Why Do A Lot of Foreigners Seem To Hate American Patriotism?

[Anonymous]

Some say...

Americans are too patriotic. American's have way too many flags everywhere. American's are always chanting, "USA, USA, USA!." American's always wear shirts with the flag on it and obsessively say their pledge. Why do American's need to impress on the world that they love their country so much?

I've lived in the US a long time. So long in fact that I don't remember my actual birthplace, so for all intents and purposes, it is the only place I know and have called home for my entire life. I became a citizen if you can even call the thing, a process, by way of my American born mother as a baby. I am here because war broke out in my birthplace, and my family fled back to the US to live with my mother's side of the family, and we've been here ever since.

Growing up in the US and hearing the stories of what my life could have been like growing up in another country, I am grateful for the freedoms I enjoy, for not having to endure the horrors of war, the opportunities I have, and for my country. Am I patriotic, yes. I support the US, I love it's people, I grew up saying the pledge everyday in scouts and in school, I do have an American flag hanging in my office (bought right after 9-11, and hanging ever since), and on many occasions, I have chanted "USA," at many a sporting event against another country.

For the life of me, I do not understand why a lot of foreigners seem to have a problem with the fact that a lot of American's are patriotic and do love their own country. What are we supposed to do...not like it? Not support our sports teams or our people? Take down every flag? For what purpose? We live here in our own country and we've just decided that that's how we want to live and that's what we want to do and we do it. If that's not how you do things in your own country, that is up to you and your people how you choose to live, but my neighbor having a flag in her own yard is not hurting you. It's not doing anything to you. She loves her country and wants to let people, and in this case, other American's mostly, know. Good for her. Doesn't bother me and it shouldn't bother you.

I may love this country and it's people, but that does not mean I approve or support everything we do. Take for example Donald Trump. A lot of foreigners point him out and say, look, see, American's are dumb and they support a man who does x,y,z, but a lot of countries have had poor leadership, or people vying for leadership positions that were wrong for their country. Many have even gone to wars over them, and still many are ruled by leaders that do not deserve to be in their positions, but that doesn't mean everyone is just blindly going along and supporting them just because you hear about it in the media which is notorious for inaccuracies.

We aren't perfect which is what I think the foreign perception is of us...that we think we're so perfect and entitled. We most definitely have flaws. We have a lot of major issues starting at our front door step with race, with government control, with our educational system, with poverty, with healthcare, and yes, with foreign relations, but when you point the finger at us and say look at all those problems, remember that there are four fingers pointing back at you.

No country is perfect. You can't have 318 million people in 50 states, and expect everyone to be prefect or to agree with everyone else or to have the same mindset. We are a HUGE country. If your country was that size and even it it is, and you had that many people, you'd have quite the task trying to control that much real estate, but like every other country, we're doing the best we can. It might not be what you personally would choose to do, but we don't all have to live the same exact way for their to be peace or harmony in the world.

Despite all of this, at the end of the day, the reason I still love the US is that there is just an undeniable spirit that a lot of American's have to want to build and grow. In recent years attitudes have changed a bit about certain issues, and are trying to change about others, and it makes me excited to see where we will go as a nation. So many people literally die every year trying to get to our shores, and there are so many reasons for that. Why leave your own country and risk your life if the destination is worse than where you started?

We can neither overlook the bad, nor ignore the good about the United States of America. I'm patriotic because I know what could have been for me and my family, and living here has proved that there is so much good here that on most days outweigh the bad, and for that, there are just three little letters that deserve chanting, and that's, USA, USA, USA!

[madhatters4]

i think some feel like the patriotism borders more on nationalistic superiority. that perhaps our patriotism is more a we're better than you

but that's just a guess

[AleDeEurope]

Correct, especially in Europe, where WW2 and fascism is still fresh.

[Anonymous]

I love American patriotism. I think foreigners are just jealous of USA.

[myTake Owner]

This is how someone explained it. In any situation in life where someone is considered the or one of the most powerful, people want that power. They want to be thought of as that thing too because of everything they think comes with it. It's hater syndrome. If you can't be it, tear it down, say it's horrible, make fun of it, try and ruin it all because you want to be the very thing you are hating on. You see it in sports, in business, in politics, between friends, and between countries. I don't think it's jealousy so much as every country on the planet thinks their way is the only way things should be done, when we all need to recognize different approaches to world problems and appreciate how others choose to live their lives in their respective countries.

