Home Country Pride

[rameek]

If you reside in another country do you find that you have more pride in your country than before?

[Praetorian]

Why anybody would take actual pride in their country is beyond me. Do I like that the Netherlands is overall regarded to be the most free first world country in the world? Yeah. But I don't take pride in that - I'd prefer many other countries have the same or even more freedom and prosperity than we currently have. Most if not all people posting on this forum should be unhappy not everybody in the world is able to live in the luxury we live in, rather than bask in glory that we are, relatively, a select few who enjoy that kind of luxury.

Although I have to admit - I used to be somewhat of a patriot. Why? I don't know. I probably didn't know as much as I do now (and I have a lot more to learn, of course). I think my exaggerated patriotism was just a response to the outright nationalism of people living in other countries, and I wanted to annoy them even more than they annoyed me.

But I realised that, in the end, an eye for an eye makes the world blind. I realised that I should end the vicious cycle on my part, rather than fuel it. Now when people are overly nationalistic I'd like to think they are probably just jealous, brainwashed or annoyed easily. Or a combination of the three.

[Shishio]

I would say I have a little to a moderate amount of pride in my country. I think Canada is pretty good as far as countries go.

As for why, I guess because I feel it's a decent enough place to warrant some esteem on my part.

(But perhpas I should not have replied since I have only been outside of Canada once, and not for very long.)

[Jay]

I have the utmost pride in my country. The mateship, the spirit, what you can take in with your eyes and brain - such as scenery, history and culture - and the sporting successes.

I don't give a stuff about the politics. This country has gone way downhill in the last ten years in that perspective.

What I have real respect for is the Aboriginal culture and people. I have to say, most of the urbanised Aborigines outside of city areas live in shit neighbourhoods where they fight and cause trouble - and I'm not just singling them out, I've seen it with my own two eyes. Where am I going with this? Fifty years ago the Australian Government forcibly removed Aboriginal babies from their homes because they believed the mothers to be unfit, because of the living conditions. Yet if I had a dollar for every black person that said "no offense" to me when they called me a white person in their dialect, I'd have... well, I'd have a lot of money.

After all the persecution they went through, to still have the respect to say "no offense" to a white person like me, that deserves real respect.

[MeneerDijk]

Country pride? maybe only in an opportunistic way for me, like when a Dutch person or team does good in sports, for the rest i don't really care. I do feel lucky i was born in a 'rich' country though.

If it's up to me i'll be leaving The Netherlands permanently in the not too distant future. I'm not going to hide the fact that i'm from Holland but i wont stick it in peoples faces either.

[Fermented Yeast Paste]

I'm in love with the geography of the United States. Fields, deserts, mountains, marshes, snow, rivers, forests, we've got it all (or most of it). I take pride in being from a country that as all of that.

I also like being from a country with such a rich history as the United States (and before it was the United States), whether good or bad.

Freedom of speech and other basic civil rights are not something to take pride in. Or rather, it shouldn't be necessary to take pride in them, because they should be available everywhere. They just aren't.

Patriotism/nationalism are sorta funny. The real reason is because people want to be a part of something. It's that simple.

[setrict]

I think that the degree of pride you are allowed in something should be proportional to your contribution to it. To take pride in something you have no control over is hollow and false.

I'm glad the US has a diverse geography. I'm happy we here have a reasonable standard of living when compared to many places. I consider myself lucky to have been born here rather than some place like Somalia. I'm lucky to have had the opportunity for education. None of those give me any pride.

I'm proud of using that opportunity for education. I take pride in helping build my community by volunteering from time to time, and by providing jobs to employees. I take pride in making sure to vote, and to be well enough informed on the issues to vote wisely. I'm proud when someone I have voted for chooses wisely and affects the nation in a good way (hey, it happens occasionally!)

Am I proud of my country? A little, because I'm trying to do more than most to make this place better.

[mugen]

I have the utmost pride in my country. The mateship, the spirit, what you can take in with your eyes and brain - such as scenery, history and culture - and the sporting successes.

I don't give a stuff about the politics. This country has gone way downhill in the last ten years in that perspective.

