Why are Americans so Patriotic?

[MelasZepheos_v1legacy]

snip.

Yes there is the Pledge of Allegiance started in the 1800 and has been going on for a while
now its just hand over the heart it used to use the Bellamy salute and was stopped for very obvious reasons. Its not like its a long speech its really just one sentience
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty, and justice for all
the under god part was added during the cold war

It started with a British tradition for governmental sessions and worked its way into the school system somehow

That's terrifying.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of Amerca?

Why do you have to pledge allegiance? Making an oath of loyalty to a country? A duty of fidelity? My lord that's weird.

And to the republic for which it stands?

But what if the republic is wrong?

One nation UNDER GOD?

What if you're not religious? Are students forced to say this even if they aren't? we weren't even forced to sing God Save the Queen, or recite the Lord's Prayer if we didn't believe in it, do they really make children say this? In class? In school? Peer pressure them into becoming religious and patriotic? I thought the Sixth Amendment was about the separation of church and state, and the first was about the freedom of religion. What if you don't believe in a Christian God, let alone any deity?

Indivisible, with liberty and justice for all?

Well now that's just contradictory and silly. Of course the Republic of the United States of America UNDER GOD isn't indivisible, otherwise you wouldn't have two political parties damn near ready to go to war every election. And liberty and justice for all is just a dream.

No wonder the country's got problems.

 

[ryanthemadman]

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.

already been done. (westward expansion, manifest destiny etc.)

 

[Laser Priest]

This happens to a lot of countries, and it's always been annoying.

I don't feel that Americans do this any more than other nations, though.

 

[iRevanchist]

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?

N-no tar beating? :'(

 

[DRes82]

I think the better question is why aren't other countries as patriotic as Americans?

Yeah, man, why don't you other guys get distracted from real issues by sudden motion of a colourful piece of cloth?

Yeah, that's exactly what I meant. The idea of patriotism is that we all bow to flag. You got it. oh...here Patriotism [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patriotism].

I'm Amercan(I feel dirty just saying that) & I say the U.S. sucks all kinds of ass, just my opinion. I would like to try living in some other county just to see the difference. The U.S. isn't perfect, but then what nation is?

You're welcome to leave. One less crowded, since everyone else is clamoring to get in. Don't try to come back in when you start to miss it, though. That would make you a hypocrite.

 

[holy_secret]

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?

I was just gonna write this.
Jesus Christ. It's like they whip themselves to bed every night.

 

[scorptatious]

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.

That's actually a pretty good analogy. I really couldn't have picked a better one myself.

OT: While I admit that there are a bunch of people over here who are very nationalistic, they are a vocal minority.

As for me? Well, despite it's flaws, I love this land. I can't imagine myself living anywhere else.

 

[hooksashands]

I believe this video pretty much sums it up.

 

[TheCowman]

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.

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.

These two statements are perfect examples of the two extremes that make me despair for any real chance at global understanding.

You know that being patriotic is actually part of our goal in public education here in the US right? I'm not even kidding. There is a reason that every morning, public school kids are made to stand and read the Pledge like we're goddamn Hitler youths.

Also, I'm really kinda shocked at how much saying the Pledge in school seems to have affected everyone. I said the pledge in the mornings, and it was nothing more than part of the daily routine; like lining up for recess and lunch or going over the new spelling list for the week.

Heck, for most of elementary school I was mispronouncing many of the bigger words (i.e. indivisible). After they didn't do it anymore, I never even thought of it again. You aren't indoctrinating kids; you're BORING them with just some other school chore that they rattle out so they can get through the day and get back home where they can play.

Assuming that the pledge of allegiance is brainwashing kids is the same logic that lead to people saying you can't tell kids "no" in school because it stifles their free thinking.

 

[LilithSlave]

There are many teachers in this country who would force a student to say the pledge of allegiance and many students who would beat a kid up who refused to.

The country definitely has it's fair share of problems. But hey, we brought the world My Little Pony! We can't be too bad!

 

[Iron Mal]

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?