[Riggers]

This is why people hate it^^... The ''If they dont like it they are jealous'' attitude.. Jealous of what? Haha...

We hate how you act so damn superior in every way and assume everyone is jealous of you when they point it out..

[myTake Owner]

@Riggers Geeze, are you jealous or what? LOL. But I agree with the comments made by the person who told me that in the sense that people want what they perceive to be on top in any and all aspects of life no matter what country you're in or where you work or who your friends are. It's just human nature, so you do and say what you need to get to that position only to find out, now you're the enemy you so hated five minutes ago. You see that in politics, in war, in business, etc.

[OlderAndWiser]

Jealousy! Foreigner be thy name!

[Phoenix98]

In Europe and in the UK, it mostly stems from fear, fear that if they embrace their countries and have pride in anything that they'll become what they fought to get away from in WW2. Though as ironic as it seems they are slowly but surely becoming fascists again anyway.

Though the people aren't the ones doing it, it's their governments but the people a lot of them just can't see it, though in someplace like in Germany they are starting to rise up and fight back.

Some of them are afraid we'll turn into the next Nazi Germany, others are jealous among other things.

But I'll always love my country, I don't like the goverment but I will always love my country and what it stands for. But my love for my country does not blind me to things outside the country I'm well aware of other countries, their policies, people, their views on us, among other things.

It is what it is, love our country and ignore the people who disagree with it Patriotism is what has gotten us as far as we've come despite being only 230 some years old we've accomplished more then many empires and nations that are centuries upon centuries old.

[NanaXXXX]

"Though as ironic as it seems they are slowly but surely becoming fascists again anyway."
Could you explain this a little further? :)

But you're quite right about Europe fearing to embrace what they are doing. Countries as Germany, for example, still have the feeling they needed to have a bad conscious about WW2 and are pretty much unable to portrait pride for their country to the outside.

To be fair though, I think a lot of the time if they do try to embrace it, others will try hard to remind them of WW2.

[myTake Owner]

I've read a lot about this idea that our Patriotism will basically turn us down into the path of being a Nazi style nation, but I think that's projecting quite a bit. Look at something like GaG... every single day there is this Trump vs. Hillary battle going on. Look at the 100 news channels where all day long people are actively debating and arguing over our politics. We don't have North Korean style television piped in telling us this is what you should think. We're built on giving our OWN people hell for the crap they do and rallying hard against those that would try to oppress us or take away our freedoms. In fact, if an American were to get on tv and say, this is how we all feel as an entire nation, the internet would go nuts on them. We love our country, but its absolutely not a blind love at all.

[Phoenix98]

@NanaXXXX

I can try lol, take places like Britain for example they took away the citizens weapons and now their right to free speech is being attacked, like a man a politician I think it was, was peacefully protesting and quoting Winston Churchill. And the police arrested him for that.

In German the goverment is trying to actually make the German race extinct by flooding the country with Muslim immigrants in the hope that mating with them will the features Germans are known for blue eyes and blonde hair and destroy the pure German race. And they even refer to people with that hair and eye color as Nazi's even though they aren't. The people have no national pride no love for their country nothing. But finally are fed up with their leaders and are rebelling and fighting agaisnt them, they're rising up.

You'll see similar things in other European countries, massive Muslim migration, no right to bear arms and restricted free speech. The Governments are turning into what they fought

[Phoenix98]

@NanaXXXX agaisnt doing the same actions and similar things.

[Phoenix98]

@asker I agree.

[NanaXXXX]

Ah, I see what you mean. I guess these are pretty difficult times for a lot of people.

Although I would have to disagree on Germany. They did let in too many immigrants to properly deal with - there is no doubt - but in my opinion it would be a bit harsh to call it a systematic extinction of race. "The people have no national pride no love for their country nothing." There were several occassion on which Germany actually got reminded of their WW2 history, when they would disagree with foreign leaders. They do have national pride, even if they don't allow themselves to show it to the world for that matter (except for soccer maybe). I doubt any other European country would want to see them talking about how great of a country they are.

