Thread: Are you proud of your country?

No, but it's mine.

I chose half and half

I'm proud to be an American, and I could really care less in what other contries think of the US. I think, like with racism, a few bad eggs gives the majority a bad name Many find us rude and stuck up. Maybe because you were in the city or a largly populated area, of course they're going to come off as rude (maybe, I've have met a lot of nice people in cities). Get out of the cities and downtown areas and even in cities with 100,000 people, you can still run into many nice people who are courtious

The reason for the other half? I'm proud of my ancestry. I'm a mutt when it comes to where my ancestors came from: Eng, Ire, Fr, Ger, Sweed, Hung, Canadian-Fr

Having visited Eng and Ger, it was really cool to be in those places and think, "Man, hundreds of yrs ago my family lived here," and is a cool feeling

Whether or not it counts as pride, I definitely feel more loyalty, attachment and common cause with...let's call it "emerging indigenous" and indigenous peoples all over the world, than to the sum total of people in my nation. By "emerging indigenous" I mean people like mestizos (what my family would be if we had a word for it in the North--Italian/Irish/Sioux/Amish/Welsh) and African Americans who can't trace much of their culture back to a place other than the one they're in, and share many traits with indigenous cultures (largely due to widespread poverty): close-knit communities of necessity, underground economies, and often some degree of living off the land (in an urban environment this includes things like scrap collecting, squatting, and even panhandling, as people and buildings are the main elements of the urban 'land'). I might add elements like non-traditional and/or multi-generational households. It strikes me as a way of life distinct from the middle and upper classes who tend to be more ethnically homogeneous with less geographically-defined social networks and rely more on the nuclear family.

So while I'm loyal to my nation before any other nation, the order of priorities goes something like:

1. all beings
2. humanity
3. family
4. community/friends
5. indigenous/ish peoples
6. nation

with each taking precedence only so long as it doesn't conflict with anything above.

I'm proud to BE an Australian, because, well, we've got a pretty ace economy, we've got some pretty ace schools, we're second in the HDI, and it's generally on the whole just a nice place to live.

Am I proud of all Australians? No. But that'd be impossible.

Pros:

1. Vital roles in stopping Nazi and Soviet expansion and liberating various nations
2. Relatively capitalist system that has led to major prosperity for ourselves and stimulation of world technology and economy
3. Leading the world in the giving of foreign aid, including more than half of the world hunger relief food. (Are you ready for a shock? George W. Bush did more to fight hunger and disease in Africa than any other person in world history. Yep. )
4. Pioneering space travel
5. Lots of excellent movies and musical acts

Cons:

1. History of imperialism
2. History of slavery
3. History of genocide
4. Stupid moron laws such as drug prohibition and the illegality of gay marriage
5. A socialist president, during a major financial crisis, who was elected because he sounds good when he talks
6. Too much Christian dominance of society

Am I proud of my country? In some ways, yes. In some other ways, absolutely not.

I think saying the Pledge of Allegience and singing the national anthem with hand on chest are ridiculous things to do. That song by Lee Greenwood about being proud to be an American is about the worst song I have ever heard.

I am more concerned with Earth than I am with any one land within made up boundaries. Strangers in foreign lands are just as important to me as strangers in my country.

I am very patriotic about being Scottish.

I am proud too, William Wallace, Rabbie Burns etc. Tons of great Scottish heros of history.

And a song written by Rabbie Burns (famous Scottish poet) is well known (never realised it was well known in America till just recently), "For Auld Lang Syne"
It's great that you guys know the song, but for fuck sake, it pisses me off when you pronounce it "old lang syne".



And there is also the inventor of the telephone, he was Scottish.
And of course, another Scottish inventor inventor the television.

They are two of the biggest things ever created, and they were invented by Scottish people.

Originally Posted by slash112

And there is also the inventor of the telephone, he was Scottish.

He had become an American when he invented it.

I think some of you are being far too hard on America, and your home countries in general. Sure, America has a long record of being an imperialistic bastard, and being a self-appointed world police, and having stupid moron laws, and being full of complete idiots, but there is some good in all of this. At least we have freedom of expression and the press, unlike so many other nations. We have a government system that works fairly well, and has been able to stick around for a couple hundred years. It may not be perfect, but it is better than a lot of other places.