What I have real respect for is the Aboriginal culture and people. I have to say, most of the urbanised Aborigines outside of city areas live in shit neighbourhoods where they fight and cause trouble - and I'm not just singling them out, I've seen it with my own two eyes. Where am I going with this? Fifty years ago the Australian Government forcibly removed Aboriginal babies from their homes because they believed the mothers to be unfit, because of the living conditions. Yet if I had a dollar for every black person that said "no offense" to me when they called me a white person in their dialect, I'd have... well, I'd have a lot of money.

After all the persecution they went through, to still have the respect to say "no offense" to a white person like me, that deserves real respect.

ardo hacked jay :boggled:

edit: ah, I finally get it.
I'm tired :(

[kinned7261]

i got like 20 venezuelan soccer shirts even though they suck and the Venezuelan flag posted up on my wall, just shows how much pride i got :-D . I find that many americans dont have as much pride though. Maybe i just have this much pride because im not in venezuela anymore.

[ZaichikArky]

I have the utmost pride in my country. The mateship, the spirit, what you can take in with your eyes and brain - such as scenery, history and culture - and the sporting successes.

I don't give a stuff about the politics. This country has gone way downhill in the last ten years in that perspective.

What I have real respect for is the Aboriginal culture and people. I have to say, most of the urbanised Aborigines outside of city areas live in shit neighbourhoods where they fight and cause trouble - and I'm not just singling them out, I've seen it with my own two eyes. Where am I going with this? Fifty years ago the Australian Government forcibly removed Aboriginal babies from their homes because they believed the mothers to be unfit, because of the living conditions. Yet if I had a dollar for every black person that said "no offense" to me when they called me a white person in their dialect, I'd have... well, I'd have a lot of money.

After all the persecution they went through, to still have the respect to say "no offense" to a white person like me, that deserves real respect.


Yeaah. For Tourism class last quarter, we had to read this book called "Tracks" by this woman named Robyn Davidson(I believe) who went out into the Western Australian desert all by herself for a lot of the journey. She travelled with her 4 camels and her bitch Diggity(who I thought was a camel throughout most of the book ^_^*). She did a really great job in exposing the horrific things the Australian government did to Aboriginal people over the last few decades... they've been getting screwed for a really long time >_<. It really was one of the most awsome books I've had to read all year.

And as for the question, yes I feel very proud of my country and what it stands for... liberty, freedom, the persuit of happiness. My parents came here dirt poor in 1990 and managed to do very very well for themselves just by sheer willpower and hard work.

It's more like I feel "grateful" to live here, though. I know a lot of people like to complain about how we're losing all of our freedoms, we destroy the enviornment, America sucks overall, bla bla. Sometimes, I'd just like to tell those people, "try living somewhere else", how about Subsaharan Africa for one. Maybe then you wouldn't be complaining so much. I used to be a "communist" when I was about 15 and my dad would always get really pissed at me and tell me to tell my other "communist" friends to try living in a real socialist country(we're from the USSR by the way). Cuba was his primary example, then they'd see what being a "socialist/communist" was really about. It annoyed me, but he did have a point.

There are times that I'd be proud of my government, unfortuately, since Bush has taken office, those times are VERY few and far between. And we don't exactly have international acclaim as we used to, but I really, really am hoping that by 2008 it'll be better somehow. Even if we get stuck with another Republican(I can't stand 90% of Republicans :|), I just can't see a leader any worse than President Bush.

So right now, I am just content that I am very grateful for living here. I am more inclined to feel this way because I'm a "Jewish"(father's side) immigrant from the USSR. I'd have a much different live had we not immigrated here at the fall of the Soviet Union. I have a lot of privilages that Russian people don't have living in Russia.

I really love America, and I've gotten the chance to see different parts of the world when I was younger and less appreciative. I really liked visiting other countries,but was a bit too young and immature to really understand where I was going. So even though a lot of the world hates us, I think that the more intelligent people hate our political leaders, not us in general. At least, I'd like to be optimistic and think that :p.

Americans, and Californians *especially* are some of the friendliest cultures out there. So I do feel pride, but all for respect of other countries which I am much less familiar with. Being an anthropology major has put a lot of that into perspective for me. I think, though, that even if I travel a lot and find a country I will really love, I will go back to America, because for *me*, America is really the best place I can live in.

[King Kong]

I take pride in my accomplishments only, such as art, music and reaching lifetime goals.