[Phoenix98]

@NanaXXXX O trust me if you search it you'll find that it's true, the whole extinction of the German race I mean. And besides sports I've never seen any pride or love shown for their country except recently since like I said they've been rebellion and rising up agaisnt the goverment.

[NanaXXXX]

Exactly. But this is because they can't, if they've constantly got to prove that the past is the past. I would wonder where have you seen this (with the extinction)? Because I have certainly never come across it.

[hellionthesage]

I think its a bias, everyone sees others arrogance but they never see their own. I think its that combined with the fact that America tends to be in the lime light most often and thus gets a greater level of publicity. Then you have the issues others have stated like @FakeName123 where he mentiones ignorance of other countries which is partially true however I think its an unfair assessment because if you look at Europe their are many countries packed into a small region for the US we have only two countries near us Canada and Mexico and Europe is sperated by the atlantic ocean and asia the pacific making them seem far more removed. We don't need to know whats happening in Germany or Switzerland or what have you because it is so far away (or at least that is how it seems) because they are not right on our borders its to far removed no different then when you see these same people having little knowledge of south America or Africa its just to far removed from them for them to actively seek information out. For America however we tend to be in the lime light (for good or ill) and as such everyone tends to know us and watch us thus creating a one sided bias. For instance people state that americans talk about their country like it is the greatest but conviently ignore the fact that most people from every country talk about their country like that, they also ignore the fact that we bash our government and our systems all the time, its in fact a past time activity at this point (with the daily show and Colbert report and Last week tonight etc etc). So I think its personal bias with geographic bias and a bit of unintentional cherry picking, they only see parts not the whole. I love America The idea of what America is and is suppose to be is the greatest of any country. Every other country shares a culture that is how they formed, but America is different we don't share a culture we share an ideology, a place where where you are from doesn't matter, what language what culture what relgion you follow doesn't matter what matters is what you do here, what you make of yourself here. Their is no old blood feuds no old allegiances just a fresh start you can go as far as you can go nothing else will interfere. That's a wonderful thing.
blog.genealogybank.com/.../...g-huddled-masses.png

[jacquesvol]

@hellionthesage
I read that the Emma Lazarus poem is not the outside wall of the Statue of Liberty but in a room inside. I wonder why.

[jacquesvol]

edit : not on___

[hellionthesage]

@jacquesvol Yes inside where every immigrant coming from the east had to go in order to get through customs and screenings (in order to prevent the spread of disease and the escaping of criminals and such). Seems like your trying to find a reason to criticize at this point because that's really grasping at straws, asking why its not mounted to a random part of the wall outside of it where most would have not seen it.

[jacquesvol]

@hellionthesage I clearly remember reading (years ago) it was on the outside of the Statue of Liberty, at least for some time.
When I was in NYC I didn't spend time going to Ellis Island.
Anyhow, the US govt. clearly doesn't concern it valid anymore.

[hellionthesage]

@jacquesvol Elis Island is a museum because we have better ways of dealing with immigration other then putting them in quarantine on an island. Times evolve that's why elis Island isn't used anymore.

[jacquesvol]

@hellionthesage Stop considering other people as idiots.
I know very well that Ellis Island is no longer used the way it was.
The US govt. clearly doesn't consider the content and ideas reflected by Emma Lazarus' The New Colossus valid anymore.

[hellionthesage]

@jacquesvol I don't consider people idiots I do however consider the extreme biases people have based upon those biases they exhibit like you do. You are extremely bias and your actively searching for a reason to hate America. America is by far more open to immigration then any current nation in Europe, currently the majority of Europe is screaming about closing borders, the US has a small minority compared to the rest of Europe. Several European nations have discriminatory laws (like frances laws that prohibit wearing the hijab) so you claiming that which you have claimed is idiotic. Look to your own nation and those around you before making a judgment. Right now your just looking for a fight and you have chosen one of the few things that is provably false.

[jacquesvol]

@hellionthesage Anyone being critic becomes 'hating' , when you read it.
The EU didn't start Americas wars, did take at least as many refugees from these wars as the US, on a much smaller surface.