Originally Posted by Universal Mind

Cons:

1. History of imperialism
2. History of slavery
3. History of genocide

5. A socialist president, during a major financial crisis, who was elected because he sounds good when he talks

I think saying the Pledge of Allegience and singing the national anthem with hand on chest are ridiculous things to do

1 and 2, what country didn't (other than those in Af)? lol

3, well, we know that there are more than just us that did that

(I'm not ragging on you, I'm jsut stating)

5. Now I know you're going to want to jump all over me for this, but I honestly think people just wanted to "make history" and voted for Obama. I'm in no way racist. I have a color TV

I don't put my hand over for the Anthem. However, I think that they are both proud songs of our country

I am very proud to be an American!

Originally Posted by Universal Mind

Pros:

Am I proud of my country? In some ways, yes. In some other ways, absolutely not.

I think saying the Pledge of Allegience and singing the national anthem with hand on chest are ridiculous things to do. That song by Lee Greenwood about being proud to be an American is about the worst song I have ever heard.

I am more concerned with Earth than I am with any one land within made up boundaries. Strangers in foreign lands are just as important to me as strangers in my country.

I am proud of most of what the Founding Fathers thought was important when establishing America (the Constitution ect ). Amazing how many were scientists,inventors,and 'people of higher thought'.

I AM proud if being a descendant of the Republic of Texas.
The government now..no.
The way the country is now...no.

But the people fighting overseas in policies I find..shady at best I am proud of.
Policy makers...hell no.



~Don't even get me started on how appalling I find taking natives' land away then celebrating this with parades, patriotism, and good food. I was VERY popular with my teachers in AM History. LOL. (Example huge project of how America acquired Hawaii and why)~

Originally Posted by Morrigan

~Don't even get me started on how appalling I find taking natives' land away then celebrating this with parades, patriotism, and good food. I was VERY popular with my teachers in AM History. LOL. (Example huge project of how America acquired Hawaii and why)~

Get over it, that's life. The natives were primitive and backward due to their isolation from the rest of humanity with the exception of some central and south american civilizations (Although they were quite primitive compared to the rest of humanity in a sense).

Thats how things happen in nature, survival of the fittest. If you can't adapt you die.

(yes i know this is a relatively old thread)


On the subject of this thread, I'm half and half. Leaning towards proud.

I'm very proud of New Zealand (see username and avatar )

It's nice being tucked away at the bottom of the world, and keeping out of all the wars and other political nonsense that is consuming the world today. Sure, NZ has its problems, but so do all countries. I can safely say there is no other country where I would rather live.

I am very proud of The USA. Without us, there wouldn't be a Jewish person left in Europe. We have liberated so many nations. I do not think America is perfect, but we can corrected our mistakes (including the one we elected last year) We have desegregated the races, and given native americans back their tribal rights. And to any America bashers here, if we are so horrible, why do people still immigrate here?

Originally Posted by Dream_King

I am very proud of The USA. Without us, there wouldn't be a Jewish person left in Europe.

That's a bit of a reach.

We have liberated so many nations.

If my liberated you mean: Invaded, bombed, killed, destabilized, and cast into oblivion, then I agree.

I do not think America is perfect, but we can corrected our mistakes (including the one we elected last year)

Correct our mistakes by making more mistakes. Sounds like a plan.

We have desegregated the races,

After segregating them against their will, and then desegregating them against their will...

and given native americans back their tribal rights.

After we stole their lands and killed their people. Man, we are so honorable and amazing.

And to any America bashers here, if we are so horrible, why do people still immigrate here?

Despite our past fuck-uppery, we've managed to stay...somewhat free and have a...not-very-stable-but-still-workable economy. Cheap labor jobs are in high demand, specifically from those moving here (who more than likely don't have many advanced skills).

I love my land and my people.

But the game of politics lacks alot of honestand pure players. As this saying says: Power corrupts. In my country, that power corrupts is triplified. To the foul players, their actions seem good. Yeah, taking out money from good healthcare to buy mansions is always better.

