Are you proud of your country?

[TenmaAi]

Originally Posted by ethine

I understand where you're coming from. Australia is similar. As soon as an Aussie thinks of "Australia Day", one automatically thinks of A LOT of booze.No one really puts in the effort to appreciate unique Aussie stuff which is sad because as boring as it looks, it really is a wonderful country to live in.The only other day that we "celebrate" our Australian-ism is ANZAC day (remembering the men and women who fought in all our wars).

We are also lacking severely in any other type of celebration or tradition.
Japan has stuff like Obon, Children's day and Seijin No Hi (coming of age).

Stuff like that really strengthens a country I think, and a lot of places (particularly western) seem to be lacking it. It's sad I think

I also think the fundamentals of celebration is to be happy and socialise, and most find happiness and enjoyment from having a day off just to drink and chill :} I know I love it!

*rant rant rant*

I think your right about that.^^
Western countries don't have much of these things like Obon, ANZAC, .. Belgium doesn't ..at least not that I know of. ( and I've been here for all my life) I wish we would though.. We do have a lot of music festivals in the summer! Like Graspop Metal Meeting ( alot of metal, industrial, etc bands come there) I love GMM I feel so free there.. and we also have Werchter wich is all kinds of music the same goes for Pukkelpop and Polsslag but those aren't the same as something like Obon..

[Ronin4hire]

The problem with being proud of your country is that even if the intentions are good... you can still be offensive.

If you agree that nationalism relies on symbolism then what you see as a symbol of community and an object towards which you feel affection, others may see as symbolic of oppression and injustice.

Controversial countries which have some terrible histories like Britain, America, China, France, Japan, Germany etc...

I must admit that when people of these countries show patriotism, despite knowing better, I do feel a sense of bitterness towards them. (Especially Americans, Brits and Chinese)

[TenmaAi]

I know that it can still be offensive to others but even if those countries have a bad history it shouldn't stand in your or someone elses way to show how proud you are to be a Belgian, Frenchman, American, etc..
You can't change history! It happend what you can do is make today and tomorrow and all the days after that, better. People are still free to believe in what they like. If people are proud of something why not show it? There will allways be people who will think otherwise ( that goes for everything btw) but I think that's their oppinion and I have mine .. I don't care about what others think about my way of living.. nor should others do that.

[TalnSG]

Noodle, your're not the only one proud of a British heritage - me too. I still have a pin from my first St. George's Day in 1956! But if we are getting very specific, then I place the the Brit with a little less honor than Scot and Manx. We won't discuss the French part. The little bit of Irish refuses to celebrate St. Patrick's Day given what he did to the non-Catholics - I would rather have the snakes.

But I was born in the U.S. and I am proud of my country, though like every nation ever founded it has its serious flaws.

With very few exceptions, the nations that survive today have something to be proud of, even if it isn't much at the moment. So focus on that and just don't force others to agree if they don't understand.

[TenmaAi]

Originally Posted by TalnSG

Noodle, your're not the only one proud of a British heritage - me too. I still have a pin from my first St. George's Day in 1956! But if we are getting very specific, then I place the the Brit with a little less honor than Scot and Manx. We won't discuss the French part. The little bit of Irish refuses to celebrate St. Patrick's Day given what he did to the non-Catholics - I would rather have the snakes.

But I was born in the U.S. and I am proud of my country, though like every nation ever founded it has its serious flaws.

With very few exceptions, the nations that survive today have something to be proud of, even if it isn't much at the moment. So focus on that and just don't force others to agree if they don't understand.

You're 100 % right..

[MMM]

Originally Posted by Ronin4hire

The problem with being proud of your country is that even if the intentions are good... you can still be offensive.

If you agree that nationalism relies on symbolism then what you see as a symbol of community and an object towards which you feel affection, others may see as symbolic of oppression and injustice.

Controversial countries which have some terrible histories like Britain, America, China, France, Japan, Germany etc...

I must admit that when people of these countries show patriotism, despite knowing better, I do feel a sense of bitterness towards them. (Especially Americans, Brits and Chinese)

This makes little sense to me. Pride in one's country is a positive thing. I am proud of the US and of its great people and accomplishments. I am not proud of the negative things the US has done throughout history, but that doesn't mean I still don't love America. It isn't black and white...I have to accept or reject EVERYTHING and EVERYBODY American. My pride in my country doesn't mean I am demeaning or belittling anyone else's country.

Just because my child failed a quiz doesn't mean I am not proud of him scoring a goal in soccer. And me being proud of his goal doesn't mean I am belittling the players who didn't score. I think your bitterness is misplaced.

[TenmaAi]

Originally Posted by MMM

This makes little sense to me. Pride in one's country is a positive thing. I am proud of the US and of its great people and accomplishments. I am not proud of the negative things the US has done throughout history, but that doesn't mean I still don't love America. It isn't black and white...I have to accept or reject EVERYTHING and EVERYBODY American. My pride in my country doesn't mean I am demeaning or belittling anyone else's country.

Just because my child failed a quiz doesn't mean I am not proud of him scoring a goal in soccer. And me being proud of his goal doesn't mean I am belittling the players who didn't score. I think your bitterness is misplaced.

You're absolutely right.. If we'd only look at the negative things that what happend where's the fun in that? Just the thought is depressing try to see the good things xD There are plenty of them ! Those are the things we should be proud of.. I know the bad things shouldn't be forgotten or ignored ( those are horrible enough) but people should all focus on making things better and not worse..

[ARoomwithaMOOSE]

Can't say as there is much that I like about where I live.
I think where I live is pretty messed up, and that there really isn't much hope for it either.
(sorry to all you "good old boys/girls" out there it's just how I feel)

[survivingonrice]

i don't hate america!
matbe i even love it! *gasp* 'omg nooo its america'

i hate that kind of attitude
i'm glad that i live in a place where i know people from all over the world..where else can u find that? and the government doesn't come to your house and beat you up...i mean shhesh what else do you want?

[BusterWolfXII]

I've learned some stories about Canada that have made me cringe inside, but really, other than that, I'm not only one proud Canadian, I'm one proud French-Canadian and one proud Native-Canadian.