Thread: Are you proud of your country?

American society is distracted, superficial, fearful, anti-intellectual and arrogant. Then again, our entertainment and music is legendary. There are a lot worse countries I could be living in right now, but I still wouldn't say that I'm "proud" of my country.

I'm not very proud of the UK, or specifically England. Over time we are edging closer to a police state with a paranoid government which has constantly proposed new ways to monitor the population. For example earlier this year a law was introduced that requires ISPs to monitor all emails sent and received. Of course like many UK laws, it is utterly stupid and easily avoided because of the gross technical ignorance of politicians, but it is still a shining example of a worrying trend.

There's a proud streak of anti-intellectualism. As an example, people take pride at being terrible at Maths, or Science. Education standards are slipping due to courses being dumbed down to make the education system appear more successful. Many of the Universities, including the relative few who actually earned the name have had to dumb down their courses.

The law is rapidly becoming a joke, with far more attention paid to the rights of criminals who violate the rights of others, than the rights of the victims. There was a case recently where a criminal with 50 convictions who broke in to a man's home and threatened his family at knife-point was given a smaller sentence than the enraged man who chased him off and beat him up very badly. The person stood up to the scum and should have been hailed as a hero. The criminal shouldn't have even been out on the streets; 50 convictions previously! And when this man took the law in to his own hands because of the weakness of the judicial system he is the one held accountable, not the real criminals. 2 law-abiding citizens who contributed to society are now in prison.

I'll also happily admit I take a very dim view of most of humanity. One thing I learnt early on is that most people are stupid. It's not that they're bad people as such, they're just stupid. And regrettably they have the exact same voting power as people who are not, such is the flaw in democracy.

Originally Posted by Oneironaut

In the words of Immortal Technique:

"Try to minimize the issue, but I'm keepin' it large. I love the place I live, but I hate the people in charge."

Fuck yeah.

But yeah, I'm not "proud" of America, But I love where I live.

"Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it"
~Mark Twain

I am proud of my country, just not it's government.

Originally Posted by Supernova

"Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it"
~Mark Twain

I am proud of my country, just not it's government.

well said

Pride in ones country can have a multitude of meanings. The word and concept of pride itself may not be what is needed to describe one own feelings towards ones own country.
I am an American. To me there is no other nation, no other system in the world that has worked towards creatiion of and the maintaining of the freedom and liberty of the individual as this nation of these United States has, and probably never will be.
My country was established in the tryingest of times by rare men of vision and foresight, extraordinary individuals whos creation has, thusfar these past two and a quarter plus centuries, passed the tests of time and tribulation.
The world scoffs at America these later days, but the world does not see that our own country and her people are going through a defining moment in our history. In Our nation, Government and the People are a inricately woven fabric, forever tied to one another. This is a government Of the People, By the People, For the People , and as such the state of government reflects the state of the people and vice versa. We will be our own destruction or our own salvation under the Constitution of the United States.
We here in America are coming to a crossroads of choice. Half of our people embrace, or are beginning to embrace, a socialist concept of society while the other half retain a hold to our free democratic capatlaistic foundations. There cannot be both, and so thus our people hold tightly to polarized positions that thrash us back and forth beating liberty mercilessly. It is the adoption of socialistic values into the framework of government that has brought and is bringing this nation down both socially and economically. We need to break free of this deadlock.
We cannot continue to adopt socialism as an instituion, it will be the death of the Constitution and the free democratic republic established under it. However, nor can we return to the tracks we have so long traveled in. Components of Franklin Roosevelts NEw Deal , as well as other socialistic programs developed since then, must be re-examined. If these socialistic programs are to be kept and kept alive, they must be redesigned and re-implemented outside of goverment hands but yet under government supervision and protection. We as Americans need to return to taking responsibility for our own welfare as individuals, looking to governemnt only to provide the basic tools to do so. If the socilaistic programs are to continue they must continue from within the society itself outside of the government framework. Rather than being government institutions, they should be social institutions raised up and maintained within society by the individuals in society and merely protected and monitered by government. This is the basis of true charity, when the indivdual does such by choice rather than by legislation. Its what is needed here and now.
The pros of socialistic style programs need not come to society through socialistic government or socialistic ideology. Such can just as easily, if not more easily come about through a capatalistic democratic free society through the free choice of the individual. In a free society such as we have in America, anything is possible when the people put their mind to it.
I wouldnt use the word "pride" to describe how I feel about my country, but rather I feel great Love and Belief in her people. For in my country, it is the People that are the country and if I do not hold hope and trust in them, there can be no country for which to have hope or belief in.

