Is it racist to consider one's own country as having the greatest history, but respect the history of other countries?

Question

goaded · Accepted Answer

I don't think so.

I think Britain did pretty well, thanks to a lot of luck and timing (being an island, archery being a popular skill when it was needed, the Royal Navy a few centuries later, etc.). It also did terrible things, but probably not worse than anyone else of those eras, and it did lead the world in getting rid of slavery, for example.

America had one of the first democracies, then the United States revolution introduced a new one. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Iroquois-Confederacy C:

Germany, despite being young, had the first universal health care in the world, afaik, and some early computers, too. India becoming a single country was amazing, despite the splitting off of Muslim areas.

Various cultures created writing, and zero, that should be respected. Egypt, Arabia.

Greece and Rome were amazing for their times, and China was well advanced but less well known in the west for obvious reasons.

Appreciating how various cultures advanced civilisation is not racist. Racist is pretending they didn't and just your tribe did everything on its own.

RavVid · Accepted Answer

Well I can't reasonably consider my own country as having a great history because of the brevity of it though I do think we can have pride in what we have collectively done.

History is a web. In my case that easily morphs into UK/Britain/England history because it is impossible to ignore what we directly incorporated. It is impossible, after 1066, to ignore the French impact on UK/Britain/England. Impossible to ignore the Roman influence on the Franks and Angles. So the result is that I look at it as Western European history that is my history.

I don't think it is at all racist for you to take pride in the history of France and regard it as having the greatest history. It objectively has a great history.

alice55 · Accepted Answer

I think it's normal to prefer the country we're born into and prefer it

WellBye · Accepted Answer

It’s radical nationalism, only appears in fools.

Ladsin2 · Answer

Didn't even mention anything about race so don't see how it could be racist unless you believe in Jus Sanguinis. In which case possibly, but I'm dubious. It makes sense that Nationality and Ethnicity are closely tied together and that people should have pride and affection for their country. Every country for all of time was that way pretty much. Most countries today are that way. If I moved to China I wouldn't be considered Chinese. If you moved to Nigeria you wouldn't be considered Nigerian etc.

A bit rambling, but that's what came to mind for this question.

jjj101010 · Answer

Every country’s history has a dark side but I think we have plenty of positives, the contribution to science and invention was huge, we discovered gravity (Newton), the first train (Trevithick), the telephone (Bell), the TV (Logie Baird), vaccines (Jenner), the jet engine (Whittle), the computer (Williams and Kilburn), ATMs and PIN number system (Goodfellow), the World Wide Web (Berners-Lee).

We also invented a lot of sports in their modern form, football ⚽️, Rugby, tennis, golf, cricket, boxing, badminton, darts, snooker, hockey and netball.

Plus the Magna Carta, which is what most countries base their legal system on.

MisterWack · Answer

“Is it racist to consider one's own country as having the greatest history, but respect the history of other countries?”

There is nothing wrong in acknowledging countries having a rich, deep, and meaningful history while loving your own country’s roots & heritage.

I’d say it is Nationalism to see one’s country as the greatest history, greatest group of citizens, and greatest leaders to an ‘extreme’ end….

NaultD · Answer

Like your kid got second place but #1 in your heart. Your biases are your biases and it dosen't impact anyone's lifes sure that's being supportive.

If you were to take some kind of oath to leave the biases at home. Thats when you get into trouble I'd guess.

KostasKouvalis · Answer

It's more nationalistic and arrogant then racist. But I think it's only bad if you don't walk the talk. But if you actually have something to be proud of, I think you can be forgiven for thinking so highly of yourself. But also you can be proud without being arrogant about it.

And if it's true and true. From my research and experience, I think French really are the master nationality😂

Twalli · Answer

No country has the greatest history. If you think your history is better than the history of another country, the records are spotty, or you just don't know enough about their history to make an adequate comparison. I'm a historian and have only found incomplete histories lacking in "greatness".

Cormac995 · Answer

No that's personal preference and a debatable statement. Anyone can say they have the best country in the world if they want and a lot of people are.

Zack-Bann · Answer

There’s a word for it: patriotism  The world would be a less turbulent place if there was more of it

NathanDavis · Answer

with all due respect... I am superior to you... hmm, is it really needed though? lol...

Astarlessnightsky · Answer

Not racist but if you are proud of the history of any country you haven't studied history.

Joshydavid25 · Answer

Nah, especially since countries usually have different types of people these days.. It's just Nationalism..

sawno · Answer

No, thats just very nationalistic / patriotic.

Dargil · Answer

There is nothing wrong with being Nationalist. Willfully disrespecting others, not so good.

DrPepper12 · Answer

No. Chauvinistic and ethnocentric. And human.

SmokinAces2000 · Answer

I don’t know if it makes you racist but it makes you delusional. Blind pride is idiotic

PeterOtools · Answer

Wow! How did all the libs get together with "delusional?" Sounds like left wing cable news.

Anonymous · Answer

It's not racist, but it's kind of arrogant.

Bklynbadboy12 · Answer

That's not racist your just proud of who you are and where you come from

Anonymous · Answer

It's not racist, but it's very typically French.

purplepoppy · Answer

Nah, more delusional.

Agape93 · Answer

No that's just delusion and arrogance

slatyb · Answer

Yes. No country has the greatest history.

DJB72 · Answer

No. That's nationalism, not racism

Staximus · Answer

There's nothing racist about that

RyanEC · Answer

No, I think that is totally balanced.

Mettbltt · Answer

If so, I am the biggest racist.

beefcakebradybatson · Answer

No, if you aren't racist.

jahaims · Answer

Use a dictionary

Is it racist to consider one's own country as having the greatest history, but respect the history of other countries?

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