Fun Stuff > CHATTER
patriotism/nationalism
Vendetagainst:
And an American created the segway, and I cannot have pride in that :cry:
Hat:
I don't think there's anything inherently wrong with nationalism or patriotism in their most simple forms. It's a natural human reaction to form social clumps, and while we, the proud denizens of the internet have access to a world of people, many people don't, and the condescending attitude that is fairly common on the internet of "patriotism and nationalism are a waste of time" is something I find kind of amusing. The fact that it has been used an excuse for atrocities doesn't necessarily mean we should attempt to abolish it altogether, because we are capable of atrocities for whatever reasons, but the move towards global communication is a good step forward with people identifying themselves based on more fundamental aspects of what they are, rather than an arbitrary point where they were born.
With that said, I don't consider place of birth to be any less arbitrary than a lot of other things we identify with, since we are always to a large extent, products of our environment. While a lot of you might resent the determinism of this, I just don't think it makes sense to say "I didn't have a choice as to where I was born" when its so hard to tell exactly what aspects of my personality I actually have a choice in.
Vendetagainst:
well I'm sorry but to say that our pride comes only from being taught is fallacious unless you apply it to all pride.
Perhaps the word "roots" is erroneous as it implies a depth of origin, but American culture is certainly something unique and complex (don't be confused by the mainstream, which is, of course, not.)
Oli:
How is feeling a connection with went on thousands of years ago any more legitimate than feeling a connection with what happened 300 years ago?
jhocking:
--- Quote from: ViolentDove on 24 Jul 2008, 15:47 ---This question is a bit funny. In some places (Australia- probably others?) it's almost seen as borderline offensive, as there is an assumption that the person asking the question is making the assumption that "you're not from here", and that this is a bad thing.
--- End quote ---
Oh, I didn't realize there was a cultural difference here. In the US that's a perfectly normal question; especially every place I've ever been (big cities mostly) most everyone originated in some other state and moved later in life, so in intensity the question is the equivalent of "what do you do?"
As violent dove said, it's small talk. It just happens that I don't have an easy answer like most people.
--- Quote from: Oli on 24 Jul 2008, 16:13 ---I also do not understand people that proudly exclaim that X was invented where they are from as if they had anything to do with it's invention whatsoever.
--- End quote ---
How about sports fans who go on about how "we won!"
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version