Pride in a country seems somewhat artificial since your pride is an attachment to the projected positive image (in your mind) of that country. This view doesn't take into account the negative attributes that most countries possess and is very much a distorted view.

[Uberking Robert]

If you reside in another country do you find that you have more pride in your country than before?


It's pretty hard to be proud of your country if you're Canadian. :(

[ZaichikArky]

It's pretty hard to be proud of your country if you're Canadian. :(


Do you mean that you're not proud to be Canadian? I'd be :p. Heh. It was pretty funny, the day that President Bush was declared to be the winner of the 2004 election, the Canadian immigration website had more hits than ever before. It was apparently pretty impressive.

I like a lot of things about Canada. Primarily the health care system seems to me far better than our beaurocratic one :|. I really do believe in universal health care. I wish Hillary Clinton's health care reform went through back in the 90s. I think it really would have benefited our country.

You ask liberals, they'd tell you all about what they think of Canada, and let me assure you that it sits in a very positive light with them ^_^*.

[Vic_Rattlehead]

I like living in England. Its a country where if you work hard, you will get what you deserve. Sure theres alot of stories of thugs and what not, but if you take that away, then you have a generally friendly country that enrichs in different cultures.

However, I will be moving to Germany (possibly permanently) once I finish my degree. However it could be possible that I may choose to live in Japan for a good while. Although as I havent been yet, theres the possibility that I may not enjoy chooing to live my life there after going. But it all depends. But it's almost certain that I will be living in Frankfurt from 2010.

[Roxie]

No.:bored:

[Urban~Ninja]

Im Australian, damn proud of it, though our country isnt all rainbows and unicorns as some believe. (Hornsby Sydney is now the breeding ground for wanna be gangsters) We are a friendly people and have a really good attitude to life i think, we dont mind being put down or being ignored, we have a "Have a go" attitude and if we fail we dont mind nor bother with making excuses.

While i have pride in Australia no matter where i happen to be, Im also proud of my Irish heratiage, thought i dont really care when people make drunkard Irish jokes and such, I do have a disliking for the English, not because im Irish though, i just dont like England (Not the people, the country).

Homecountry pride is a good thing aslong as it isnt like some Cuban kids i know that will cut you if you say a bad word about Havana.

[Druid]

Yup. Proud to be a citizen o' the United States of America. Very much so.

[japanat]

Proud of my country? Yep.

Blinded by that pride? Nope.

Pride does not equal unreasoning faith. And living overseas in many ways allows me to look at my country more clearly, and more easily identify the things I both like and would wish to change (especially the lemming-effect in recent elections)

[MNJetter]

I've never been a huge fan of the United States as a whole (don't hate it by any means - just never really could relate to something so big and diverse), but I think I have an ample amount of pride in my home state of Minnesota. There's a reason they call them "states" (i.e., synonym for "nations") and not provinces. And my interest in its history and current issues have increased since coming here to Japan, partly because I want to tell people where I'm from, and partly because looking up stuff from Minnesota has actually piqued my own interest more, I would say "partially yes," in answer to Rameek's original question. Not more national pride, necessarily, but definately more pride in the history/politics of the place I came from and relate to in a nationalistic sense.

[羽之助]

I'm proud that Canada quietly shuffles along, as per the normal. I'm proud that we say "eh" after every sentence, eh.

[Trump]

I have pride in my country because I care about my country, the people who live there and the people who my country affects. I also feel like I have an impact in how my country acts. I would also feel that way about anything I help control.

[chad mullet]

Im Australian, damn proud of it, though our country isnt all rainbows and unicorns as some believe. (Hornsby Sydney is now the breeding ground for wanna be gangsters) We are a friendly people and have a really good attitude to life i think, we dont mind being put down or being ignored, we have a "Have a go" attitude and if we fail we dont mind nor bother with making excuses.

While i have pride in Australia no matter where i happen to be, Im also proud of my Irish heratiage, thought i dont really care when people make drunkard Irish jokes and such, I do have a disliking for the English, not because im Irish

That's a bit unreasonable - England "invented" Australia surely. That's why you have that nice English lady for your Head of State.[May she reign a thousand years].

[Druid]

Invented? That's bending the truth a wee bit...

[chad mullet]

Invented? That's bending the truth a wee bit...