Originally Posted by NonDualistic

Pride in ones country can have a multitude of meanings. The word and concept of pride itself may not be what is needed to describe one own feelings towards ones own country.
I am an American. To me there is no other nation, no other system in the world that has worked towards creation of and the maintaining of the freedom and liberty of the individual as this nation of these United States has, and probably never will be.
My country was established in the tryingest of times by rare men of vision and foresight, extraordinary individuals who's creation has, thus far these past two and a quarter plus centuries, passed the tests of time and tribulation.
The world scoffs at America these later days, but the world does not see that our own country and her people are going through a defining moment in our history. In Our nation, Government and the People are a intricately woven fabric, forever tied to one another. This is a government Of the People, By the People, For the People , and as such the state of government reflects the state of the people and vice versa. We will be our own destruction or our own salvation under the Constitution of the United States.
We here in America are coming to a crossroads of choice. Half of our people embrace, or are beginning to embrace, a socialist concept of society while the other half retain a hold to our free democratic capitalistic foundations. There cannot be both, and so thus our people hold tightly to polarized positions that thrash us back and forth beating liberty mercilessly. It is the adoption of socialistic values into the framework of government that has brought and is bringing this nation down both socially and economically. We need to break free of this deadlock.
We cannot continue to adopt socialism as an institution, it will be the death of the Constitution and the free democratic republic established under it. However, nor can we return to the tracks we have so long traveled in. Components of Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal , as well as other socialistic programs developed since then, must be re-examined. If these socialistic programs are to be kept and kept alive, they must be redesigned and re-implemented outside of government hands but yet under government supervision and protection. We as Americans need to return to taking responsibility for our own welfare as individuals, looking to government only to provide the basic tools to do so. If the socialistic programs are to continue they must continue from within the society itself outside of the government framework. Rather than being government institutions, they should be social institutions raised up and maintained within society by the individuals in society and merely protected and monitored by government. This is the basis of true charity, when the individual does such by choice rather than by legislation. Its what is needed here and now.
The pros of socialistic style programs need not come to society through socialistic government or socialistic ideology. Such can just as easily, if not more easily come about through a capitalistic democratic free society through the free choice of the individual. In a free society such as we have in America, anything is possible when the people put their mind to it.
I wouldn't use the word "pride" to describe how I feel about my country, but rather I feel great Love and Belief in her people. For in my country, it is the People that are the country and if I do not hold hope and trust in them, there can be no country for which to have hope or belief in.

I'm not gay but i think i love you....lol jk but you my brother speak a truth so loud in it's own truthfulness it weighs on each Americans shoulders and strains the heart strings when read with desperate eyes for freedom and liberty. You my friend have turned over a stone in my mind, and i agree 110% percent with this post. Anyone who opposes it, come threw me first... The true problem in America is the people have decided to hop in the backseat of liberty and allow the government to move from the police escort to the driver seat. Most believe the battle for freedom and liberty is finished and this is the result our forefathers sacrificed their lives for, IT IS NOT!, yet we are such a young country with so much more growing to do, and if we stunt our own growth, how can we continue the life of the country into old age? For it is that wisdom and experience incarnated into our society i wish to pass to my childrens childrens children. I swear by George Washington's wooden teeth i'll spend eternity crying if my grandchildren spend any years under a tyrannical socialist government... "I pray our childrens children do not inherent shackles and death camps from our absence in our nations growth."-MementoMori
This is my only fear in life.

I don't agree with the whole idea of being fanatically proud of your country.

As John Lennon said "Imagine there's no countries,It isn't hard to do, Nothing to kill or die for". It seems to me that the world would function a lot better if everyone just saw themselves as human rather than defined by a country.

