The notion of patriotism
POSTED BY: Khyron
UPDATED: Friday, October 24, 2025 19:53
VIEWED: 8001
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So when, if at all, will the human race finally overcome this lingering side-effect of its evolutionary past?
While there can be no doubt that tribalism had its merits, the purpose of civilisation is to overcome humanity's less desirable and outdated instincts. Yet this one is still going strong, and in fact is regarded as being virtuous. Am I the only one who finds this strange?
The best argument against democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter.
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No, you're not alone. I find it a stupid idea that one should be loyal to the geographic location in which they were born, or take it as a personal attack when someone mocks or insults said piece of land. The dirt's not gonna reciprocate, or pay us back in any way - and, most likely, neither is the government.
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That seems a fairly one sided view. Perhaps love is an outdated outmoded concept, people kill for it and sometimes it forces you into loyalties and allegiances that are un-reciprocated and only harm you personally.
More insane ramblings by the people who brought you beeeer milkshakes!
No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see.
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Citizen here made a very apt analogy.
Patriotism IS love. It is love for your country and the people in it.
It is what causes you to feel outrage and sorrow when our soldiers die.
It is what causes you to feel charitable when New Orleans is flattened by Hurricane and Flood.
It is what makes you cheer when Insurance companies are forced to pay policy holders on a far-off coast.
It is what makes you care when decisions are made which cause others to view your nation in a negative light.
It is what makes you vote for initiatives that you think will benefit the nation, and against initiatives that you feel will harm it.
Patriotism is what makes you care about things outside your personal sphere.
Without patriotism, there would be no 'Us' and 'Them.'
It would be just 'Me' and 'Everyone Else.' And that's not an improvement.
Patriotism is just another sphere of love. You love your family. You love your friends. You love your neighborhood. You love your City, your State, your Country.
And if the arguments over Global Warming are anything to go by, you love your World.
Patriotism is a circle of love bigger than family, but smaller than the planet.
--Anthony
"Liberty must not be purchased at the cost of Humanity." --Captain Robert Henner
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Nicely said, Anthony, and a very enlightening concept of that viewpoint.
I, for one, do not share it, mind you, being an Anarchist.
To me it's just "us" - a whole species of people on this tiny ball of muddy water, and "Our Planet" is about as narrow a distinction as I ever wanna make, and that subject to change should we manage to get off it.
I am of the mind that nations and governments cause war, and thus slaughter on a grand scale, often perpetuated by folks with no real stake in the cause, effect or outcome.
Think on that for a while.
I wanna see humanity grow up, and while not real sanguine about their chances most days, I guess I can hold out hope, right ?
Nationalism is a boat anchor when you view it from a whole planet/species aspect.
-Frem
It cannot be said enough, those who do not learn from history, are doomed to endlessly repeat it
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Anarchy sounds better and better every day...
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Quote:
"I am of the mind that nations and governments cause war, and thus slaughter on a grand scale, often perpetuated by folks with no real stake in the cause, effect or outcome.
Think on that for a while."
Thanks for the compliment, Frem.
I read this bit a couple of times. You're right that a sense of patriotism can cause an unreasoning charge into a conflict based on emotion-wrecked logic. Once riled up, people can perpetuate a conflict unnecessarily, and bring great harm and misery to the world.
But I think that patriotism also works the other way. The same people who love their country and get riled up over its wellfare are capable of seeing a costly no-win conflict. I think these patriotic people can then turn their efforts to ending a bad thing.
I think we're seeing that now. The flip side of the patriotic coin. The Love that makes Patriots want to embrace our boys and girls and bring them home, for the good of the country.
--Anthony
"Liberty must not be purchased at the cost of Humanity." --Captain Robert Henner
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Quote:
Originally posted by citizen:
That seems a fairly one sided view. Perhaps love is an outdated outmoded concept, people kill for it and sometimes it forces you into loyalties and allegiances that are un-reciprocated and only harm you personally.
Don't get me started on the banality of love...
Btw, one-sided views are the best way to provoke people into a response. Haven't you noticed how most people who start a thread only give one side of the argument?
The best argument against democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter.
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patriotism and nationality stand in the way of a centralized global government, so in that regard they are vital. we have the right as sovereign beings to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness".. which are rights that can only be maintained among a local population; if we remove nationalism, we then get small elements of society(the elite) micromanaging our lives from some remote location, too far removed to be empathetic of ones social/geographical circumstances
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Quote:Indeed, it's a shame, though, that many here are utterly incapable of anything but one side in everything, not you though.
Originally posted by Khyron:
Btw, one-sided views are the best way to provoke people into a response. Haven't you noticed how most people who start a thread only give one side of the argument?
More insane ramblings by the people who brought you beeeer milkshakes!
No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see.
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