OK then -found it and took it from it's original occupants before any other fuckers did.

[Druid]

There ya go.

[hanacker]

I'm proud that our football team is going to kick some French ass. Go Togo!

[Jay]

Do you really think you can eclipse the number five team in the world?

All I can say is good luck. ;)

[kilreli]

actually, living in japan has made me love america more. not cause im "that cool gaijin" and junk and foreigners get more attention(for the note i still get no action, so my loserness bar extends above my gaijin coolness bar), but becuase i finally got to see america from an outside perspective, and also another country from their perspective, and realize that every country has its problems and great things about it. sure i hate the normal american attitude where they dont give a damn about anyone and basically believe that if you look up "world" and "america" in the dictionary you'll get teh same deifinition, but ive still grown some nationalism to america while i was here. maybe its cause i hate most japanese sports teams. also, living in japan has made me be more prideful for korea, another country that i WILL go to and live in.

[anver]

I do feel patriotic to a certain degree.
There are many things I like about my country, like the beautiful countryside, the rich history and culture, the relaxed outlook on life, the magnificent cuisine.

There's also lots of things I do not like, for example the still quite unprocessed history of being part of Nazi Germany, the current state of politics, the horrible state of affairs with the laws regarding asylum (many people seeking asylum are forced to live on 40 Euros a month for several years without being allowed to work legally), the widespread stupidity.

But overall, I'm happy to have been born here.

[hanacker]

Do you really think you can eclipse the number five team in the world?

All I can say is good luck. ;)

Well, after jumping to a 1-0 lead, the South Korea game was a disappointment. But I think we match up better with the European teams so I'm not worried. It's not like France did much against Switzerland.

[Daishikaze]

It's not like France did much against Switzerland.

Which Switzerland will gloat about for the rest of the month

[Jay]

I think Switzerland have a much better football team than they display in their matches.

[Daishikaze]

I wouldn't know, I don't watch football

[Josh]

Virginian First, American Second. Partly because I can think of so many more reasons to be a proud Virginian. My family has been here since 1634. Our excellent history spanning from the first english colony that stuck around to our current spot as the only state to produce nuclear powered aircraft carriers. Doesn't seem majorly important but thats still pretty cool to me.

American? Yes indeed im proud. My family has served in every major conflict since colonial times. :) We helped create this place as well as try to tear it down... There was that whole Confederate States of America thing, but eh. Still proud.

My national pride did take a hit yesterday though when the Czech Republic completely ass raped our team. 0-3 Ouch.

All that said, I don't let it blind me. I still think a lot of the stuff the US does is BS.

[chad mullet]

Virginian First, American Second.


Like Robert E Lee.

[Xephon]

Proud to be born and raised in the O'l Us of A. Even if it has a douchebag for a President right now.

[Josh]

Like Robert E Lee.

Sure. I would gladly lead the Army of Northern Virginia lol. First stop is Topeka and South Carolina has been itching to sucede again for a while now so, go me!

[Destiny]

That is an interesting question. Unlike most people on these boards I come from a very small and currently quite unimportant country. After communism fell we were raised, intentionally or not, to feel inferior to the real "democratic" countries and to take pride exclusively in our distant (1300 years) past when we were an empire blah blah blah. I do take pride in the long and sometimes amazingly heroic (no sarcasm here) history and in the culture, which survives wherever there are more than 2 Bulgarians (because only 2 usually either hate or love each other and there is little space for anything else). Check any big city in Europe and the US for a Bulgarian Folk Dancing group and you will see what I mean. Hell, there is a Bulgarian song in a shuttle, forgotitsname, in space!
So yeah. Going abroad made me ask myself many times who I am and what I am and where I am coming from and where I am going to, and many times I was ashamed of what some of my country-mates were doing right in front of me (trolls). I guess I am proud of being Bulgarian because it is part of what I am, not because of what somebody else did or did not do. There are good things and bad things about my country, both far back and now, but that does not change the fact that I love it. I love it just like I love my mother, not because she is perfect, but because she is there and she is what she is.

[Jon885]

When I went to Canada when spending US money I felt kind of stupid since I thought the Canadians thought Americans were stupid. A lot of them do actually. So no. Not if you live in one of the most hated countries in the world.

edit: that second part was kinda stupid.