[hellionthesage]

@jacquesvol www.MSN.com/.../ar-BBvHZVX
It has nothing to do with criticism and everything to do with arrogance. No Europe did not start the wars, when thousands of people where murdered through terrorist actions no one in Europe gave much of a damn, when the politicians acted (hastily in my opinion) they where ridiculed, thousands dead and the US attempt to bring in the person responsible was ridiculed by Europe that is absolutely true. That's the problem, it wasn't criticism that they where acting to hastily, that they where not thinking things through it was criticism for the sake of criticism. Not unlike what your doing now, its not legitament criticism its insulting americans (for the actions of the politicians) simply for the sake of hating and criticizing America. You attack it for being discriminatory towards immigrants yet every country in

[hellionthesage]

@jacquesvol in Europe is screaming about the evils of immigration (the primary reason for the Brexit) they are creating laws that discriminate yet America has done neither of those things. You complain of that despite all of these issues that are right at your doorstep? You complain about America's war in Afghanistan due to having tens of thousands of people murdered by a man protected by Afghanistan? You complain about a war in Iraq against a dictator who commited genocide? Now if you wanted to criticize how it was done I would agree it was done sloppily and probably for the wrong reasons however you act as if their was no provocation or reason to do these things, their where. The fact is you hate to hate its quite simple. The very arrogance and self absorbed/self righteousness that is attributed to americans is being exhibited by you right now.

[jacquesvol]

@hellionthesage It started with the war in Afghanistan, when Carter and Brzezinski started helping extremists against the Saur govt in their global strategy. Next presidents continued it and once that movement was started the terrorists it created became active AND the good excuse for more wars. You can't accuse Europe of that.

[jacquesvol]

The brexit campaign was about free circulation of persons and goods within EU (mainly Polish workers) and about the supposed cost of membership. And indeed European rightist parties like the French Front National and the German Alternative für Deutschland , the Dutch PVV, the British UKIP , the Flemish NVA (ab) use the xenophobic propaganda themes in all possible ways. These are noisy minority parties, not "Europe screaming".

[hellionthesage]

@jacquesvol Never accused Europe of anything. You act as if countries have never gone to war before America, you act as if their was not economic reasons why those wars war opposed. The fact is you complaining that governments are acting like governments is pointless, complain to England or france or Russia or any one else. Furthermore the government does not make the country those are separate entities (especially in America where most americans votes have no effect (the US being a constitutional republic). Your looking for a fight as I said, your looking for an excuse to hate americans hence you grasping at straws like complaining that Americans had the audacity to fight a cold war with a potentially hostile nation, that they whent to war with country that was protecting a terrorist that had commited multiple terrorist acts, you complaining that they don't like immigrants despite the fact that their is not one law in our country that hinders some one based upon culture or religion

[hellionthesage]

@jacquesvol Unlike a lot of nations in Europe. You want to hate and are trying to rationalize it. france has made at least two laws that I am aware of that oppress those of a certain religion (muslims) yet you criticize americans? And from what I have read its not a small minority that is screaming about the immigrants (I here in Belgium its become quite common, almost 30% of the population voting for and supporting politicians who support anti-immigration policies.). So again all in all your looking for a scape goat some one to hate that's all. America just happens to be the one in the lime light at the moment and thus are fair game to hate.

[jacquesvol]

@hellionthesage
That 30% number in Belgium is mainly for Flanders.

[hellionthesage]

@jacquesvol And? I could care less what its for the point is your trying to claim how bad America is yet ignoring everything and everyone else. Your complaining that America hates immigrants yet Europe itself is far more against immigrants then America is. As I said before you need some one to hate and you have chosen America it makes you feel better to claim superiority I guess I don't know but regardless that's what your doing you are ridiculing America despite the fact that all of Europe is doing if not the same thing then worse. America has its problems but none of them are what you have mentioned.

[jacquesvol]

@hellionthesage
I do not hate America or Americans. I hate American foreign politics. That's a difference.

[hellionthesage]

@jacquesvol Yeah? Well maybe you can try attacking their foreign policies then instead of the society itself next time and when you do make sure not to accuse them of what your country and every other country is guilty of.

