Why are Americans so Patriotic?

[Something Amyss]

We do?

Funny. When I protested the war in Iraq, I was called unpatriotic. When I voted Obama, I was called unpatriotic. When I mocked the Teabaggers, I was called unpatriotic.

Since the majority did the latter two, I assumed Americans weren't patriotic. >.>

 

[Axyun]

Like videogames, countries have their fanboys and they don't represent the majority.

 

[Soviet Steve]

American media is usually more accessible to the outside world. There's nationalist movements in many places, but it isn't often you look at what the news in Hungary, France or sample underground newspapers in Shanghai. The US has the same vocal minority of nationalists that every other place has, though with the US political system their influence fluctuates and gives a distorted view of their numbers.

2. You don't see other countries talking about their own faults, or how they've done cruel things in their history--at least not to the extent Americans do.

As someone specializing in all things historic I must say this is a massive shock to me. Can you provide any sources or is this simply an assumption of American superiority on your part?

 

[AndyFromMonday]

Patriotism only serves to breed distrust between different cultures. We should attempt to unite under one banner and relinquish our imaginary differences rather than enforce and encourage them. Patriotism is dangerous, plain and simple.

 

[Freaky Lou]

American media is usually more accessible to the outside world. There's nationalist movements in many places, but it isn't often you look at what the news in Hungary, France or sample underground newspapers in Shanghai. The US has the same vocal minority of nationalists that every other place has, though with the US political system their influence fluctuates and gives a distorted view of their numbers.

2. You don't see other countries talking about their own faults, or how they've done cruel things in their history--at least not to the extent Americans do.

As someone specializing in all things historic I must say this is a massive shock to me. Can you provide any sources or is this simply an assumption of American superiority on your part?

Well, I don't mean that other countries deny or bury their history by any means. They just don't seem as self-critical, and that's not an assumption of "superiority" because constant self-consciousness is not always or even usually a good trait. Just something the US seems to like to do a lot (any public history class seems to focus almost entirely on what the US government or American icons did wrong. One gets the impression from these classes that American has been a giant ball of evil from the start.)

Other countries don't seem to demonize themselves in the same way. But my experience is limited to mostly media from these other countries, and conversations with people from them; I could easily be mistaken. Perhaps everyone else's history classes hate their own nation too.

 

[Therumancer]

it might be just an unfair stereotype, but it's generally believed that if you badmouth america, any nearby americans will go up in arms and get very angry, and i'm just wondering why. Just to clarify, i have nothing against america, but i hardly think it's anything to write home about. and don't say that anyone would be that way about their home country, because if someone came up to be and said "hey, england's crap!" i'd just say "yeah, it is a bit"

Actually, America doesn't have anywhere near enough patriotism. Right now the majority of the left wing and especially it's younger "hipster" community are very anti-America. Even those that claim to be pro-America and rant about "taking the country back" ultimatly support pretty much undermining the country and it's own power and global dominance, oftentimes without any real clear idea of who should be leading things instead of us.

The stereotype comes from a lot of the world realizing that it exists in the shadow OF America, and especially given that the country is under 3 centuries old, there is a degree of resentment. This leaves to a sort of persecution complex, especially when someone from another country decides to try and knock America without much of a clue, or talk about American ignorance when they themselves are showing their ignorance. Oddly one of the few cures that tends to work for your typical left wing hipster is actual exposure to the rest of the world, outside of a controlled enviroment (ie tourist areas, academic trips, etc...).

I think the problem is that when someone from another country provokes a backlash while trying to maintain that rhey are informed, without realizing how much anti-US sentiment there is in the US because very few people have anything to compare it to. A lot of liberal sentiment coming from very sheltered people who THINK they are worldly or well educated, and lack perspective on America, it's place and role in the world.

Probably not the answer you want to hear, but really if you pay attention on these forums a lot of the traffic amounts to Americans backing America, comments on our own civil issues (Wall Street Protests and the like), and well... all you have to do is listen to guys like Bob Chipman in the features to see it. He's even ranted on numerous times about America, knocked guys like Michael Bay for their patriotism (along with their other problems), and talking about too much focus on America in American made movies (as odd as that sounds) before you ever get into his politics. He might not see himself as Anti-American... but then again a lot of our domestic anti-American sentiment is the same way.

 

[Blunderboy]

Let them have their patriotism.

Their country is still new, they still have time to do a few more war crimes, maybe colonise some places, kill the natives etc.

You're only young once.


*sips tea*

Yes, quite.

I keep thinking I may be in love with you. Stop making me feel this...

