Question 95

What do you think of patriotism?

• "Real" partiotism, as in love for and concern about your country, is good. A partiot recognizes that his own country has its faults and works to solve the country's problems.

  But nationalism (which many people, particularly right-wingers, often refer to as "patriotism") is bad. Nationalism is the belief that your own country is superior to all others. Nationalists often believe that their country can do no wrong or deserves special treatment in the world community. It's the kind of blind, gratuitous, flag-waving, might-makes-right, "foreigners are inferior" nationalism that makes me want to puke.

  That's how I see it. (Chris Nelson #135)

• I'm all for it, as long as you happen to live in a country which is worth being patriotic about.

  Is the United States worth patriotism? I think it is, in principle if not in practice. (Dave Holloway #1184)

• Patriotism is worse than Xianism,in that it breeds zealots of a similarly dangerous and destructive type, but they will have the backing of the state far more often. Your Country is just the place where you have had the fortune or otherwise to be born, and more often than not it will rob you of money and freedom (just mho) (Rik Newbold #1589)

• I have as little use for it as religion. We're one planet, and we'd better start getting used to that fact. (raven1 #1096)

• Patriotism when confined to being proud of the accomplishments of your country, defending the freedoms and rights of its citizenry, or protecting their economic and personal welfare is certainly in the best interests of the country and should be encouraged. However, I loathe the flip side of patriotism when it is expressed as nationalistic demagoguery, love it or leave it, my country right or wrong rhetoric. (Liz Huth #658)

• I'm a bit leery of people who insist that we should love our country. There are a great many things I like about this country, but then there are many things I don't like, too. All in all, though, I think it's one of the greatest countries in the world, and I would go to great lengths to defend it.

  That, however, is a long cry from, "My country, right or wrong." The country isn't something worthy of worship, or blind adoration. (Carl Funk #1229)

• I am not too fond of it. I am afraid that the line between strong patriotism and nationalism is not very easy to draw. But then again I am all for open borders and stuff like that. Many fellow swedes seems to get more xenophobic by the hour so I might soon be alone in my views. (Ichimusai #769)

• I think that it can be both a good thing and a bad thing. It can lead people to feel safe and comfortable in their society, and keep insurrection down, but on the other hand it can cause people to be blind to the faults in their country, and to blindly follow. I am not over patriotic and in recent years have become more and more disillusioned with my country, but I really am not that thrilled with any others either. (Chani #1118)

• I've mentioned in alt.atheism before that: I think that part of the reason I gave up evangelical Christianity (even though I had a 'born again' experience) is because I'm probably a little more cynical, by nature, than most people.

  I just don't see how 'seeking the truth' can go hand-in-hand with unquestioning faith.

  And in this same context (being cynical) I've also mentioned before that I am very leery of most overt forms of patriotism. Although, I do consider myself a 'good American'.

  I wonder if suspicion towards overt patriotism is a common atheist trait? (pan #1432)

• I am skeptical of patriotism. I just find it too much like theism. Like a theist belief it must never be questioned.

  It is used to kill huge numbers of people and to fight wars.
  It is used to deprive others of human rights.
  We're right and they're wrong.
  We are the saints and they are the devils.
  It is used to quash independent thought.
  It demands absolute obedience to an authority figure or institution.
  It is used to curb democratic institutions.

  Patriotism is a form of mass hysteria. It is an essential motivator for getting people to do things to others that (they) are not usually capable of doing. People will inflict REAL pain on other REAL people in the name of an ABSTRACT idea called a nation. How can you value your country without devaluing others as being worth less than your "kind"? Like a belief in a god the belief of "my country right or wrong" is both irrational and dangerous. (Peter Kelly #1417)