While there's nothing inherantly wrong with having an admiration for your country it needs to be remembered that there's a clear difference between loving your homeland and having an entitled 'we are #1' mantra and generally being a self-important dick about it (sadly, a very visable population of America tends to fall into the second catagory, and it may not be as small a minority as you wish to claim it is).

Some people would also have a strong difference between simply liking your home and being a patriot, for some people it's defending your country, for some it's backing it whether it's right or wrong and the list of variations and definitions goes on (some I've heard are actually quite thoughtful and diplomatic while some others fall just short of world domination).

Given how cross-cultural and globalised the world has become with the advent of things like the internet and easier travel between countries and continents it could be argued that the traditional notion of patriotism has become somewhat 'outdated' as well (especially seeing how it tends to manifest itself as xenophobia more often than any of us would like to admit).

 

[Something Amyss]

Yeah, that's exactly what I meant. The idea of patriotism is that we all bow to flag. You got it. oh...here Patriotism [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patriotism].

Ah. Pedantry. Excellent.

I'm sure that I also meant literally bowing to the flag.

Wait, I'm NOT a pedant. I probably didn't.

"Pride." Also excellent. Pride is also one of those immutable words, I'm assuming. Because silly me, you calling for other people to be more prideful sounds pretty silly, too.

 

[Craorach]

Because they are a fragile, divided and young nation. The Government, and many of its people, feel the overwhelming need to prove.. constantly and loudly.. that it deserves respect.. and it's going to get it's respect, damnit, it'll show those old European countries that it can have all the freedom and security and that other people will see things it's way!

People should be proud of where they come from.. I am proud of the UK, and all it's component parts. I am proud of my heritage and my culture. That doesn't mean I agree with everything it does nor does it mean I feel any need to attack those who disagree with it or me. It also doesn't mean that I have to cleanse it's history of the dark parts or pretend we never do anything wrong.

I really do see America as a bratty teenager who thinks it knows what is best in the world.

 

[SonOfVoorhees]

Being proud of ones country is fine. Being an arrogant bastard about it isnt - especially the "we beat the British" comment they make, when, if you know anything about your own history, you didn't. The French did. I guess they dont even know that the statue of liberty is French either. lol

I digress. If your American, then be proud that you are American. Just dont be an arrogant arsehole about it. Same for every race.

 

[Treblaine]

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"

Why would that be unfair? Being patriotic means to love, care for and be proponent of one's own country... not hate every other country.

Hating every other country, that's Nationalism.

"i hardly think it's anything to write home about"

Do you even LIVE THERE?!?! Here's the thing: Americans, tend to live in America. It's a good idea to care for and be a proponent of where you live?

I think a way more pertinent question is why don't other countries love their own country as much as Americans love their own country? What is this paranoia over patriotism?

"hey, england's crap!" i'd just say "yeah, it is a bit"

A country is mother to all its inhabitants, whether native born or adoptive. How would you react if someone said "you're mother's a really horrible woman", how would you tolerate such a slight?

Why do you feel no significance to the country that made so much of who and what you are? Do you just have poor self esteem? Would you react the same way to "England is crap" as "you are worthless".

Buggy, YOU have way more questions to answer than any of us.

England, America, any country has specific points of concern, but patriotism is a commitment to celebrating the best and endeavouring to improve or eliminate the worst, certainly not to settle for it.

 

[TheCowman]

I guess they dont even know that the statue of liberty is French either. lol

Oh please, I watch the History Channel. I've known that for years.

 

[RickyRich]

Those are idealists, not real Americans. Real Americans will show you exactly how much our country sucks and how much money our politicians waste every year on stuff that we don't care about. You've probably met a very uneducated American, probably from the South and prefers the Republican party, this is kind of their thing.

 

[Nieroshai]

Funny, I've tried this on brits. The universal reply generally involved fists. Just saying, your view that no one else does it is wrong.

 

[TheCowman]

There are many teachers in this country who would force a student to say the pledge of allegiance and many students who would beat a kid up who refused to.

Really?

Man. People always make fun of Ohio for being so dull; but I'm startin' to think we really dodged some bullets over here.

 

[Kahnmir]

Its the stupid virus or something. I don't get it myself (and I live in the good ole' US of A)

Patriotism is just another word for nationalism.