patriotism

An interesting question that I'm sure will provide a range of replies from various users across the forum.

- In a world where we are generally trying to treat all other nations equally, and where technology allows us to communicate more easily with other countries, is there still a place for patriotism?

- It can be claimed that patriotism still exists in the form of athletics, but is this the same kind of loyalty that sees wars fought?

- Is patriotism generally a good thing for society? In controlled amounts? Not at all?

- Are you patriotic? How do you feel about other patriots?

Discuss.

IMO, it still exists but does not fit in the current society.

It's all about me me me nowadays.

With mass media not helping but adding to the problem.
With the "reality" TV shows, Jersey Shores and the like, that's not helping.
With the other shows, such as Sex and the City, not helping neither.

There are just way too many things gone wrong.

I understand that people love their country and want to show it, people can do whatever they want as long as it's not hurting anyone

However, I do see how things like blind and extreme loyalty can be dangerous

Ideally, I'd like to see a future where the entire planet united with the common interest of protecting and maintaining planet Earth. Futurama anyone?

To answer your question, it's still visible in modern society at the moment, but ideally, in a more advanced society, it shouldn't be

I wouldn't really describe myself as patriotic per se, I've lived in many places so I don't really feel that loyal to any single one, though if it had to be one ,it would probably be where my mom and dad are originally from, Jordan

I don't think I have any feelings about other patriots, as long as they don't bother me I'm good

I think there's still a place for patriotism. For example, I try to buy Irish goods ahead of foreign imports where possible to support our economy, something I assume people in other countries do too. I'm pleased when Irish athletes and teams do well, rare as that is.

I finished A Little History of The World by E. H. Gombrich last night. In it he says

"I know a wise old Buddhist monk who ... once said he'd love to know why someone who boasts that he is the cleverest, the strongest, the bravest or the most gifted man on earth is thought ridiculous and embarrassing, whereas if, instead of 'I', he says, 'WE are the most intelligent, the strongest, the bravest and most gifted people on earth',his fellow countrymen applaud enthusiastically and call him a patriot. ... One can be attached to one's own country without needing to insist that the rest of the world's inhabitants are worthless"

I think that's about right. It's okay to support your own country as long as you don't think other races are inherently inferior.

I don't know. It's always baffled me as to why people are patriotic. It's only an area of the earth that you were born in by sheer chance. Ofcourse you can like where you live, but I've never understood the "devoted love" and loyalty people can feel for an area of land between some man-made borders, especially when they treat it as if all countries are in some sort of competition to see who's better than eachother at everything.

Patriotism is too often used as an excuse to rob from us our property and liberty. So, no, I don't think there's a place for it in modern society, nor was there ever throughout human history.

It's one thing to be proud of your country, or for "friendly" patriotism (supporting your area in sporting events, etc), or to support your local community. But patriotism in the way it is often used is not healthy for our societal well-being.

Nah not anymore, governments are too corrupt nowadays to just have blind faith in them. We have to start questioning things and not just accepting things for how they are. Greece already got screwed up, and it won't be long before the rest of Europe and Canada/US do the same if things don't change.

ah patriotism the excuse to be stupid.

iraq war anyone. nobody wants to be unpatriotic so stupidity follows.

theres nothing worst than american patriotism its so filled with hypocrisy, arrogance and ignorance.

the tea party for example so called patriots. they all like to talk about the constitution but break into the i, my , us against them camp when it start off "We"...

Theres nothing patriotic about austerity

Lol so a balanced budget, small government and more freedom is unpatriotic? I'd rather have that than what we have now which is big government, out of control debt and inflation. 

Inflation hurts everyone, especially the poor.

decent patriotism is ok (yes i'm happy to live in germany and not in burma and how germany acts the past decades) but many are so blind and stupid defending everything their country is doing, it's unbelievable. man it's just coincidence if you get born in this or that country and those people defending their country for everything against another country (not in war, just political and so on). those would do the same vice versa with a totally different system!

people who say "i'm so proud to be an american" would say "shit usa" if they would live in some other country and people who hate usa would say "america over all" if they would live there. that'S so unbelievable stupid!

i can say that i like some things my country is doing and i'm happy to live here but that doesnt mean that my country is better than many other countries.