I'm Australian. Its a very good country to live in but I'm indifferent to feelings such as pride for it. Australia contains good and bad people, our government makes good and bad decisions. To be Australian means nothing, well apart from the fact that we're all tall, tanned, buff and good at sports

Originally Posted by sol

To be Australian means nothing, well apart from the fact that we're all tall, tanned, buff and good at sports

That's why you dominate the Olympics.

well i'll get to the bottom of this quick and fast, being native i dont really feel i'm a part of this country its all just settings around me that were established by other non native people groups.

being proud of your country is a strange thought o.O

I'm proud of being a human being, that's something more physical and objetive.

proud of a country is veryyyyy subjetive.

Originally Posted by Caprisun

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

With Palin on the ticket, there's a case to be made, but no that's not what I was saying--just that Obama's eloquence and academic achievements are a double-edged sword in this culture.

I must say I am quite proud of my country. Sure, we're internationally represented by Harry Potter, but otherwise very much yes.

Essentially legal prostitution and cannabis. Abolishment of death penalty. Humane treatment of prisoners (that's a good thing!). Decent to good healthcare (no expert on this matter, but from what I gathered). Fair political system. Little corruption. Rich country with semi-rich history. Tolerant (mostly). Progressive. Technologically quite advanced. Trade-spirited. Liberal.

I have no complaints whatsoever, except how my city is pauperizing. I'm not a racist and don't take this the wrong way, but it's starting to get overrun by criminal immigrants. Quite a few of my friends have been robbed (some on broad daylight), exclusively by African immigrants. Looking at people the wrong way on a Saturday night going out can easily get you beaten up, or way worse.

Other than that, it's great. That sounds quite negative, but my city is sort of known for it. With the exception of some suburbs of big cities and a couple of medium-sized cities with issues like aforementioned, it's a great country in my humble opinion.

(and this is coming from someone who isn't raised to be chauvenistic and patriotic)

I'm proud to be a Canadian.

Originally Posted by tkdyo

I find it a great accomplishment that people can indeed have their own beliefs and goals here without being attacked for it.

so sure?

Try walking around small town bible belt america in Islamic wear

Originally Posted by TweaK

Quite a few of my friends have been robbed (some on broad daylight), exclusively by African immigrants. Looking at people the wrong way on a Saturday night going out can easily get you beaten up, or way worse.

Nationality specific, were those immigrants Moroccan?

I'm just glad to live here. The goverment sucks.

I am proud to be scottish.

I know I was just born here by chance and its a bit stupid to be proud of something I had no say in, but I'm proud anyway. Thinking back on Scotland's history I see that it started off as a quiet landscape populated by wild people who hunted their own food and built their own houses. Over time it began to connect with the rest of the world and turn itself into a rich, modern country. Ofcourse throughout history scottish people have fought in wars but I like to think that they fought for the right reasons.

Not long ago I asked my cousin if he was proud to be scottish. He said to me that he is just glad he was born into a country where no one would let him die of hunger. And I completely agree with him. I got lucky, just like everyone else here. I get a free education, free medical care and ofcourse I have free speech. I have the right to complain about the state of my country but I don't want to because I have everything I need.

So I guess I'm not just proud to have been born in Scotland, I'm relieved.

I am not really proud of America. I am proud of what America once was; am proud of her history, her creators, and the revolutions she has inspired, but I am not proud of modern America. Modern america has corrupt government and goes out of it's way to shrink the rights of it's people.

Note: By the way Momento, Socialism doesn't always mean death camps and no rights, it really can mean the fair spread of wealth among the population so that everyone is middle class.

Originally Posted by Lucid_boy

Note: By the way Momento, Socialism doesn't always mean death camps and no rights, it really can mean the fair spread of wealth among the population so that everyone is middle class.

Can I have some money too? I'm an American. I hate work. Give me give me give me!!!

Originally Posted by Universal Mind

Can I have some money too? I'm an American. I hate work. Give me give me give me!!!

