Is patriotism a good or a bad thing?

Question

WhiteSteve · Accepted Answer

I guess it’s kind of neutral in and of itself. I’m not the best person to ask because I don’t really think humans are living as we’re intended to, like we’re meant to be wild animals in the wilderness, maybe in small packs, or possibly tribes, but never intended to blow up beyond a few hundred people altogether. So the concept of countries and borders and being governed and all of “society as we know it”, in almost all of the examples in the world today, is, in my view, just inherently incorrect, as advantageous as it may be for us. I just see countries as “wrong” before I even get to one’s love or hate or indifference for it.

But it all exists, no matter what I think about it, so within that context, I’d say it’s neutral because it can be manifested in so many different ways. I see people like Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, two American Republicans who are involved in the bipartisan-but-really-mostly-Democrats investigative committee of the Jan 6th Capitol riot (or whatever word you prefer to call it, I don’t want to get into semantics, haha), and both will likely lose their jobs over this since the voters are so tribalized and Trump is Junior Varsity Jesus to so many republicans, which is why most Republican members of Congress won’t go against Trump, as bad as this is all starting to look for him. To denounce Trump is career suicide in the Republican Party these days, because his die hards are DIE HARD. So to see them participate in the name of preserving and protecting the democratic process in America, and put country before before party, to their own professional peril…. I would view them as patriots. They clearly love and respect America, and will protect it at all costs. I can respect that, and these aren’t people whom I typically agree with on political matters, particularly Cheney. So maybe that’s an example of “good” patriotism.

Quiet personal pride and love and respect for your country, that’s all fair too. Again, you’d believe in some concepts and philosophies and institutions that I don’t, the judgmental side of me would maybe think that person was a little silly and maybe naïve, but ultimately I’d think they were harmless and well-meaning.

Where “patriotism” gets negative connotations for me is when the lines get blurred with “nationalism”, or outright erased in favor of the latter. Patriotism is like quiet confidence vs the loud, obnoxious cockiness of nationalism. Loving your country is fine. Thinking it’s superior to others is where it starts going off the rails for me. I can’t stand the “U-S-A! U-S-A! We’re #1! We’re #1!” type of thing, it’s fucking embarrassing. Being American is not supposed to be a personality, lmfao.

I think I just feel like it’s important that people remember that, while your country may ask you to die for it, your country would never cease to exist in order to preserve your personal survival. Is that really a fair and sensible trade off? And of course the hardo response is to assert how tough and fearless and selfless you are, and that you WOULD die for your country, but I mean…if you could do that or not do that and no one else would ever know and you knew the outcome would be unaffected whether you did or didn’t participate, would you still REALLY do it? Just something to marinate on….

Ευδεμονια · Accepted Answer

I think sincerely love for Fatherland is something everyone should have. The respect of public institutions, respect for public proprieties and appreciation of country’s history and role in the world. I think patriotism is a good way to think about the nation and appreciate really the value of the fatherland. It’s also a sensation of melancholy and identification about the past glory of the nation or a sense of pride about the nation’s successes.
I’d provide an example… my father’s grandfather fought in WW1 as a volunteer infantryman on the Piave River against Austro-Hungarian Empire, after the defeat of Caporetto that allowed Austro-Hungarian troops to invade the north eastern side of my country. The resistance of infantrymen on the Piave River is one of the highest episodes of Italian wars since their courage saved our country from total defeat. Thinking about the sacrifice of those men I sincerely feel my eyes filling with tears since I feel grateful for them to make my country still existing and free.

Patriotism, on the other hand, has to be distinguished from nationalism or chauvinism, since they’re only blind thought of superiority of the country over the rest of the world, that’s sick. Plus it is often combined with ideology (left or right) that brings nations to take extreme choices and people go mad. Nationalism (and ideological nationalism) is what brought us in Europe to fight each other at least 2 times with million of deaths, only in the name of superiority of a nation above the others.

menina · Accepted Answer

In my opinion it's only good to a certain extent. It's good if you like your country and your people but when you start acting as if your country or your people are superior then it's bad.

purplepoppy · Accepted Answer

When it's just waving flags at a parade or a sports event it's fine but when it's the basis of racism and xenophobia not so much

NaultD · Answer

Blind patriotism is a bad thing. While i do believe the United States of America is a model democracys to be a strong standard. I do think our greatest weakness is resting on your laurels. Same can be said since the revolutionary war with slavery.

The United states of America has a bad habit of kicking the can down the road. Right up intill it's a problem like the Civil War, world war 1, world War 2, cold war, war on terrorism, there's definitely 100 other examples. We proclaim to be the greatest nation to ever exist, i do believe we can be, but we have a problem of following through.

BeMuse · Answer

I guess that depends on if you like the principles of your nation. If you live in a free nation with a constitution that protects your freedoms, then you should stand up for your nation. You've got it good, and you should protect that for you and your fellow man. If you live in a dictatorship where they take you to reeducation camps, rape your asshole until you do what they tell you, chemically castrate you to prevent you from reproducing, and harvest your organs if you don't comply then no, patriotism in that sort of system is not good.