[Druid]

That was random....

[Orclover]

Sincerely proud to have been born in the United States. Proud Marine, and proud Texan. Always have been proud of my country, and barring global nuclear war I always will be. Never be ashamed of where you come from, even if the world hates you. Its not like all the other nations never elect fuckups to lead them on occasion. Historically we are way ahead of the curve.

[Jon885]

You make a good point, and I probably shouldn't be ashamed of being an American, but I don't see a reason to be proud. Why be proud becuase of what other people did in your country that were beneficial? Shouldn't you be proud of what you've accromplished as an individual instead of being proud of living on a piece of land?

[Orclover]

By the same logic pride in a sports team would be equally pointless (maybe it is? who knows). I mean its not you or your family doing great acts of physical fitness but a team of people who dont know you from Adam. But we have team pride (some more than others) anyways. I have pride in my kids sometimes not because of what I have taught them, but what they do that I havent taught them but they figured out on thier own.

Our nation in its past beat Japan in war, no nation on earth had ever done that, hell not even the Mongols had done it and they beat everybody at the time. Now I had nothing to do with it obviously but I take pride in the thought that our nation has a habbit of only losing to 3rd world countries that nobody at home can agree to fight. But we win any fight the home front WANTS the country to be in. Being born in the U.S.A sets the bar on what it takes to be a truely remarkable citizen (barring lousy reality shows), its amazing how few of our citizens ever make it above the rest. We dont have alot of Bill Gates or Steve Jobs or Bill Clintons (ok that ones debatable), but we do have them.

[Mechs]

Orclover beat me to it :(.

I'm proud to be a American, Proud to be a Chicagoian :).

[Jon885]

By the same logic pride in a sports team would be equally pointless (maybe it is? who knows). I mean its not you or your family doing great acts of physical fitness but a team of people who dont know you from Adam. But we have team pride (some more than others) anyways. I have pride in my kids sometimes not because of what I have taught them, but what they do that I havent taught them but they figured out on thier own.

Our nation in its past beat Japan in war, no nation on earth had ever done that, hell not even the Mongols had done it and they beat everybody at the time. Now I had nothing to do with it obviously but I take pride in the thought that our nation has a habbit of only losing to 3rd world countries that nobody at home can agree to fight. But we win any fight the home front WANTS the country to be in. Being born in the U.S.A sets the bar on what it takes to be a truely remarkable citizen (barring lousy reality shows), its amazing how few of our citizens ever make it above the rest. We dont have alot of Bill Gates or Steve Jobs or Bill Clintons (ok that ones debatable), but we do have them.

The logic for the sports team makes sense. I'm not proud to be from Pittsburgh because the Steelers won the superbowl. I didn't win the superbowl the team did. And while it is commendable that America has won wars I'm not proud of _myself_ that they did. I think it's good, and the people should be congradulated who made this country a better place, but I didn't have any part in it so I'm not proud to be an American.

I'm proud of the people that have done things that are beneficial to this country, but I'm not proud to be a part of something that I had no help doing.

[hanacker]

Unlike most people on these boards I come from a very small and currently quite unimportant country.

Not compared to Togo.

[Destiny]

Well, I did say "most" and honestly, not such a big difference between the two. Anyways the debate seems to be mostly "proud to be American" so, as usual, I don't think it matters.

[hanacker]

Well, I did say "most" and honestly, not such a big difference between the two. Anyways the debate seems to be mostly "proud to be American" so, as usual, I don't think it matters.

I was just trying to make you feel better by not being from the smallest and least important country here.

[chad mullet]

If you reside in another country do you find that you have more pride in your country than before?

I've not spent a long time in other countries although I did once drive all the way from Glasgow to Athens - and back.

I like my country because it's familiar .I'm not proud or ashamed of Britain and I'm sure it's as good or bad as anywhere else. [Except France which would be fine without the French]. I've always felt happy to get back here.
As a fellow Brit once said ,"Abroad is beastly; foreigners are fiends!"

[Lea]

Oh... I guess I'm proud to be American in some ways. I'm dissapointed quite a bit with our country, especially lately, but the United States will always be my home. I may live in foreign places for awhile in the future, but I have a feeling that I will always return home in the end. I was born and raised here... I don't think I could ever leave it behind forever.