Why are Americans so Patriotic?

[Treblaine]

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.

You don't seem know the first thing about Hitler Youth.

Hitler Youth was slavish and unquestioning loyalty not to Germany, but to "Der Furher", it was to radicalise children to hate Jews and exploit weakness. That Germany needed "living space" and slave labour to work for them and warriors would win that land and slaves. THAT is the Hitler Youth. The key is in their title: "HITLER youth" not "German Youth".

That's nationalism, defined hatred and evil intentions for other countries.

Patriotism in American schools is loyalty to America as a whole, NOT the executive branch nor the legislative or judicial. That every citizen is responsible for the good running of a country. United not under a dictator, but under a constitution and a flag. The rule of law, not of the tyrant.

I'm British and I know this... how do you not know this?

Are you really so skewed by mistaking the Bellamy salute for a Hitler Salute? Which pre-dated the Nazi usage and both drew from the same source of the Roman salute.

 

[Helmholtz Watson]

It's like North Ireland, in that England is sticking its nose where it doesn't belong.

Don't talk about what you don't know.

I know enough to know that Britain shouldn't be there anymore than the Orange Order.

 

[Josh123914]

To quote John Dalberg-Acton, "Power corrupts, and absoulte power corrupts absolutely". Think about if this government gave to ok to do something like what (PRC)China is doing to Tibet, America is doing at Guantanamo Bay, what England did to Ireland/India/China/Africa/Argentina. Who could oppose them? They would be the most powerful organized body in the entire world. It would be to risky to have.

Not disputing your argument (which I mostly agree with), but what exactly did England do to Argentina?

Be among the first to recognise their sovereignty as a nation? Invest heavily in their economy when they most needed it? Lose to their football team due to an illegal handball (and constantly thereafter)? Or defend themselves in the Falkland Islands when the Argentines invaded?

The British Empire did not have a great Human Rights record, but I don't think Argentina is generally included on the list of abuses...

The issue with the Falkland Islands, England has no right being there anymore than they did being in Hong Kong.

Ask that to the people who live there.


The islands were uninhabited when they were discovered, so it was fair game.

When soverignty came into dispute, they even let the islanders vote on who they wanted to be part of.

The British did many terrible things in their colonial days, but the Falklands was not one of them.

"Fair game"? Really? Sounds more like Imperialism to me. Why would a country that is 777.8 miles away from the Faroe Islands, need to go there? Honestly?

The Islands didn't belong to anyone, and that was pretty much the 'in thing' at the time. You know. Finding places.

I meant to type Falklands not Faroe Islands, my bad. Anyways, the whole issue should be between Argentina and the Falklands, England has no right to but in between the two places anymore than it does butting in between any issues Hong Kong has with Mainland China.

The difference there is Hong Kong is no longer British where as the people of the Falklands are British citizens (by choice). I'd say protecting one's citizens from an invading force doesn't count as butting in.[/qu

To quote John Dalberg-Acton, "Power corrupts, and absoulte power corrupts absolutely". Think about if this government gave to ok to do something like what (PRC)China is doing to Tibet, America is doing at Guantanamo Bay, what England did to Ireland/India/China/Africa/Argentina. Who could oppose them? They would be the most powerful organized body in the entire world. It would be to risky to have.

Not disputing your argument (which I mostly agree with), but what exactly did England do to Argentina?

Be among the first to recognise their sovereignty as a nation? Invest heavily in their economy when they most needed it? Lose to their football team due to an illegal handball (and constantly thereafter)? Or defend themselves in the Falkland Islands when the Argentines invaded?

The British Empire did not have a great Human Rights record, but I don't think Argentina is generally included on the list of abuses...

The issue with the Falkland Islands, England has no right being there anymore than they did being in Hong Kong.

Ask that to the people who live there.

The islands were uninhabited when they were discovered, so it was fair game.

When soverignty came into dispute, they even let the islanders vote on who they wanted to be part of.

The British did many terrible things in their colonial days, but the Falklands was not one of them.

"Fair game"? Really? Sounds more like Imperialism to me. Why would a country that is 777.8 miles away from the Faroe Islands, need to go there? Honestly?

The Islands didn't belong to anyone, and that was pretty much the 'in thing' at the time. You know. Finding places.

I meant to type Falklands not Faroe Islands, my bad. Anyways, the whole issue should be between Argentina and the Falklands, England has no right to but in between the two places anymore than it does butting in between any issues Hong Kong has with Mainland China.