Anonymous · Answer

Sure it can be a good thing just as long as you don’t think that one country is supremely above all the others. Americans (in there minds) have that ability to “feel” superior to everyone else in the world. When in facts places around the world are much nicer. America spend so much money on military and brainwashing that the citizens are overtly blinded to the fact they are being brainwashed to think this way. Is America good? Sure. In some ways, if you are materialistic, greedy, undisciplined and don’t want to be held accountable for your actions. America is a great place for you. Freedom is cool, but it’s a false sense of freedom that Americans have been brainwashed to have. At the end of the day, the “patriotism” that America and some of the other first world counties in the world have are quite disgusting and pathetic.

slatyb · Answer

There's the sort of patriotism that moves people to try to improve the country for the benefit of all. Then there's the authoritarianism that some people believe is patriotic. Standing up for what is right to effect a change -- that's patriotic. Yesterday's dissidents are today's heroes. Objecting to any criticism of the status quo is not patriotic, that's just reactionary fear of change.

DoctorSex · Answer

Everything depends on the health of a Society.

Patriotism In a sick society is self destructive, for example when corruption is allowed to flourish.

To be loyal and supportive to such a society is self defeating.

However Patriotitin a healthy society breeds unity and the reform that this world truly needs.

Kind regards,

DoctorSex

Anonymous · Answer

A country filled with mostly patriotic people will be more cohesive than one filled with mostly unpatriotic people, which will eventually destroy itself from within. People with shared values and goals are more likely to work with each other whereas people with conflicting values and goals are obviously more likely to war with each other.

Anonymous · Answer

Good. But being patriotic does not mean being naive. I used to work outside an military base. And the level of honor that most U. S. military personnel have is quite inspiring. I support the military, and their endeavors. But that doesn't mean I support the treatment our veterans are shown by a gov't, after the veterans have lost their usefulness to said gov't. In short I love my country I don't love my gov't.

andreasderjuengere · Answer

Being happy and supportive about your home place is a good thing.

Being a ''patriot'' either kills you, or it makes you looking like a fool.

Patriotism is an invention of the ''ruling class'' to use us.

IAteTwoFullHams · Answer

Mostly bad. Mostly it's just an excuse for military buildup, war, and believing we should reject ideas that work internationally because we're special.

AviatorTom · Answer

Patriotism is good, unless it's false patriotism, where someone claims to be doing something patriotic and in reality, they're doing it because if their own beliefs.

Chazmatazz269 · Answer

Neither. Patriotism is a feeling of love and devotion for one’s own country. This is neither good nor bad per se. Some people act on such feelings though, and that behavior can be good or bad.

Bluemax · Answer

That would depend on the country for which you feel the patriotism. Obviously a patriotic Nazi or Khmer Rouge person is not a good person.

Agape93 · Answer

Patriotism is perfectly fine. It's when you get into national exceptionalism where it starts going wrong.

ArtemisSilver · Answer

It can be a good thing, when the government isn't corrupt, and when wielded to create and defend. Unfortunately, this hasn't been the case for some time in most of the world.

Googlemyahoo · Answer

In Canada the leftist lunatic in charge has pushed the narrative that patriotism and nationalism are bad. In favour of globalism and immigration as part of his WEF Klaus Schuab agenda.

RyanEC · Answer

Patriotism is a good thing. Its just an issue if people become what I call petty nationalists who like to insult other nations for no real reason.

Snakeyes7 · Answer

In a vacuum, pride for your country is for from a bad thing. If it gets to the point where you want to take over other countries or exclude those who want to move in (legally mind you) then it is a problem.

dustybiker · Answer

Sure… but not to the point of insanity. Never to be used as manipulation.

HippieVeganJewslim · Answer

Seems like it’s a good thing, as long as it’s not putting down other countries. I, personally, dislike pretty much every country’s government, so how can I be patriotic?

Alcoholic_Wannabe · Answer

No. A simple appreciation for your homeland and desire to protect it are good enough. "bUt tHaT iS pAtRiOtIs-" No.. no it is not.

legalboxers · Answer

when you use this as your battle cry to gin up your base.. a BAD THING

exitseven · Answer

It is a good thing. People need to be invested is where they are from.

FilmGuy93 · Answer

Anything can be bad if it's brought to an extreme. But patriotism is generally a good thing.

Pudsmucker · Answer

Patriotism is the most important thing living in your country. No matter what country your from, it show you love you country.

Subarugirl · Answer

Patriotism is amoral, neither good nor bad. It has everything to do with how it applied.

Guanfei · Answer

A good thing. There's no reason to not be proud of what your ancestors built, and no reason to give it away because it's not "open enough".

driven159 · Answer

Patriotism in itself is good but extreme patriotism is not

JohnK123 · Answer

Bad thing if you’re storming federal land lol

MrTaboo · Answer

You should be proud of your country (not government)

Guardian45 · Answer

Patriotism is a good and useful thing in times of war. For example, look at Ukraine.

maximumpower · Answer

Its a GREAT thing - as long as you don't let it run your life.

SmokinAces2000 · Answer

Patriotism in itself isn’t necessarily bad but today it’s just blind patriotism and nationalism

LadiesFavoriteToy · Answer

A good thing. Not good for all those liberal LGBTQ freaks who hate their county.

WhiteBoyChill · Answer

Its a great thing. Everyone deserves the right to be proud in where they are from

BCRanger10 · Answer

It's a good thing.

FunkyMonkee · Answer

Good, that I know of!!

Twalli · Answer

Patriotism is good. Nationalism is bad.

Cubus · Answer

Good. Just look at Ukraine.

Anonymous · Answer

It's definitely a good thing.

Anonymous · Answer

It's dangerous!

pizzalovershouse · Answer

Can't say I dont have the true facts

msc545 · Answer

It is generally bad, as is nationalism.

BLP11520 · Answer

Good, you been outside the USA? We rock.

EndGame55 · Answer

Good

GoesbyAndrew · Answer

Good

Pterodon · Answer

Good

Is patriotism a good or a bad thing?

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