[jacquesvol]

@hellionthesage
Since American politics in general, (interior politics included) have a worldwide impact about everything happening in the US can produce some result in independent countries. That's why I follow American politics in general too. The choice of the next POTUS is not the least one. Immigration policies are an example too. Many countries suffer from the influx of refugees fleeing wars the US started. This was 5 years ago. : https://www.economist.com/node/18867622 (Since then it got much worse)

[hellionthesage]

@jacquesvol Yes but why did they start? As I stated the wars were not against innocent governments and they where in fact provoked, now how they where conducted and the actual motives behind them are questionable but that's not what happened, no one gave a damn about what was going on until it affected them, they where fine with the genocides that where being commited, they where fine with saddahm refusing to follow through with his agreed upon sanctiones to have military facilities inspected in order to ensure he was not producing WMD's (yes we did not find any that's not really the point the point was he refused to follow through with UN sanctiones which heavily implied he was doing something to this extent and a group with no power to enforce their rules has no power). That's the issue the only reason why france gave a damn was because they where in talks to get access to oil (the very thing the US was accused of doing) etc. Again, criticism is fine but how you go about it matters.

[Rainie_]

For me it's just far too excessive considering making of "the USA", it's a really REALLY grim history that I honestly wouldn't be proud of what so ever. Maybe it's just the fact that I come from a country that hasn't been in a formally declared war in the last 200 years and "war heroes" and "war victories" really doesn't appeal to me at all.
I feel the same way towards Britains history, especially the British empire, however I don't see Brits being quite as patriotic as their American counterparts.
But when it comes to the Americans their patriotism is particularly obnoxious at times and I don't know it just kind of bothers me a little. Sure no country is perfect but at times you have to have a look at your country and have a look and think, what am I really proud of though? Supporting other countries? Independence? Rising from poverty? Sports? The economy? Or winning a shit ton of wars?
There are many things I'm not proud of over my country, but I do appreciate a lot of things it has done and is. But I'm certainly not going to be overly excessive about my love for my country. I just see extreme patriotism to be a bit silly...

[myTake Owner]

That's the thing. I'm am certainly the last person roaming around congratulating American's for "winning" wars or for being a part of them. That is not where my patriotism comes from. On 9-11, it was a total sh*t storm, and from that horror, I saw truly a nation that came together to help itself heal and overcome tragedy. When terrible storms happen, many of which I have lived through, neighbors helping neighbors and giving their last anything to help someone else, is what I'm proud of, and I'm NEVER going to apologize for that. All of this we shouldn't celebrate business... I don't get it. Should I walk around and be miserable and only ever dwell on every bad thing my country has done, especially things I am not a part of, don't support, and don't condone, or celebrate the good. I am proud of the good. Every country as even you admit, has it's bad, but they celebrate themselves and their good accomplishments because those things absolutely should be celebrated.

[jacquesvol]

@Rainie_ French patriotism isn't at the same level as American but quite pronounced too.

[Rainie_]

Well good you know what you are proud of but some Americans haven't actually thought that deeply about their patriotism, I could ask them why are "you so proud of your country" and they probably wouldn't know what to say because they haven't thought about it that deeply. Many kids are raised and told that America is the number 1 in the world and don't even question it.
I'm not saying you should be miserable, not at all, I'm saying you should know why you are proud of your country, and clearly you seem to know that which is great!

[VictoriousSausage]

Speaking from a British perspective, living in a country that has this too (not to the extent of america) in all honesty it's scary, and it has lead to some really really bad things in the past, when you think of a Brit, you probably won't have the patriotism thing in mind, and that#'s because a lot of our patriots are very bitter people, very angry, and very nationalistic, you do get patriots in this country who are very nice and gentle people, i consider myself a patriot to some extent, but it's when you have people blindly following a country because it's that country, Britain has had it in the past, when you think of the empire, you think of the horrors it committed, and the dreadful superiority of the British, and how my ancestors acted to so many people around the world, but in Britain, the people were blind to it, completely complacent, hence where the attitude that "Britain is best" comes from, and that arrogant, superior overtone you hear from the damp corpse of the British empire nower-days, but the worrying thing is in America, you have the same problem, you children don't need to swear allegiance to the US everyday, but they do, you don't need all those flags everywhere, but you have then, and you don't need your version of English on every operating system, but you do, these are just a few examples, and from the perspective of someone growing up in the middle-east, all they know about America and the west is Bombs and the sounds of drones, or soldiers landing on their home shores to remove their government, America is a great country, and you have the right to celebrate that, but from the perspective of a lot of countries, this is what we see, this is what America is to us, you're loveable eagles, but we know you'll try and peck our eyes out if you think something's wrong with it.