But yeah, because that's what we do. We're uh-mur-i-kan.

And that's how I pronounce it, goddamn it.

I saw him first. Get your hands off him.

*ahem*

OT - They're a young nation, I'm sure they'll out grow it. But then I'm a cynic.

 

[Kl4pp5tuhl]

What's wrong with having pride in your country? If you love where you live you should defend it, I'm not saying beat the tar out of anyone who dislikes America or anything but when did liking where you live become a bad thing?

Since we've come to the realization that what keeps us apart are ancient, fictional boundaries?

The few things that keeps civilization apart anymore are religion, culture, and politics.

 

[MelasZepheos_v1legacy]

I remember an American who came to our school once telling us that they had to repeat some sort of 'America is awesome' thing (I pledge allegiance? I can't remember, it's been a while) at school every day since he was young.

So basically indoctrination, that's why Americans are so patriotic. It's got nothing to do with whether the country is great or not, it's that the children are taught about how awesome America is before they can even talk properly. It's kind of like how Stalin or Kim Jong Il got people to think they were awesome, byt forming a cult of personality, only instead of a person, america do it to a country.

On a related and hilarious note (for me) he also told us that in his textbooks and lessons he wasn't taught that America lost the Vietnam War. When he started doing history at GCSE (we did Vietnam) he was genuinely shocked to find out that they hadn't done so good there. And this was someone who lived in New York and went to school there, not some backwoods Louisianna swamp kid.

EDIT: Sorry, should also point out how it's not really 'true' patriotism, it's more like nationalism. That whole jingoistic 'my country tis of thee' stuff that rednecks and Republicans spout isn't patriotism. Captain America patriotism is very different 'I am loyal to nothing, except the American dream.' Not cultural boundaries, not nationalist pride, but the dream of a free country where people are judged on the merits of their character and their actions instead of the luck of their birth or their choice of religion or partner or anything else.

Nationalism is 'my country, right or wrong.'
Patriotism is 'My country right or wrong, if right to be kept right, if wrong to be set right.'

So many so-called patriots forget the second half of that sentence.

 

[ThunderCavalier]

it might be just an unfair stereotype, but it's generally believed that if you badmouth america, any nearby americans will go up in arms and get very angry, and i'm just wondering why. Just to clarify, i have nothing against america, but i hardly think it's anything to write home about. and don't say that anyone would be that way about their home country, because if someone came up to be and said "hey, england's crap!" i'd just say "yeah, it is a bit"

It's one of those things where people are in denial that something they have (their country, their console, their game, etc.) is crap or not as good as they thought it was, and frantically defend it in an attempt to convince others, but more importantly themselves, that liking said thing is justified.

I have nothing against America. I love living here. However, I will agree that there are a lot of flaws here.

 

[darth.pixie]

Not just them. I know a lot of "patriots" that are just really vocal about their country. Flags, anthems, the whole thing. People tend to do that, I don't know why. Pride or something.

I think it's a bit silly to be honest.

Other countries don't seem to demonize themselves in the same way. But my experience is limited to mostly media from these other countries, and conversations with people from them; I could easily be mistaken. Perhaps everyone else's history classes hate their own nation too.

Ever been to Germany?

 

[Something Amyss]

Actually, America doesn't have anywhere near enough patriotism. Right now the majority of the left wing and especially it's younger "hipster" community are very anti-America. Even those that claim to be pro-America and rant about "taking the country back" ultimatly support pretty much undermining the country and it's own power and global dominance, oftentimes without any real clear idea of who should be leading things instead of us.

Read: "You don't support my specific views, so you're un-American!"

That kind of blind patriotism is awesome.

So basically indoctrination, that's why Americans are so patriotic. It's got nothing to do with whether the country is great or not, it's that the children are taught about how awesome America is before they can even talk properly. It's kind of like how Stalin or Kim Jong Il got people to think they were awesome, byt forming a cult of personality, only instead of a person, america do it to a country.

It's worth pointing out that it's also a great distraction shoe. Plenty of REAL Amurrcins "know" America is the greatest place ever, even despite actual evidence of better quality of living in those so-called "socialist" states.

It also means you can poison your own country as long as you wave an American flag.

But there I go, being pragmatic Un-Amurrrcan again.

 

[Geeky Anomaly]

The best way I can describe it is like this:

You're sitting in a pub with your wife. She's pretty, she's not perfect, and she does some annoying things from time to time, but you love her with all your being. Then some dude walks up to you and says, "Your wife's a fugly c*** *****!"

Are you just going to sit there and say, "Yea, I guess you're right." Or are you going to punch his lights out? Neither response may be perfect in an ideal world, but it's the only way I can describe American patriotism.

