Why are Americans so Patriotic?

[davidmc1158_v1legacy]

One of the things a lot of folks don't know (including most Americans) is that our culture has a very strong undercurrent called "American Exceptionalism."

It started with the Puritans who thought they were the last "true" Christians on Earth and that they had managed to break away from "corrupt" Europe when they came over. The Puritan colonies were to become the "Shining City on the Hill" that would light everyone's way back to God. At least so they thought.

That concept was morphed into the general American culture after the American Revolution and the writing of the constitution when it became that the United States was the "Shining City" thing and that we somehow had formed the best type of government, society, etc. and were doing it all without falling back into Europe's old-fashioned and corrupt ways.

Every since, the concept has always percolated just below the surface (and sometimes erupting above it) that the United States did/does things differently than everyone else. For example, the U.S. seems to be the only (or at least one of the very few) that tries to claim all of its foreign policy decisions are NOT based upon national interest, but are based on moral/ethical grounds.

As an American, myself, all I can say is that I don't buy it. I understand the concept (I'm a historian, so I darn well better), but I think it is more than a little overblown.

Self-perception is a powerful thing, though, and you should be aware of yourself to understand just what those perceptions might be. Whether they are valid or not is a different debate.

 

[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.

I agree with that point, theres nothing wrong with some patriotism, but the point is, all lot of americans (not all, just the ones often noticed) have a tendence to take it too far. To use your annology;

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. Your look around the room, and see lots of other happy couples and decide your wife is better than theirs. You procced to get up and move around the room shoving you wife in the face of all the other men shouting "HAHA my wifes so much better than yours!" and punching anyone who tries to disagree.

OMG...that is HILARIOUS. I agree, some Americans do that. That's why I shake my head when they do that. How the hell do you know that your country is better, if you've NEVER BEEN TO ANY OTHER COUNTRY!?!!?

 

[The .50 Caliber Cow]

Genetically modified foods affects the chemical balance within the brain. When watching certain TV shows, these chemical imbalances are further increased and the common, logical human being becomes a patriotic prick.

Or something.

Moo.

 

[Flizzick]

I always found it a bit odd that here in America you see a lot more patriotism than in most countries. Hell, I may not like everything my country does, but if someone goes and criticizes it without justification I won't just sit there and say "yep, that's us alright."

I understand that in the past we have screwed up on more than a few occasions, and I certainly am not proud of the many recent goof-ups we've had.

I guess closest reason I can come up with is that life here could be much much worse

 

[Riff Moonraker]

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.

Riiiiiight. The small number of people here hardly make up anything that could be considered a majority in the whole of the good ole USA. My argument stands.

You had no argument, you just said "you are wrong and I am right".
I've had an American girlfriend for a good number of years and what I've experienced from being in her home town, workplace and seeing her friends and family, is that all of them were not patriotic.

They loved their country, don't get me wrong, but they weren't raising a flag and saluting every morning.

Judging by your comment that you've had an American girlfriend, that tells me that you are NOT an American. If thats the case, then our patriotism isnt really something you can truly judge. I said the pledge every morning at my school, my kids say the pledge now every morning at school, and almost everyone I know feels the same way I do about our country. I'm very proud to be an American. You or someone else doesnt like it, good for you. If you arent American, then I honestly cant see how its any of your business. I'm not saying that to be rude, I'm saying that because I really dont see why it matters to you, if you dont live here.

 

[The Human Torch]

Judging by your comment that you've had an American girlfriend, that tells me that you are NOT an American. If thats the case, then our patriotism isnt really something you can truly judge. I said the pledge every morning at my school, my kids say the pledge now every morning at school, and almost everyone I know feels the same way I do about our country. I'm very proud to be an American. You or someone else doesnt like it, good for you. If you arent American, then I honestly cant see how its any of your business. I'm not saying that to be rude, I'm saying that because I really dont see why it matters to you, if you dont live here.

Indeed, I am not American, but as an outsider from a country (the Netherlands, where modesty is a way of life) that is anything but patriotic, it makes me the perfect judge.

I do not care how patriotic you are, for all I know you fly an American bald eagle to work, while playing Born In The USA by Bruce Springsteen on your Ipod, and I would lose no sleep because of it, nor will I give it a second thought.

The OP of this thread simply asked for people's general opinion, not just Americans. I gave mine and my view on American patriotism. I am sorry that this does not match with your view of your country.

 

[Rin Little]

Honestly, I'm American and I hate it. I'm frankly embarrassed to be counted as an American in most instances when it comes right down to it, just because of other people's blatant stupidity and blind patriotism. I've said as much plenty of times, like when there were riots when they were going to build a Mosque near the site of Ground Zero (near, not on) and this stupid pastor was convincing people to go out and get a Qu'Ran so they could have a book burning.