[ObscuredBeyond]

Many foreigners don't really understand what the American experiment is. They only know that the nation has been hijacked by the same Globalists that have hijacked their own countries. They see only the cynical machine that bombs their homes, or that forces them to live and work with lunatics that want to kill them and rape their kids.

And due to many nations, particularly in Europe, having betrayed centuries of learning for pigheaded narcissistic materialism and pigheaded denial of the metaphysical, the idea of a spiritual/moral core holding up the original experiment by a thread amidst relentless and ceaseless sabotage attempts is beyond their comprehension.

When given the three parts of the brain: the Philosopher, the Monkey, and the Lizard, they become too lazy to develop anything other than the Lizard parts of their brains. They operate their thought processes rarely above the 4 Fs. The very thought of there being more to life is more than just incomprehensible - it's offensive!

Thus, the greater abstract of the imminent and inevitable failure of Socialism via the very design of its philosophical core meant nothing to the Greeks in 2011, so long as their creature comforts kept flowing to them. Once the well dried up, they began panicking and throwing stones.

And American patriotism is often now a hollow shell of what it once was - yet, a shell which itself transcends the Lizard brain, and is therefore offensive to those in other nations who refuse to let their minds operate at a higher level. And in their narcissism, they call this willful ignorance "enlightenment," and mock those who work harder to become wiser.

Even the Greeks of ancient times feared this would happen to the world at some point. Hence, an extra-Biblical example of "their destruction was written of them long ago."

[bente2]

I just dislike the USA tbh.
First of all, they seem to believe their country is amazing, shitting rainbows and has unicorns or something? Their government doesn't have its shit together, guns are legal yet they wonder why there's so many shootings and toddlers killing their mums, obama seems to be the first to actually improve something, and now an angry orange is running. Half of the population isn't 'a native american' which means; white, even though the only natives are indians, and the other half is generalizing, racist, homophobic, transphobic etc etc.

I think it's really, really weird that children have to cite their national anthem at school, the school system is fucked up and the rate of depression, ocd and other mental ilness among teens is really high there. They don't really accept other cultures unless they can appropriate it.

They act like their country is the shit, has it all etc, but in reality america is still burning. It requires improvement but can't seem to actually do something to make that happen.

Now, I'm not saying all americans are like this, that all parts of america are like this, but america as a whole just has a bad name with me. I wouldn't want to be butied there...

[Other_Tommy_Wiseau]

The difference between us and almost every country is that we're extremely optimistic. To the point of feeling fake. I've seen and heard many people from other countries, especially the UK say this. I have friends from around the world and a lot of them thought I was fake and uncomfortable in how social I am (I'm not by American standards) and surprised that I'm genuinely friendly like that. As if we're cookie cutter. But we also believe if you want to be the best, you have to act and believe you're the best

The best way I can explain this is in sports. Take soccer... Sorry, football. You have ties (draws). Shit we Americans hate. You're either better or worse. In soccer, it's acceptable. I was also watching the olympics. A team from Poland had a coach that played in college in America. Basically, her mindset and way of coaching made the players she was coaching mentally tougher because they said before, if they were losing, they'd just take the L

I'm not trying to say we're better, but there's definitely a different mindset in competition and mentality that leaves us taking more pride in ourselves and our country that many countries still can't grasp or understand. For better or for worse. Some justified and some unjustified

[dipta]

Fake it till you make. it, perhaps an American saying.

[Other_Tommy_Wiseau]

@dipta that, too. There's a Ted talk on that. I'm too lazy to lol it up 😑

[AleDeEurope]

I love American patriotism. I'm from Spain and over there you're seen as a fascist if you show you're patriotic, except when it comes to soccer.
The country is pretty divided, cause there's no patriotism, or very little.

