Is patriotism a good thing?

[Raglan]

I think this is the right place for this, but if not then please move me.

My question is fairly simple, but please take a moment to think about it.

Is Patronism, a good thing for a person to have? If where we are born is an accident (something none of us chooses) why are we so proud of this accident.

I'm also thinking about the extremes of this as well, knowing your own cultural history is fine, but the repeated chants of 'we're better than so and so' are to be honest quite pathetic.

Now i should say here that i'm English, we think of ourselfs as reasonably tolorent (though some may disagree) yet irish jokes abound, we tend to look down at everything America does and dislike mainland Europe (except Spain because we holiday there). Okay i'm being obtuse but you all see what i'm saying.

However why do we get so competative about these things? In some people it is almost a form of racism, not because of colour but because of the accident of where someone was born.

On the flip side there are (less commonly) people who are fiercely anti-wherever they live. These people tend to emmigrate (not that i'm saying it's the only reason people emmigrate). Again why?

i'm not sure that i've explained this very well, but i generally don't understand why the concept is so important to us.

People are people regarless of where they come from, so why do i dislike it if i hear an insult agaist England (and to a lesser extent the rest of the UK) and find it so funny if someone tells a steriotypical American/Irish/French etc etc joke?

[Helm]

It kind of depends how right winged you are.

[88MPH]

Are you asking for a justification of it, or a sort of causal/historical explanation of how it came about?

I'm sure I couldn't give you either one, but it would change what I'd have to say about the question...

[Watchman]

"Patronism" ? Is that like the patron-client thing or patronage, or did you mean patriotism...?

[Raglan]

no i understand the historical reasons, but i'm more interested in why people find it so important, so the jsutification as you stated. And to if that justification is valid

[Helm]

People see it as part of their self identity and who they are. If you're not proud of yourself then I guess there's no hope for you.

[Raglan]

@ helm, please keep it un-insulting.

@ Watchman, yes i mean patriotism please excuse my bad spellings

[Helm]

There no insult intended, but if you're ashamed of who you are then it's not a good way to be.

[Mithradates]

Extremes, you dont need to be ashamed just because you are not specifically proud, there are people who simply live their life and they dont care about too much what is "outside" of it.

Patriotism is a good thing when you agree about the ways how your country works, your culture, view of life etc and you support that by being a patriot.

[Barry Goldwater]

Is Patronism, a good thing for a person to have?

Of course it is.

If where we are born is an accident (something none of us chooses) why are we so proud of this accident.

We didn't choose our parents either, but we still love them don't we?

I'm also thinking about the extremes of this as well, knowing your own cultural history is fine, but the repeated chants of 'we're better than so and so' are to be honest quite pathetic.

Well yeah, but now you're going into nationalist turf. A true patriot knows when and where his country is wrong, recognizes this failure and tries to fix it, instead of dismissing it completely and drowning it out in nationalistic fervor.

However why do we get so competative about these things? In some people it is almost a form of racism, not because of colour but because of the accident of where someone was born.

We also tend to root for our families in competitions, unless we hate them (which can be due to a myriad of reasons)...

On the flip side there are (less commonly) people who are fiercely anti-wherever they live. These people tend to emmigrate (not that i'm saying it's the only reason people emmigrate). Again why?

I'd imagine you'd tend to leave your country if you hate it?...

People are people regarless of where they come from, so why do i dislike it if i hear an insult agaist England (and to a lesser extent the rest of the UK) and find it so funny if someone tells a steriotypical American/Irish/French etc etc joke?

If a joke is funny I'll laugh at it.

[Helm]

Well there's nothing wrong with having a certain degree of pride in your culture or nation. Though you can have too much of a good thing, there comes a point when you believe your culture to be superior.

[green tea]

Well there's nothing wrong with having a certain degree of pride in your culture or nation. Though you can have too much of a good thing, there comes a point when you believe your culture to be superior.

I absolutely agree with that. Love your country, your people. Nothing wrong with that. It is good to be a true patriot (One that loves his country). Your friends, your family, the people you love-they are your country. But don´t do it like the mad people, the fascist people do it- they turn love into hate by telling you that you have to hate the "other" people. That is not patriotism, that is fascism- blind fanatism. Love your country. Love your friends, your family. But do not hate people with a different language, skin colour or religion. Because that would mean that you have crossed a very important border.

[Knight of Heaven]

Well there's nothing wrong with having a certain degree of pride in your culture or nation. Though you can have too much of a good thing, there comes a point when you believe your culture to be superior.

Indeed, also its important not to mix nationalism with patriotism. Patriotism is related to human action.
So those who take Action for the well being of his country and is people are patriots. This philosophical speaking. Also being a patriot doesnt mean one shouldnt strive for the well being of humankind, or other people.

Nationalism is something diferent, in conceipt. its related to the praising, of the nation, by artistic and other means(philosophical) and other human instruments. Propaganda etc etc.
There is people who like this stuff, so they are nationalists. Is the praise, and propaganda of his country, and his values. In most cases its related with fanatical behavior(not always), and that is what leads to this Superiority, regards culture.

Well this is very resumed, from what i remember when i studied this issues.

Personely i belive is good to kown and respect your origins, but to disregard,and not respect other peoples origins its stupid. And leads to serius political problems, as history demostrated. I belive all is very relative one should not forget is origins, becouse its part of his individuality, but also not to take too serius. we all humans, and live in one planet, and frontiers, are virtual, not real.

That is a beutyfull thought

[Machiavelli25]

Lame hippy.

[Tigrul]

Lame hippy.

... but great song, idea-wise.

[iudas]

... but great song, idea-wise.

Communism is not that great.

[Thanatos]

I like my country, but love it? Just because I was born here? I don't know about that.

I mean, yes, I live in America, one of the greatest countries on this planet, in terms of way of life and opportunities, but I honestly don't feel that I owe any loyalty to it at all. It's a nice place to live, nothing more.

[Claudius Gothicus]

Generally not, but in small controlled dosis it can be productive.

I made it soud like a drug

[green tea]

Thanatos: It always depends on what you define as your country. I do not love our taxes. I do not appreciate being molested by the police. But I appreciate that we have free elections. I love my friends and my family. There are many good things in my country. And because of that I am a patriot. For the things I like. And to fight for my people against the things in my country that are unjust. That is why I call myself a patriot. I am too much a patriot to let the fascists be the only people to call themselves "patriots", cause they are not. They are destructive nationalists, while I am a constructive patriot.

[Taiji]

I think patriotism is OK if it means thinking about the best interests of your country and then making some effort.