The difference there is Hong Kong is no longer British where as the people of the Falklands are British citizens (by choice). I'd say protecting one's citizens from an invading force doesn't count as butting in.

Nope, but applying Colonialism to a part of the world that isn't even near you is "butting in". The Falklands have no right to "belong" to the British anymore than North Ireland does. They are the aftermath of British Imperalism/Colonialism.

Oh God, not this crap again, I'm not going to get into a political debate but long story short Ireland's economy is currently in the shitter so even if we split of from them we'd see massive inflation and job loss (and on the Falklands, they only have a population of about 4,000 and most are british anyway) , I'm not against Northern Ireland joining the rebublic anytime soon, just as long as they can base their economy on something other than the housing market. (and believe me, I know enough about it, my Dad & uncles were hit hard by it)

 

[Vault Citizen]

To quote John Dalberg-Acton, "Power corrupts, and absoulte power corrupts absolutely". Think about if this government gave to ok to do something like what (PRC)China is doing to Tibet, America is doing at Guantanamo Bay, what England did to Ireland/India/China/Africa/Argentina. Who could oppose them? They would be the most powerful organized body in the entire world. It would be to risky to have.

Not disputing your argument (which I mostly agree with), but what exactly did England do to Argentina?

Be among the first to recognise their sovereignty as a nation? Invest heavily in their economy when they most needed it? Lose to their football team due to an illegal handball (and constantly thereafter)? Or defend themselves in the Falkland Islands when the Argentines invaded?

The British Empire did not have a great Human Rights record, but I don't think Argentina is generally included on the list of abuses...

The issue with the Falkland Islands, England has no right being there anymore than they did being in Hong Kong.

Ask that to the people who live there.


The islands were uninhabited when they were discovered, so it was fair game.

When soverignty came into dispute, they even let the islanders vote on who they wanted to be part of.

The British did many terrible things in their colonial days, but the Falklands was not one of them.

"Fair game"? Really? Sounds more like Imperialism to me. Why would a country that is 777.8 miles away from the Faroe Islands, need to go there? Honestly?

The Islands didn't belong to anyone, and that was pretty much the 'in thing' at the time. You know. Finding places.

I meant to type Falklands not Faroe Islands, my bad. Anyways, the whole issue should be between Argentina and the Falklands, England has no right to but in between the two places anymore than it does butting in between any issues Hong Kong has with Mainland China.

The difference there is Hong Kong is no longer British where as the people of the Falklands are British citizens (by choice). I'd say protecting one's citizens from an invading force doesn't count as butting in.[/qu

To quote John Dalberg-Acton, "Power corrupts, and absoulte power corrupts absolutely". Think about if this government gave to ok to do something like what (PRC)China is doing to Tibet, America is doing at Guantanamo Bay, what England did to Ireland/India/China/Africa/Argentina. Who could oppose them? They would be the most powerful organized body in the entire world. It would be to risky to have.

Not disputing your argument (which I mostly agree with), but what exactly did England do to Argentina?

Be among the first to recognise their sovereignty as a nation? Invest heavily in their economy when they most needed it? Lose to their football team due to an illegal handball (and constantly thereafter)? Or defend themselves in the Falkland Islands when the Argentines invaded?

The British Empire did not have a great Human Rights record, but I don't think Argentina is generally included on the list of abuses...

The issue with the Falkland Islands, England has no right being there anymore than they did being in Hong Kong.

Ask that to the people who live there.

The islands were uninhabited when they were discovered, so it was fair game.

When soverignty came into dispute, they even let the islanders vote on who they wanted to be part of.

The British did many terrible things in their colonial days, but the Falklands was not one of them.

"Fair game"? Really? Sounds more like Imperialism to me. Why would a country that is 777.8 miles away from the Faroe Islands, need to go there? Honestly?

The Islands didn't belong to anyone, and that was pretty much the 'in thing' at the time. You know. Finding places.

I meant to type Falklands not Faroe Islands, my bad. Anyways, the whole issue should be between Argentina and the Falklands, England has no right to but in between the two places anymore than it does butting in between any issues Hong Kong has with Mainland China.

The difference there is Hong Kong is no longer British where as the people of the Falklands are British citizens (by choice). I'd say protecting one's citizens from an invading force doesn't count as butting in.

Nope, but applying Colonialism to a part of the world that isn't even near you is "butting in". The Falklands have no right to "belong" to the British anymore than North Ireland does. They are the aftermath of British Imperalism/Colonialism.