 

[Gamblerjoe]

What's happening is that lately America is doing a lot of things to piss of the rest of the world. This results in a lot of people pointing this out to us, which causes the vocal minority to get up in arms about defending our actions. They usually do so using buzz phrases and abject lack of logic, which in turn makes us look even worse. This is not patriotism though. It is a bunch of tantrum throwing under the guise of patriotism.

The true definition of patriotism is national pride, which Im sure most people in most countries have. I feel bad for anyone who lacks patriotism, no matter where they are from. It seems to me that anyone who is unpatriotic is either being oppressed, or genuinely believes their country is shit.

A true patriot would not defend the wrong doings of their country. A true patriot has enough respect for their country to point out its flaws and suggest solutions for the betterment of all. Kind of like how a true friend will tell you when your breath smells bad.

 

[Ordinaryundone]

it might be just an unfair stereotype, but it's generally believed that if you badmouth america, any nearby americans will go up in arms and get very angry, and i'm just wondering why. Just to clarify, i have nothing against america, but i hardly think it's anything to write home about. and don't say that anyone would be that way about their home country, because if someone came up to be and said "hey, england's crap!" i'd just say "yeah, it is a bit"

Here is a counter question. Why aren't you MORE patriotic?

Is there something wrong with being proud of where you live, just because you live there? When patriotism starts getting violent, yeah, its bad, but if everyone is just happy to be American I don't see the problem. No different than supporting a sports team, except on a more personal level.

Patriotism isn't "Lol, My country is the best and has no flaws" it's "It's my country, right or wrong". Its supporting your neighbors and trying to make the place you live a better place, regardless of how its percieved by foreigners. Imagine you were building a house, the same shed that your father had worked on, and his father, and so on. Then one day, a bunch of people come over to you and start talking about how bad the house is. Some of the criticism is constructive, most is just noise, but they won't shut up about how your effort is pointless. You'd get a little mad and defensive too, right? Especially since they don't live in the house and haven't worked on it.

 

[MaxwellEdison]

Let them have their patriotism.

Their country is still new, they still have time to do a few more war crimes, maybe colonise some places, kill the natives etc.

You're only young once.


*sips tea*

Yes, quite.

Maybe we're so patriotic because we're young and we've already checked off everything on the list.
In all seriousness, when we were first showing our patriotism in our history was when we were just taking the West and our culture was really coming together. I think that's still the reasoning now - America is a country made by the very diverse group that live in it. Add to that the ideas (mythology?) that we've been democratic through our whole history, that we win all our wars.

Edit: I feel patriotic towards America just because I love the people here. They can be stupid as fuck, but they're generally pretty nice, simple, and hardworking, I think.

 

[Geeky Anomaly]

There is a reason that every morning, public school kids are made to stand and read the Pledge like we're goddamn Hitler youths.

Actually, they are not FORCED to recite the pledge. The have the right to abstain.

 

[phazaar]

It's because it's awesome. No really. I went through my entire teens -hating- the place, the politics and probably even the people. Then I visited a few months ago. Before I'd even touched down, my opinion was about 90% opposite. The scale, the possibility and the hope are incredible. They have so much to be proud of, just from the land alone.

Rest assured, you don't realise it because you see far less of their cultures, but there are -far- worse kinds of patriotism from -far- more ignorant people. If you travel a little, you'll see a lot of it.

As to why you'd just be like 'yeah, it is a bit, isn't it?', that's BECAUSE you're British. That's one of our inherent charms. It's the only place you can gig as a comedian and said 'I wish it was a pleasure to be here. But it's not...' and get a massive cheer. We spend our time convincing ourselves we have nothing to be proud of; we don't even enter Eurovision with any hope, let alone a sporting tournament etc. I'm actually dreading the Olympics just because the 10 Greeks that could afford tickets will be happier, louder and more supportive than our entire country.

You will find the paradigm completely collapses when you become the 'tour guide'. Bring some international friends (see above: travel!) to the UK, and you'll find yourself obsessively positive and excited about exhibits you've never even bothered to see until now, parks you've never even wanted to go to etc. Suddenly you'll see the charm of a little backwater village in deepest darkest West Wales. It's weird as hell.

 

[MaxwellEdison]

There is a reason that every morning, public school kids are made to stand and read the Pledge like we're goddamn Hitler youths.

Actually, they are not FORCED to recite the pledge. The have the right to abstain.

In all fairness, they're not forced, but they're told to recite it and not notified they can abstain, at least when I was growing up.