu I also feel that some of its more common values are really messed up.quiglythegreat

Yes of course there are varying opinions on the country. Some believe we've gone the wrong way, others feel we havent strayed too far. As long as we allow both beliefs, i dont think there's any problem. Let those who are patriotic be patriotic if it brings some sense of joy to their lives, and let those who are cynical, be cynical. Live and let live is the best solution to the growing polar seperation between americans today.

[QUOTE="quiglythegreat"]I think America is a good place to live and it has a lot of good people, btu I also feel that some of its more common values are really messed up.Tolwan

Yes of course there are varying opinions on the country. Some believe we've gone the wrong way, others feel we havent strayed too far. As long as we allow both beliefs, i dont think there's any problem. Let those who are patriotic be patriotic if it brings some sense of joy to their lives, and let those who are cynical, be cynical. Live and let live is the best solution to the growing polar seperation between americans today.

Nationalism is trivial. It does nothing but suppress free thought.bman784

And what if free thought yields nationalism?

:|

Nationalism is trivial. It does nothing but suppress free thought.bman784

And what doesn't supress free thought?

Nationalism is trivial. It does nothing but suppress free thought.bman784

Oh right! I totally forgot that hanging a flag outside on my porch was supressing others freedom of thought! Gotta remember that...

People who don't "get" patriotism disgust me. Go to some deserted island with all the other anarchists and have your chaos. :xDark__Link

Patriotism is the American term for nationalism. And nationalism is pretty much a cancer of society. Nothing good ever comes from it. A little bit is alright since it's probably in a society's best interests if its citizens do have at least a slight aversion toward losing their culture, but in moderate doses it starts to become troublesome, and in large doses you usually end up with full out war sooner or later. WWI, WWII and the holocaust, the Bosnian civil war, pretty much every war in Europe in the last 500 years or so, the Spanish American war, the Mexican-American War, the Cold War and all of its associated conflicts (Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, etc), the second Gulf War...all the result of nationalism. You also tend to end up with other ills such as genocide, the electing of demagogues into office, totalitarian governments, McCarthyism, and more.

See, people, as a group, can't handle the in-group mentality (that is to say "we're better than everyone else"). They get intoxicated off of it, lose rational thought (if they ever had it), and do really stupid **** in the name of their nation. Its good politicians who have an agenda and bad for everyone else.

[QUOTE="Dark__Link"]People who don't "get" patriotism disgust me. Go to some deserted island with all the other anarchists and have your chaos. :xgameguy6700

Patriotism is the American term for nationalism. And nationalism is pretty much a cancer of society. Nothing good ever comes from it. A little bit is alright since it's probably in a society's best interests if its citizens do have at least a slight aversion toward losing their culture, but in moderate doses it starts to become troublesome, and in large doses you usually end up with full out war sooner or later. WWI, WWII and the holocaust, the Bosnian civil war, pretty much every war in Europe in the last 500 years or so, the Spanish American war, the Mexican-American War, the Cold War and all of its associated conflicts (Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, etc), the second Gulf War...all the result of nationalism. You also tend to end up with other ills such as genocide, the electing of demagogues into office, totalitarian governments, McCarthyism, and more.

See, people, as a group, can't handle the in-group mentality (that is to say "we're better than everyone else"). They get intoxicated off of it, lose rational thought (if they ever had it), and do really stupid **** in the name of their nation. Its good politicians who have an agenda and bad for everyone else.

Nationalism combined with groupthink is dangerous, I'll give you that. On an individual (and rational) level, though, it doesn't hurt.

[QUOTE="Dark__Link"]People who don't "get" patriotism disgust me. Go to some deserted island with all the other anarchists and have your chaos. :xgameguy6700

Patriotism is the American term for nationalism. And nationalism is pretty much a cancer of society. Nothing good ever comes from it. A little bit is alright since it's probably in a society's best interests if its citizens do have at least a slight aversion toward losing their culture, but in moderate doses it starts to become troublesome, and in large doses you usually end up with full out war sooner or later. WWI, WWII and the holocaust, the Bosnian civil war, pretty much every war in Europe in the last 500 years or so, the Spanish American war, the Mexican-American War, the Cold War and all of its associated conflicts (Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, etc), the second Gulf War...all the result of nationalism. You also tend to end up with other ills such as genocide, the electing of demagogues into office, totalitarian governments, McCarthyism, and more.

See, people, as a group, can't handle the in-group mentality (that is to say "we're better than everyone else"). They get intoxicated off of it, lose rational thought (if they ever had it), and do really stupid **** in the name of their nation. Its good politicians who have an agenda and bad for everyone else.

Every country has patriotism/nationalism. It's humand nature to have pride in what you own and care for.

[QUOTE="bman784"]Nationalism is trivial. It does nothing but suppress free thought.Tolwan

Oh right! I totally forgot that hanging a flag outside on my porch was supressing others freedom of thought! Gotta remember that...