One of the main reasons I moved and love it here, is because of the love most Americans show for their country, that's why America is above many.

[Phoenix98]

And we love having you.

[AleDeEurope]

@Phoenix98 Thanks man :)

[Phoenix98]

No problem.

[dudeman]

its pronounced murica. but yes welcome

[AleDeEurope]

@dudeman Oops hahahah

[menina]

Nice Take.

I think there's nothing wrong with patriotic. You love your country and you're proud of it.
I also like the fact that you're aware that the US does have problems. Many people like their countries, but sometimes they don't realize they're not perfect. And that's an issue.
I guess that if were born there, I would feel the same way.

[menina]

*with being

[myTake Owner]

Thank you for this comment because I totally agree and this was largely part of my point. I love the USA. Just by saying that... somehow a lot of people equate that with me hating or thinking less of other countries. That's pretty much them hearing and interpretting something that is not there. If someone says, I'm from France and I love France... what about that needs to be a problem. I don't automatically go into, well, that Frenchman must hate America.

[menina]

I understand. I guess that some people think that you hate or think less of other countries, because some Americans don't care about other countries. They think that the world is just the US.
But I do know that not all Americans are like that.

[JohnDoe3000]

The level of patriotism you see in the US is simply atypical among modern democracies (where people also have freedom and prosperity, the US isn't the only country that's not a third world hellhole). In Europe especially it's also associated with the ultra-nationalism that led to WWI plus the wars in the Balkans, and the fascism that led to WWII.

[myTake Owner]

I think this is perhaps one of the most coherent explanations of the distaste of our patriotism that I've heard because most responses I've heard have to do with such superficial things like, chanting at a game, which all countries do. However, speaking for myself, my patriotism has nothing to do with blindly agreeing with everything the US has done here and abroad. There are so many that disagree with so much, and rally against so much, yet still fly their flag proudly because we're more than just wars and political battles but I think in a lot of incidences people only put the laser focus on all the bad and dismiss any good as if its an all or nothing situation which it isn't for any country in the world.

[FakeName123]

Nothing to do with patriotism itself, but for two key reasons that come along:

1. It often seems way over the top. Nothing wrong with patriotism, but the way americans do it seems almost satirical.

2. The patriotism often comes in combination with a big portion of arrogance and ignorance towards other countries. It's pretty much the mindset that "we are the world greatest in everything."

[steveguitar]

Yep, #2 is the key one I think

[BuchitaBuchys]

This ^^^
And I was born here

[hellionthesage]

But I see that in every country? If you actually look most americans do not give a damn, we have people waving the Mexican flag or the Puerto rican or the Irish or the polish flag and no one questions it despite it being in our own nation. Meanwhile it seems to me that most in other countries behave in the exact same way the only difference is its because its their country and therefore gets a pass. A bias really. If you look at our media and listen to the people you will absolutely realize that we do not think our country is the best, hence Bernie sanders platform was wanting to be more like Sweden (a bad move in my opinion as its from an idolized view rather then a fact based one.) We bad mouth our government (I rant about it constantly from our screwed up voting system to the broken two party system that was never meant to exist to begin with). If you ever come to America you will notice that we are actually really accepting of others

[hellionthesage]

(yes their are dick bags but considering how often other countries bash America and I can only presume other countries not their own I would say being a dick bag is not an American thing, its a dick bag thing). I don't know if you have been to America or not but we actually do not care where your from we do generally speaking have an all are welcome mentality and that's why I think americans are proud of their country (which is different then the government) that its because we don't have old hatred (we where in a state of cold war with Russia for fifty years yet no one here cares if your Russian or not) we don't hold onto grudges (we broke away from England with violence yet they have been one of our closest allies) etc etc. I think that this is something to be proud of. I think the real issue is bias i. e. people don't see themselves doing the exact same thing, and the conflation with patriotism and politics.

[myTake Owner]

@hellionthesage ALL OF WHAT YOU JUST SAID

[hellionthesage]

Thank you.

[MG-TOW]

I don't hate Americans but I hate it's patriotism. What I say doesn't apply to every American by the way.

