Patriotism- Does the U.S. still have It?

[Good Sir Knight]

Amen.

 

Dissent is the highest form of patriotism.

 

Unless it's dissenting just to dissent... which I see alot of.

 

I think America is pretty divided in many ways. Unlike the melting pot, it seems alot of people are tied to their political party/ideology, race or religion.

 

I also think, to some extent, that it's pretty 'hip' to stand against America. At least in my academic atmosphere, people seem to hold other cultures above their own.

 

They take a trip to South America and come back all preachy, they slam the rich in this country yet their parents paid for their trip.

 

You also have the right wingers, steadfast in their defense of a crooked leader and a war that we should not have gotten into.

 

So yeah... no one can come to a consensus and alot of people hate the opposite political party more they do Al-Qaeda....which is pretty sad.

 

Sorry...you guys do get alot of my classroom baggage.

[toms]

Patriotism is mainly national pride - which when you think about it is a very strange concept. Why shoul I be proud because I happened to be born in the same country as someone who did something impressive, or invented something clever? Lest we forget pride is a sin, and god wasn't an idiot when he thought of that list... and it seems to me that being proud for something thet you didn't even do is worse than being proud of your own achievements.

 

Lots of people from my country have doe great, and terrible things... but i have no pride in their achievements as i played no part in them.. as i have no guilt over their failings. Maybe those that run things, or those that fight for our country, they have a right to be proud of what they have changed/tried... but not me and not some guy in a trailer who drinks beer and watches TV and is the first guy to shout about national pride.

 

I am certainly thankful that i live in a free and well off country, but i'm not pround of it as it was nothing to do with me. I'm certainly greatful to those that died in the past defending that way of life i enjoy - but i'm not sure "pride" is the right word.

 

When i think of national pride I think of my local paper. Some comedy show on national tv made a joke about the town i'm currently living in and so they decieded to start a "Swindon and Proud" campaign.. with free posters and badges to put in windows. People wrote in and said how proud they were. Local "celebrities" popped up for photoshoots saying how proud they were to have been born in swindon (as if they had a choice!).

 

Thing is, its a pretty crappy town and has nothing to really be proud of.

 

A few people wrote into the paper to point this out... the response was mainly "well, if you don't like it then why don't you leave??!"

 

This seems to me to be a very dumb but typical response. If someone doesn't show the expected patriotism then they should just get out. In my opinion it should be "if you don't like it then why don't you IMPROVE IT?"

 

But i think that when people pointed out the flaws that was what they were trying to do - improve things... its certainly better than simply putting your head in the sand and prettending everything is great out of some misplaced need to feel pride or patriotism.

[sockerbit89]

I've been lurking here for some time and just thought I give my view on this.

 

I live in Sweden and have personally never felt any sort of patriotism for my country. If our gouverment would do a George B. and parade our soldiers infront of the swedish flag and declare a holy war on "terrorism", I promise there would be riots and probably impeacement. Nationallity and patriotism in sweden isn't even half of what it is in the US and to be honest, so what? Why be proud of something built by blood and suffering of the people only to give the "leader'(s) more power?

 

Nationallity is in my opinion only a tool to gain power. A society of democracy without unjustices does not create borders or know a thing of patriotism. Think about it, who is the only one to gain in patriotism?

 

Yeah that's right, not the people but the guy in charge.

 

Hehe i'm such a dirty commie.