Uh, yeah...not a fan of socialism. More of a libertarian myself. For just that reason. I think if you go to school for a longer period of time, you should be able to make significantly more money. You earn it, you keep it, so to speak. Now, if you luck into inheritance, I think some of that should definitely be taxed.

Originally Posted by Universal Mind

Can I have some money too? I'm an American. I hate work. Give me give me give me!!!

+2 Fuck yeah!

Im tired of food stamps and welfare that ain't payin enough. That motherfucker across the street is makin' 50K....I want some of that shit.

Originally Posted by Mario92

Uh, yeah...not a fan of socialism. More of a libertarian myself. For just that reason. I think if you go to school for a longer period of time, you should be able to make significantly more money. You earn it, you keep it, so to speak. Now, if you luck into inheritance, I think some of that should definitely be taxed.

I'm American who voted half/half.

I'm proud that I live in my country. Simple as that. I definetly don't hate it.

But what I absolutely can't stand is all this political party crap and sticking to your side no matter what it is. I'm speaking as an independent because I don't want to be labled "democrat" or "republican" because then it makes people feel more pressured about sticking to what they think they should believe in instead of thinking for themselves.

Example: WHY I mean... WHY is it such a big f_cking deal if a democrat voted against Obamas health care plan. "OH MY GOD OH MY GOD THIS DEMOCRAT IS AGAINST THE HEALTH CARE BILL OMFG!!!". I'm not saying I'm against it, I'm just saying why is it such a big deal to be seperate from the heard.

Then there's Fox news that has to bash everything that democrats say/do. Clinton is in the wrong for rescuing the reporters from a prison camp in North Korea? Give me a f_cking break! Then in the afternoon, MSNBC and Fox just spend half of their news talking about how the other station is full of it. I want the "News". Apparantly it's news to talk smack about each other.

I decided to vote neither for Obama nor McCain because if I voted for Obama, my girlfriend and her family would say "oh it's because his parents are democrat" and if I voted for McCain, my parents would blame it on that my girlfriends family is republican.

I'm so sick and f_cking tired of all this bipartisan I've had enough. I haven't watched political news for weeks because I'm just tired of all the crap and all the sheep supporting it.

And I don't mean to be racist but I'm also tired of people blaming their failure on "racism". It has nothing to do with skin color. The people on top of the pyramid can give a rats ass if you're black or white. They only care if you have money.

Originally Posted by Soros

Of course, I plan to be a future pharmacist, and pharmacists tend to make a pretty darn good living, so...suck it, socialism!

Originally Posted by louie54

I'm American who voted half/half.

I'm proud that I live in my country. Simple as that. I definetly don't hate it.

But what I absolutely can't stand is all this political party crap and sticking to your side no matter what it is. I'm speaking as an independent because I don't want to be labled "democrat" or "republican" because then it makes people feel more pressured about sticking to your beliefs.

Example: WHY I mean... WHY is it such a big f_cking deal is a democrat voted against Obamas health care plan. "OH MY GOD OH MY GOD THIS DEMOCRAT IS AGAINST THE HEALTH CARE BILL OMFG!!!". I'm not saying I'm against it, I'm just saying why is it such a big deal to be part of the heard.

Then there's Fox news that has to bash everything that democrats say/do. Clinton is in the wrong for rescuing the reporters from a prison camp in North Korea? Give me a f_cking break! Then in the afternoon, MSNBC and Fox just spend half of their news talking about how the other station is full of it. I want the "News". Apparantly it's news to talk smack about each other.

I decided to vote neither for Obama nor McCain because if I voted for Obama, my girlfriend and her family would say "oh it's because his parents are democrat" and if I voted for McCain, my parents would blame it on that my girlfriends family is republican.

I'm so sick and f_cking tired of all this bipartisan I've had enough. I haven't watched political news for weeks because I'm just tired of all the crap and all the sheep supporting it.

Fox news is full of crap, the partisanship is madness, and Americans get all worked up over nothing of particular interest. They also tend to jump to conclusions about things like the health care bill whenever they hear something they don't like (like increased taxes, which is bullshit). Too many get fired up over stuff they don't really know, and it irritates me.