I believe that a society has the right to chose the leaders that they wish to rule, protect and serve them. Assuming that the choice of the citizens of the Falklands is genuinely to remain British that is their right, to claim that they have no right to express their wish not to be Argentinian would be to impose unwanted rule upon them.

Being British that means they are entitled to protection from Britain, protection they need from Argentinia if they wish to continue to have their choice to not be Argentinian.

In my opinion that is what it is about, protecting their choice, whatever that means.

 

[LarenzoAOG]

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.

We've already done all that.

I guess we just haven't perfected it yet.

 

[The Human Torch]

It's just the vocal minority. Which unfortunately (as always) are far more in the spotlight than most Americans, who plainly don't give a crap.

Sorry, but its NOT the vocal minority. The vocal minority are actually the ones who are NOT patriotic.

You are wrong, most Americans in this thread agree with me. The people who are not patriotic are the ones you never hear, cause they could care less.

 

[thiosk]

You'd be patriotic too if your country was *This Awesome* holy shit its fucking raining liberty outside CAN YOU FEEL IT... yes... bask in the glow of freedom and let your troubles wash over you

 

[Chrinik]

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 the Nazis took over...
Serriously, being a german AND being "proud of germany" or outright patriotic makes people jump on you like you want to clone Hitler...

 

[zestamaster]

well i know i dont do that, but the people who do are genrally not reallly willing to hear annything else (and BTW i watch fox news so its not all of us)

 

[Skratt]

OP, it's actually the vocal minority you are referring to. Most of us are just normal people you'd find in any country anywhere in the world, except maybe Antartica which, as we all know based on our Made in USA maps, is the last place on earth where the monsters live. Plus it's really cold there and has no oil to mine.

What?

I figured since we were working the stereotype angle, I'd go whole hog.

 

[Helmholtz Watson]

It's like North Ireland, in that England is sticking its nose where it doesn't belong.

Don't talk about what you don't know.

I know enough to know that Britain shouldn't be there anymore than the Orange Order.

Once again, you have no idea what you are talking about especially as your country funded terrorism for decades over here.

My country has nothing to do with what you and I are discussing, but yep your right. Now what? You brought up my country even though it has nothing to do with North Ireland. Congratulations on that. Like I said, the Orange Order should not be in any part of Ireland anymore than the K.K.K. should be in the USA

 

[TheYellowCellPhone]

Why are non-Americans so stereotypical and elitist to America?

 

[AndyFromMonday]

I was kind of talking about multiculturalism actually. The idea that people should have to accept other cultures is complete nonsense.

But the idea that one culture is superior to another isn't?

 

[Zaverexus]

It's just the vocal minority. Which unfortunately (as always) are far more in the spotlight than most Americans, who plainly don't give a crap.

Yeah. As an American I hardly even call myself American.
I'm not patriotic at all, and I feel zero obligation to a group of people who claim to control a space of land and just happen to have a lot of people with guns who believe them.

 

[Helmholtz Watson]

I was kind of talking about multiculturalism actually. The idea that people should have to accept other cultures is complete nonsense.

But the idea that one culture is superior to another isn't?

I didn't say that.......but if you want to get into it, not for the most part.
However if culture A beliefs that its ok to kill babies born with birthmarks, while culture B doesn't, than yep, culture B is superior imo.

 

[Vidiot]

To steal a joke from Jeff Foxworthy, We're not stupid here, we just can't keep loudest and most ignorant amongst us off the television. Also, that demographic seem to travel more for some reason.

 

[Jegsimmons]

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"

well, it's because its our home, and we like it because we can do and say want we want. We have opportunities very few other countries provide. Here you can be an American and still retain culture. And we get up in arms because of how much crap we tend to take, eventually people just get pissed at all the insults.
Yeah we have done stupid things, but if you can't stick by your country (read NOT GOVERNMENT) even with its problems, then that is the opposite of patriotism. Quite frankly, i Love this country, and i don't mind a bit of mudslinging but i never tolerate straight up anti-american sentiments. After all, i make fun of Europe, but damn it, you guys have stuck by us in hard tithank you for mes and i love you guys.....even france, and i respect you.

"It may be dirt, but damn it its MY dirt."
-Grandpa from The Grapes of Wrath

Thank you for explaining this more eloquently than I could. OP, here is the answer to your question.

well i was about to get annoyed because usually when somebody titles a thread "Why do Americans..." its usually something trivial or kind of dumb, But OP's was actually a well written though provoking question. So with all good questions i try and give a good answer. Kudos to OP.