[QUOTE="gameguy6700"]

[QUOTE="Dark__Link"]People who don't "get" patriotism disgust me. Go to some deserted island with all the other anarchists and have your chaos. :xDark__Link

Patriotism is the American term for nationalism. And nationalism is pretty much a cancer of society. Nothing good ever comes from it. A little bit is alright since it's probably in a society's best interests if its citizens do have at least a slight aversion toward losing their culture, but in moderate doses it starts to become troublesome, and in large doses you usually end up with full out war sooner or later. WWI, WWII and the holocaust, the Bosnian civil war, pretty much every war in Europe in the last 500 years or so, the Spanish American war, the Mexican-American War, the Cold War and all of its associated conflicts (Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, etc), the second Gulf War...all the result of nationalism. You also tend to end up with other ills such as genocide, the electing of demagogues into office, totalitarian governments, McCarthyism, and more.

See, people, as a group, can't handle the in-group mentality (that is to say "we're better than everyone else"). They get intoxicated off of it, lose rational thought (if they ever had it), and do really stupid **** in the name of their nation. Its good politicians who have an agenda and bad for everyone else.

Nationalism combined with groupthink is dangerous, I'll give you that. On an individual (and rational) level, though, it doesn't hurt.

Yeah, but the problem is that it's never limited to the individual level. Furthermore, as an emotional construct nationalism/patriotism by nature causes people to not think rationally or at the very least be very susceptible to demagoguery. It's fine to love your country and show support for it, the problem is when people start to base their politics and decisions around their nationalistic feelings which, unfortunately, is very common.

Every country has patriotism/nationalism. It's humand nature to have pride in what you own and care for.chandlerr_360

Just because its natural doesn't mean it's good.

[QUOTE="Tolwan"]

[QUOTE="bman784"]Nationalism is trivial. It does nothing but suppress free thought.bman784

Oh right! I totally forgot that hanging a flag outside on my porch was supressing others freedom of thought! Gotta remember that...

You're making a blanket statement about nationalism. Being proud of your country doesnt mean you wont start berating it if it goes a direction you dont want. Do you really think Republicans would wave that flag proudly if the US Became communist?

[QUOTE="bman784"][QUOTE="Tolwan"]

[QUOTE="bman784"]Nationalism is trivial. It does nothing but suppress free thought.Tolwan

Oh right! I totally forgot that hanging a flag outside on my porch was supressing others freedom of thought! Gotta remember that...

You're making a blanket statement about nationalism. Being proud of your country doesnt mean you wont start berating it if it goes a direction you dont want. Do you really think Republicans would wave that flag proudly if the US Became communist?

[QUOTE="Tolwan"][QUOTE="bman784"][QUOTE="Tolwan"]

[QUOTE="bman784"]Nationalism is trivial. It does nothing but suppress free thought.bman784

Oh right! I totally forgot that hanging a flag outside on my porch was supressing others freedom of thought! Gotta remember that...

You're making a blanket statement about nationalism. Being proud of your country doesnt mean you wont start berating it if it goes a direction you dont want. Do you really think Republicans would wave that flag proudly if the US Became communist?

It doesnt server any real purpose, except maybe helping boast military numbers during times of need or prosperity. Otherwise, it's no different than anything else. What purpose does a McDonals Serve? What Purpose do bumper stickers serve? None, it's just there because we enjoy it. I enjoy displaying pride in a country i like, i enjoy a mcdonalds burger occasionally, and i like wasting money on useless bumperstickers when i see something i like.

having pride for one's country is a good thing as long as the country deserves it....:PRaged-wolverine

Bingo, if iam proud of my country and its doing something i vastly dislike then how is my country going to no that me, and people like me, are disatisfied with there choices.

eh but it doesn't even matter if you show your pride anymore, maybe it hits tv but most likely not, the most important thing right now is what underwear britney spears is or isn't wearing today.

were just puppets in a machine, it will keep clicking because there are enough masses to poke each other along

People who don't "get" patriotism disgust me. Go to some deserted island with all the other anarchists and have your chaos. :xDark__Link

Why would not being patriotic mean anarchy and chaos?

[QUOTE="bman784"]Nationalism is trivial. It does nothing but suppress free thought.Dark__Link

And what if free thought yields nationalism?

:|

HAHAHA the day they thought that was true McCarthey came along.

Nationalism does not yield free thought. Do NOT think nationalism and patriotism is the same. Nationalists start wars. Patriots don't want wars because they know what they do to their country.

I'm more of an international person. These days the borders of nations are much less important than they used to be. Its just not the same world anymore. In this era, nationalism can be dangerous, major issues like Global Warming and the war on terror are hindered because certain nations hold desperately onto the imagined idea that they are still the global superpower.