I used to be VERY proud of the USA, i would get in fights at school when people didn't stand up and say the pledge of allegiance or take their hats off for the NA. I carried this opinion threw high school and out into the workforce and real life: !!BOOM!!, That's when i had a son became aware of my current situation, Health care, Economy, Job availability, Housing market, Taxes etc... all became so much more imperative to watch and pay attention to. I finally, and noticing the job market start to drop, decide to join the military, which seemed my best bet at the time, so two weeks before i shipped out i quit my job, me and my sons mother, girlfriend of 7 years, got married and then i shipped. I got to basic and began the reception process, which i do not want to explain. Now absorb this quickly, i was instructed by my recruiter to lie about EVERYTHING i've ever had problems with because they would exploit alot. I went threw Mepps and was processed and threw all the many tests they did on me they didn't find anything disqualifying me. Back to reception. I was again put threw numerous tests and screenings and given tons of shots. But before i they began they gave me a paper called the MMOT(Military Moment of Truth), this paper states it is the last chance for a soldier inductee to disclose any thing that might need to be tended to or noted for th training part. I am a gullible person because i took it for it's title i guess because i explained a sprained ankle that gives me trouble when running for extended periods of time (which i ignored most of pre-training) and that i've been having trouble adapting a secure sleeping pattern (natural). So they sent me to speak to psychiatrist. I explained, as i have documents reflecting, that i was having trouble getting used to the sleeping schedule. The damn psychiatrist started asking if i missed my family and thought about my family at night, i answered yes, and he asked if i was wanting to go home, i answered NO. This surprised him and he stated everyone that entered his office wanted to go home, and usually did. I asked him if he could please file in his report that I DO NOT WANT TO GO HOME. He stated he would do this for me and he did. He sent me back to my barracks. Later i found out the a day before i began my training he diagnosed me with Anxiety and sever separation disorders..... This disqualified me and i had to be discharged, under Other than Honorable/ Non-dishonorable charges... This broke my heart, honestly i broke down, then i explained my feelings to my drillmaster and he explained that if i wanted to fight this discharge i could, and when the head of all the drill sergeant came to read our discharge papers she held off for me to be last. When i spoke to her she mentioned i stated i wanted to stay and continue my training, but it is illegal for her to allow me stay with my current diagnoses. I accepted and walked out of the office. Later as i was signing my release papers, one which stated i could fight the discharge if i wanted to to sign a certain line, the witnessing lieutenant (military personnel) stated if i did it would took me months to even state my case, that it was better to just leave and try to come back, then she stated that i shouldn't be upset because my particular case happens alot of recent years because the government cannot afford all the jobless seeking employment as soldiers....

Let me say that once more : because the government cannot afford all the jobless seeking employment as soldiers... that's when i lost faith in my country... they discharged me, which has ruined my job attaining ability because they couldn't afford me? i quit my job for my country and was ready to lose my life for it, and they screwed me. I then began paying attention to the news and current political issues and at this current point i am disgusted with my country's government, the nation has potential but at this rate and in this state of mind it will never turn it's debt, or economy or any other problems around... The American government ignores and belittles it's citizens, that is nothing to be proud of... I'm a citizen of the world, i have no religion and i have no country, i just haven't the money to leave this country yet...

This is my own personal opinion

My views on this whole "national pride" business are very, very well put by the late, great George Carlin:

Originally Posted by imran_p

Haha, I mainly just read the bottom of the post where he talked about his country having the best special forces. Fair play, I don't of any wars Canada is invovled in, which is more than can be said for my country unfortunately.

Canada is currently fighting in Afghanistan.

during the olympics I'm proud the USA but other times....meh...not so proud.

You people act like political intrigue is something new!

Originally Posted by Taosaur

I was pretty proud that we were able to rise above fear and petty prejudice (not least of all anti-intellectualism) in the last election.

Does this mean I am an anti-intellectual if I voted for John McCain?

Originally Posted by mindwanderer

"Your from the US? Not involved in any wars?"
-I'm canadian thanks... I even mentioned in there how the US granted Status First Nations the right to vote 40 years earlier than Canada.

I mentioned the free medicare, the beautiful NW, Worlds best Special Forces (that's right America, take that), the many, MANY world records we hold in the Military... just to mention one, we have the worlds furthest sniper kill... 2430 meters, over 1 and a half miles... the sniper had to adjust for gravity, wind, and CURVATURE OF THE EARTH... that's talent. Anyways, I also mentioned not Reeaally in any wars, and among the top places itw to live.

From that you shoulda figured Canada, or France... though France has week special forces...

edit: Grasshoppa, are you first nations? if you don't mind my asking...

If you want to talk snipers, all I have to do is utter one name to immediately trump any Canadian accomplishment . . . one Carlos Hathcock of the United States Marine Corps. God rest his soul. As for Canadian Special Forces---

p.s. To anybody interested in snipers, I recommend reading Carlos Hathcocks biography called "White Feather." He was called White Feather by the Viet Cong because he kept a white feather in the band of his hat.

I am both proud and ashamed of the US.

I like the idea of america

But i dont like the reality of it.

Im movin in with Tara when im older >_>