The post about Independence Day inspired me to ask this... how patriotistic are people where you're from or where you live? When I visited the US I saw many flags hanging out of widows,or balconies or fixed on buildings. In Germany you won't see that many flags.The patriotism level here is a lil lower.I'm sure our history plays a little role in that but slowly it's getting better.
Canadians are fairly patriotic but we aren't incredibly obvious about it (flags hanging off of the house, etc). But we do sew those little flags onto our backpacks when we head overseas as we want people to know we are Canadian and not something else. I am only slightly patriotic - which means I vote, & I am involved in my community (or at least was when home) but I'm not proud of Canada's colonialist roots (the same as the USA), and am not proud of many things the government has done and continues to do to its citizens. So to run around with a Canadian flag tattooed on my body would never happen because I have a relatively realistic view of the country in which I was born. I love the land, the topography, the nature and wilds but the government and history in some cases leaves something to be desired. EDIT** I forgot to add there is an elitist attitude in Canada regarding the USA. Many Canadians that I know think that Canada, the government and the society is better than the US for a variety of reasons such as a stronger social safety net in Canada, less likely to start/be involved in wars, and less violence/death by guns kind of thing and less likely to rape and pillage the land for oil (re: Alaska). Needless to say I think generally people are the same everywhere with similar strengths, deficiencies and foibles, I just might see it expressed differently outside of Canada. Many folks in Canada are really proud of how "nice" we all are, lol. I don't buy into the Canada is better than the US because we behave very similarly up there!
where i live it is somewhat patriotic as it was one of the first nations capitals and where the declaration of independence was made and signed, where the liberty bell is and the independence hall, but people are more liberal today and not so patriotic here where i am from, the US south, Texas, south carolina, ultra patriotic!!
You know at the moment, patriotism is viewed negatively in England. If you have a flag in your car or in your house, people automatically assume that you're a BNP follower and a racist working class thug. I think it's because political correctness has gone to far in England over the last few years. I mean recently, they've even tried to ban Christmas decorations because apparently they offend Muslims (as far as I'm aware, the 'offended Muslims' don't actually give one). One guy who served in the army for ten years wasn't allowed to join the police force because he had a Union Jack tattoo and apparently the Union Jack intimidates foreigners. Patriotism is almost seen as being wrong here. There's quite a big seperation between those who are patriotic and those who aren't. Plenty of people mouth off about how this and that is wrong with England but the problems they raise generally occur in other Western countries as well. There are still a lot of patriotic and proud people though (excluding those who actually are BNP following working class thugs) but they're more modest about their patriotism than some other countries because they can actually admit when the government fucks up and the policies don't work. I think a lot of Brits are critical of their country but still think that we're better than everyone else, haha. As for Russia... I don't know, I haven't lived there in a while. DI would probably do a better job of telling you guys! As far as I know, in Russia, there are those who are VERY patriotic and those who admire everything Western, but I could be wrong.
I have two nationalties, and when a guy from the Polish consulate asked me why I have the German passport and if I am not proud of being Polish I asked him back, what there is about being proud of being Polish? I raised between two cultures and I cannot feel proud of anyone of those because of many good and bad reasons. There is no reason being proud of being born in a special situation! It is luck. And luck is not a reason to be proud! All what u have done in ur life and what u have reached in ur life and that means things that u are responsible for, that is a reason to be proud. Not that u are born somewhere. But u can love the place where u live and love the people around u!!!
Russians are pretty patriotic. there is the president's portrait in a lot of offices. and you can also see the national flags in the people's cars or the ribbons with the Russian tricolour. but the weird thing is the fact that people blame the government all the time as well as keep saying how much they love Russia. i mean, most of the people think there is no way they can ever have a good life in Russia, but they still stay patriotic though. don't know why..lol
done! wow i'm so surprised that the patriotism is viewed as a negative thing in England. hmm... that's so weird. so let me as you Russia, are you patriotic yourself? and do you personally see it as a wrong thing or not?
When it comes to England, I am fairly patriotic, yeah. It's that kind of 'well our country sucks but we're better than America!' patriotism I'm kidding guys, don't get all huffy I'm just not blind when it comes to patriotism. I can see Englands' flaws, and there are A LOT of flaws, yet I can see the positives. And surprisingly, there are a lot of positives, too. I'm quite patriotic about Russia as well. Maybe this will change when I actually live there but I do feel a very strong national pride even though I've pretty much grown up in the UK.
who are you comparing that to? patriotism in the US isnt blind either, if you were to see the news media in the US, you would discover that it is very critical of policies of our government(well they are not on this administration because they are in bed with this administration and wont criticize obama like they did Bush or Clinton) thats because most journalists here are anti patriotic and leftists and racists who are afraid to criticize a black man for fear of being called a racist so yes we have critical patriotism in the US for sure, it is very prevalent.
Part of being patriotic in Australia is to ridicule the government. But, the government isn't the country. I think most Australians are patriotic, but not in an overt way. It is unpatriotic to appear patriotic. I also see the media as packaging it a lot lately, such that, patriotism is seen as being a certain way by a lot of people. As though you have to be a certain way to be patriotic. It's quite disturbing actually, but as I've stated before, in other threads, I do believe we are a nation of increasing stupidity.
Being married to a Canadian gal for 18 years, I would have to agree with the majority of what you say here, especially the overseas part, wanting to make sure others know that you are Canadian not American, lol. We fly the Canadian flag along with the U.S. flag at our house here in Az.
Ultra Patriotic here, and as Jefferson said, "A patriot is someone who is willing to defends his/her country against its Government". so that can be from any side of the spectrum, just love my country , the flag, the constitution, our ideals and the traditional values that carried us through the hard times
I disagree with the policies of my government all the time, but that doesn't mean that dislike America. The government is not America. I love living in this country. I enjoy the freedoms we have here. But I will never hesitate to speak out against government policies that I dislike, no matter who's in office. I disagreed with Bush on many things, and I disagree with Obama on many things. I do not hate America, neither do I hate being black. I am a true patriot
I totally agree on that. I dislike Germany's role in WW1 and WW2.Much of what the politicians currently do I consider rubbish.However Germany is still a great and beautiful country to me.
I liked Independance Day as well, though I think the aliens should have kept their firewall updated... Most British are not particularly patriotic any more, outside from supporting England in sports. Personally I can understand loving a country, whether your own or another, but being PROUD of a country doesn't make sense to me. For example, I'm happy that Britain is a much better country than it was in the 60's/70's, but I am not responsible for having made it so. It isn't MY achievement, therefore I can take no credit. I have had discussions with Germans regarding their past, some have referred quietly to a 'Terrible sickness' in the German spirit that, if left unguarded, would still rise up again even now, and as such it has been meticulously suppressed since WW2.
Russialove,because the Union Jack is considered racist,is that the reason most fly the flag of England,Scotland,Wales etc? The reason back in the day to make the Union Jack is to represent England,Scotland,and others. In my country the Confederate Flag is considered racist,along with the Nazi flag. In South Africa the flag before 1994,along with The Transvaal and Orange Free State flags are racist.
Ultra patriotic and everyone in my neighborhood flies the flag 365 days a year and very active in politics and community