The problem I have with it is that it is not patriotism anymore. It is just blindly following whatever is said by some person who's postcode happens to be in the whitehouse. The moment someone questions things he or she is considered behaving un-american. But isn't the one that dares to questions things and tries to make things better a real patriot. As soon this happens that is not patriotism anymore. It is indoctrine. And that's what I see way too much

[Ironlak282]

As others have said because many foreigners view it not as patriotism but rather as nationalism. I come from Australia a country where many people have found a safe haven but we do not have the kind of "patriotism" you see in America.
Personally I think America's patriotism is a good thing as long as it is genuinely that, patriotism. It's hard not to admire the impact America has on the world even through all it's flaws, so I understand.

[myTake Owner]

Okay, so my follow up question which I'll pose to you even though like dozens have mentioned this... what is, in your case, Australian Patriotism? A lot of people have been saying, like our country doesn't do patriotism, but I don't entirely believe that, I just think you do it differently.

[Ironlak282]

I think engaging in typical Australian behaviour is enough for most Aussies without having to scream it from the rooftops. Going to the beach during Christmas time, watching the footy, waking up on a cold early morning for Anzac Day and just expressing ourselfs and talking the way we do is enough for us. You'll find that most Australians believe in modesty, your right we just do things differently here.

[Ironlak282]

Although I must admit we can get rowdy during sporting events lol where a very sporting country.

[lightbulb27]

If you've traveled you may have a better view. I don't know they all think that way, after all foreigners come here and end up staying, so we have it good.

But noone likes the globe bully. We are still the strongest and most influential power, we use our military a lot and that doesn't look good for our flag or image (media)... Iraq as example. We also push our junk (GMO's) food on some. We screw others with our currency, as we still have reserve currency. There are countries that are very poor... so they cherish to see their poor soccer players beating ours (as example).

nothing wrong with our patriotism, just accept other countries as well. We aren't #1 in a lot of things and are lower on the list than most of us think in many areas.

[meatballs21]

A lot of American behaviour is seen is overly loud, arrogant, and excessive. A lot of the rest of the world doesn't like the USA, seeing them as fat, ignorant, warmongering imperialists who have nothing to be so proud of.

In Canada, we are very proud of our country too, but we don't celebrate it as noisily or frequently because culturally we're more modest.

Personally, I think there's nothing wrong with it - patriotism done right is positive and infectious, it brings you together with your neighbours, and helps build your community ties.

[dudeman]

you're women are also uber skanks.

[ElissaDido]

There is a difference between patriotism and nationalism.
Patriotism is actually really good in my opinion because it leads people to want to do good for it's country (caring for it's cleanliness/environment, protecting it's culture and history etc...).
Nationalism on the other hand is dangerous and usually comes in this shape: "often comes in combination with a big portion of arrogance and ignorance towards other countries." like @FakeName123 said.
When I'm on some of the news pages on Facebook it just seems that some Americans can't make the difference between the 2 which can create a resentful feeling from other countries because of the prejudice these nationalists hold against them. But in their defense I don't think that it's only an American thing and of course, not all of them are like that.

[ThatBritishLad]

Nationalism in Europe was the root cause of two World Wars. That's why it's not that big around here. The initial premise of a European Union was an attempt to try and get rid of Nationalism as a concept.

[TakeMaker]

For the main part I assume it's because Americans think their country is the greatest in the world, when in actual fact it really really isn't.

Also modesty, people find modesty an appealing trait. Americans for the most part have no idea what that means in relation to patriotism.

America isn't as popular as it thinks it is which ruffles people up the wrong way. Arrogant and brash is the image most receive. Shouting about how awesome your country is as another kid is shot at it's desk, or another race riot kills people isn't cool.

[Spiorad_Aisce]

I am Irish and have no problem with American patriotism - I am not sure if it is because they are a young country populated by immigrants who were looking for a new home, somewhere to be proud of, many leaving their old country because it could no longer support them or repressed them.
A lot of the people outside America fall into the trap of stereotyping what they think Americans are like. I try not to judge a place until I have been there and met the people in their everyday environment. I have been to America 4 times and thought the people were fine, the number of people I liked/disliked would be roughly the same as anywhere else. Did I like it enough to want to move there probably not but if someone said you had to, I wouldn't mind.