I don't really think of myself as a citizen of a particular country. I don't mean that I don't want to be an American. But rather I don't feel any more or less proud because I'm a citizen of a particular country. I'd like to think my own deeds and accomplishments are much more important than that of my own country's. That said, am I glad I to be an American? Yes. It's a similar feeling to be glad being born to loving parents and grew up in a stable home. But these are not of my own accomplishments. And I would never be "proud" of them like I can my own success.
I sort of agree. Saying you are proud of being of a certain nationality sort of implies that you are happy you are not of another nationality. Otherwise there is no reason to be proud of being an American. Saying that you are proud of certain things your country have done (or a certain type of freedom) I can understand. Since there are many countries who didn't do those good things. However very few of us actually had anything to do with being American (or in my case Dutch). So for me it is not something I'm proud of. To answer your question. I appreciate certain aspects of the Dutch culture (the progressive attitude, the drugs policy). And I am not happy with other aspects (Wilders, our involvement in the Iraq war). And I feel very lucky that I was born in the Netherlands. However I'm not proud to be Dutch. For example I would never do a pledge of allegiance like people in the US does. I just do not feel the connection the piece of land that is within a random drawn border. I also do not feel connected with my country (except when there is a sport competition). IMHO there have been some random borders drawn on our world. but the fact that one person lives 2 Miles west of the border and is therefore German does not make them different from the person who lives 2 miles to the east and is Dutch. It is just something that irks me, since people like to be able to determine who is part of there group and who is not. This leads to valuing a life of a person part of that group higher than a life of someone not part of that group (What we see in wars). Or thinking that other cultures/ immigrants are less important than the people who already live in the Netherlands. Sorry for my rant. But I just saw Wilders on the tv again. and I just rubs me the wrong way. I'm not saying that everybody that is proud of their country thinks the way I described above. I agree. The same goes for people claiming a country is perfect. Many people I know complain about the Netherlands, but have never visited another country. Both extreme sides of the argument usually haven't visited other countries. http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=172043&highlight=countries+visited
Pride is something I would generally associate with achievement. Having been lucky or unlucky to be born in a particular country is not really an achievement as it is something one had no influence on. That's why the concept of being proud to be an [insert country name here] is something that has always confused me. Fortunate to be an American? Fortunate to be a German? Unfortunate to be born in Afghanistan at the wrong time in history? I can see those. But pride isn't really the first thing that comes to mind for me when talking about what nationality you were born into. The other aspect about "being proud to be ..." is that it has an aspect of superiority that can and will sometimes be interpreted as demeaning to others, as history has shown (German history in particular). Therefore one should be careful with this whole pride thing. I love cheering for my country at sports events, but I wouldn't go as far as saying "my country is greater than yours".
People died so that we can have the opportunities we do. Did they die without purpose? I hope not. Pride? I am not sure. But I appreciate the hell out of our ancestors, and I believe we owe them a hell of a lot for the freedoms we have now.
Yes, yes, yes - this is so true! I think these are some very wise sentences... I never really understood why you should feel proud about your home country and for that matter I never really understood the "concept" of patriotism which is much stronger in the USA than where I live (Austria, Europe), I believe. Why should I be proud of something that I have not achieved, chosen or influenced in any way? In addition I always thought that being proud of your country can potentially be something dangerous because some people interpret it as being better or of more value than people from other countries.