 

[StarCecil]

I love my country and it has done many good things for myself and others. Why shouldn't I be patriotic?

 

[Ohhi]

I'm american and I feel no patriotism towards my country at all maybe it's cause I'm not some gun toting, cousin fucking redneck but I feel no love for my country I hate it with a passion and wish I could leave but unfortunatley I am a poor college student and can not afford to move out of country.

 

[sleeky01]

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.

I agree with that point, theres nothing wrong with some patriotism, but the point is, all lot of americans (not all, just the ones often noticed) have a tendence to take it too far. To use your annology;

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. Your look around the room, and see lots of other happy couples and decide your wife is better than theirs. You procced to get up and move around the room shoving you wife in the face of all the other men shouting "HAHA my wifes so much better than yours!" and punching anyone who tries to disagree.

OMG...that is HILARIOUS. I agree, some Americans do that. That's why I shake my head when they do that. How the hell do you know that your country is better, if you've NEVER BEEN TO ANY OTHER COUNTRY!?!!?

Because the television said so.

 

[DesertMummy]

My guess is insecurity, or over compensation, as America for the most part blows. I can say that too, as I live here. And don't try to say it isn't a true stereotype, or it is a minority, because it is a true stereotype, and it is the majority. If I had a choice, I'd likely live in Canada.

 

[ProtoformX]

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"

And other countries aren't? Have you ever watched an episode of Doctor Who? VERY Nationalist British. And I like it. And I'm an American. Who serves in the armed forces. Seriously, why was this topic needed?

 

[Chewy2nd]

A lot of Brits are downplaying what we think of our country, Brits love moaning, we moan about the weather, we moan about the telly, and we moan about the government. But really we're happy with out little island, with all its flaws, battle scars, dark history, it's not really as bad as we like to make out.

So when we look at America, who are overtly proud, we just don't 'get it' - because they're proud in a whole different way.

About countries flaws, I think it's good we have a dark history to look back on, because it reminds us not to repeat the sins of the past.

Though if there is one American phrase that makes my blood boil "We saved your asses in World War II" - No, you didn't, it was an Allied effort, the side America was on was called the ALLIES, it was made up of many, many countries. Also it's rather disrespectful to those who died before you American's came in, it's almost as if you are implying that all deaths before D-Day were pointless.

 

[interspark]

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"

And other countries aren't? Have you ever watched an episode of Doctor Who? VERY Nationalist British. And I like it. And I'm an American. Who serves in the armed forces. Seriously, why was this topic needed?

well that's not true, the doctor's VERY impartial to national prefferences, he DOES go to london alot, that's because it's a british show! he's been all over the world, and the universe too for that matter and at no point does he express a prefference to britain

 

[Nickolai77]

And from this board, it seems there is a degree of self-loathing. I see no reason for that, Brits. Yes, the Anglo Empire has a long list of black marks in its history, just like every other major power does. It seems like you folks could use a bit more patriotism, but not in the silly stereotype that you're somehow more intelligent and/or funnier (because that's REALLY obnoxious) but instead just developing a sense of belonging in, I'll admit, a great nation. There is nothing wrong with being proud of the greater community in which you reside.

Speaking as a Brit, it's purely down to the weather here, it inspires a state of perpetual wistful melancholy.

But being serious, it's probably a relic of the class system, whereby people were supposed to be modest about their station in life, be it working middle or upper class. Sure you were allowed to go up a class if you wanted too, but it would have been considered inappropriate to blow your trumpet about yourself and how you were going to become richer and wealthier, you were expected to quietly work your way to the top and be modest about your achievements. This also relates to Victorian stoicism, where any sort of outburst of positive or negative emotion was discouraged, and this again translates into modesty. The key behavioural attribute here is modesty, Brit's are supposed to be modest, modest to the point of self-depreciation, and this in turn also means being modest and self-depreciation about ones country.

Of course, many Brit's are actually proud of themselves and their country, we're just do it subtly. Be it, say buying a flashy car and saying little of it but making an effort to get to work early so you can park near the front door where everyone will see your new car. Or in tv films and other forms of media, you'll get a subtle undertone of patriotism of sorts. Largely coming in the form of historical drama's about British history. On the face of it, it's a simple history drama, but it's also a telling of Britain's, long, extensive, bloody and heroic history. (This is why, as a nation, we're obsessed with WW2) But overall this is why Brit's react adversely to American style patriotism, as it's very "in your face" in our view.



And when i have a bit more time, i'll add my "two cents" on American patriotism.

 

[Death_Korps_Kommissar]

Not sure if it has been mentioned yet but this all stems from the 1950's and the McCarthy witch hunts. If you weren't overtly patriotic back then you could be accused of being a communist and black listed for the rest of your life. Hence why "In god we trust" and all that bollocks is everywhere.