I think theres something to be said about being proud where you come from. Nothing wrong with that.

If it gets people motivated to help each other and better their country, it's good, if it's used to cultivate a sense of "otherness" against other groups (thereby disabling your ability to empathize with them and enabling your ability to inflict horrors upon them without compunction) then it's bad.

Fairly straightforward. All things in moderation

Good if its between people who share a common goal to increase morale - bad if its forced down the necks throats of people who dont even give a damn.

Edit: err brain freeze

Pride is one of the seven deadly sins.
So, I would say... just don't have to much of it. I think a little bit of national pride is okay.
But I wouldn't go around saying "America is the best!!!! All other countries suck!!"

National pride is good, as you should be happy that you are who you are. As long as national pride is not used as an excuse to spread hatred or racism, then being proud of your nationality is fine. Pride is definitely a great feeling to have when something like the olympic games is on.

I agree with Carlin. Pride clouds the mind and leads to people lying to themselves. It crushes objectivity. Even worse, it turns into something where the main purpose seems to be to divide and self-segregate. Am I proud to be white? I mean, seriously, the hell is that? It's skin color. People are proud of pigmentation. They're proud of where their grandparents came from even if they've never been there themselves. How does that make sense?

Most importantly, though, pride is the nose-ring by which the powerful lead the masses. That's always been the case. How many people throw their lives away for pride when all they are really accomplishing is to make the powerful even more powerful?

pokoko said: I agree with Carlin. Pride clouds the mind and leads to people lying to themselves. It crushes objectivity. Even worse, it turns into something where the main purpose seems to be to divide and self-segregate. Am I proud to be white? I mean, seriously, the hell is that? It's skin color. People are proud of pigmentation. They're proud of where their grandparents came from even if they've never been there themselves. How does that make sense? Most importantly, though, pride is the nose-ring by which the powerful lead the masses. That's always been the case. How many people throw their lives away for pride when all they are really accomplishing is to make the powerful even more powerful?

But national pride and patriotism can be invoked by leaders to do good things. For instance, if you're a proud citizen, you might be more willing to report corruption in, say, law enforcement for the betterment of the country, because you believe Americans/Brazilians/whoever should be better than that.

It's a political tool like any other, that can be used to positive ends. Other negative qualities can be turned towards good ends under careful guidance, like greed or envy.

There has to be a middle way to follow with the issue of pride, too much and it can lead to alienation and hate, but some national pride can help drive people to work together in tough times.

Ex of the former:America now.

Ex of the latter:South Korea after Korean war.

Seems that most people think in similar ways.

Definitely. But like anything that is good it can be "used for bad".

Countries with national pride, whether in their industries, businesses or sports people tend to have a feel good factor that can motivate the nation.

I don't think this is the case anymore in much of the west which coincidentally reflects it's falling status.

I read a report recently that a shocking number of Americans don't even invest in their own country anymore and immigrants tend to invest their money in the nations they originated from.
How can this help?

Extreme national pride can lead to facism and that's the danger.