whatsinitforme
New Member
I'm scared of nationalists and patriots - they are too zealous about their country. I think it can lead to dangerous situations.
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Unwardil said:Patriotism is a very noble expression of one of humanities most vicious and malignant instincts. The instinct to separate the world into us and them, that instinct that keeps our species tied to our animal past and firmly entrenched in our own mediocrity.
)O( Hytegia )O( said:I've always used Patriotism in terms of fighting for the values and freedoms that a country has, whereas Nationalism is simply cutting yourself a division from the rest of the planet.
I consider myself a patriot - yet I actively and openly criticize my own country. Why? Because my country allows me to. Especially after I realized what was actually going on.
Nationalists would consider it un-American for me to do so because this is AMERICA and you can take that griping SOMEWHERE ELSE ya COMMUNIST HIPPIE.
"... I'm a member of the Military. I fought in Afghanistan. What have you done, again?"
"I watch FOX NEWS and MARCHED AGAINST THE SOCIALIST OBAMACARE."
"... So, you can criticize America, but when I criticize America, I'm an un-American Communist Hippie?"
The difference is that Nationalism changes hands betwix whatever party is in office and who's supporting them. Patriotism is a little more deep, and people on both sides can be patriots without being Nationalists, necessarilly.
Anachronous Rex said:You are mistaken in what it means to be a patriot, sir. I am a patriot of the United States, not because I was born here, but because I adhere to the ideals of the American Revolution. There are other revolutions with which I find a community of interest, but this revolution is my revolution. It is, to my mind, the best revolution, and the one which best deserves my defense.CosmicJoghurt said:I find nationalism and patriotism to be quite ridiculous. Just because you happened to be born in the US and not in Saudi Arabia, doesn't mean it's somehow better than other countries. Sure, you may want to defend it if your life and well-being depend on it, but being proud of being American is, for me, utterly ridiculous. You've done nothing to be born in the US, and being born in the US isn't something to brag about.
It's like saying... 'Yea, I'm praawd of having brown hair. Brown haired people are the bloody best race!"
And this is not a regional distinction; I should like to think that I could think so were I born anywhere, though I know it is likely that I might not.
Now if I were a Romanian, I probably would think that Patriotism is ridiculous. As, near as I can tell, Patriotism in most of Eastern Europe seems to be based on Ethnic lines and adherence to the local Orthodox Church. But Patriotism doesn't have to be like that.
Well adherence to a set of ideals is what it means to be a patriot of the United States. It wouldn't be my first choice of words either, but that is what people living here take it to mean. If you don't agree with their definition that's fine, just realize that we are no longer talking about the same thing when we say "patriotism."CosmicJoghurt said:I fail to see how that's patriotism. Seems like just adherence to a set of ideals.
Imagine the same ideals being adhered to and applied in a revolution in Libya. Would you be a Libyan patriot? No, you'd be someone who happens to believe in the revolution's set of ideals.
I'm pretty sure what you feel is nationalism, not patriotism. Excuse me if not. Don't bomb Europe.
Kidding