for Patriotism5/2/2008 c2 
20Owl344
I agree with you. I live in Canada, and I suppose that in a sense I consider it the best place to live-but I grew up here, my family and friends are here, so it's hard to imagine me living anywhere else. I certainly wouldn't say that everyone should want to live here. It seems to me that it's mostly Americans that catch that disease.
20Owl344I agree with you. I live in Canada, and I suppose that in a sense I consider it the best place to live-but I grew up here, my family and friends are here, so it's hard to imagine me living anywhere else. I certainly wouldn't say that everyone should want to live here. It seems to me that it's mostly Americans that catch that disease.
5/29/2005 c2 4Slideshow
Rofl. I skimmed through your reviews, and some of the more idiotic ones just made me laugh. ("Everyone knows Britain is the best! Our rugby team just won!") It's pretty sad how everyone thinks their own country is better than others over such stupid matters.
I really like this piece. I was born in the US and lived here all my life, but I've never really had or felt any patriotic pride, or differences with other countries. I blame it on my ignorance and stupidity, but was never a big issue for me.
I am aware of the light animosity between different countries, but again, I never really gave it much thought.
I really dont even know why I read this piece in the beginning, all I know is that I like it. It's really quite stupid how everone claims their country is better than others and... whatnot...
I know my review is pretty much rambles and quite pointless, but I just wanted you to know there are other people who agree with you besides those morons who are really convinced that their country is better.
Keep up the good work :)
4SlideshowRofl. I skimmed through your reviews, and some of the more idiotic ones just made me laugh. ("Everyone knows Britain is the best! Our rugby team just won!") It's pretty sad how everyone thinks their own country is better than others over such stupid matters.
I really like this piece. I was born in the US and lived here all my life, but I've never really had or felt any patriotic pride, or differences with other countries. I blame it on my ignorance and stupidity, but was never a big issue for me.
I am aware of the light animosity between different countries, but again, I never really gave it much thought.
I really dont even know why I read this piece in the beginning, all I know is that I like it. It's really quite stupid how everone claims their country is better than others and... whatnot...
I know my review is pretty much rambles and quite pointless, but I just wanted you to know there are other people who agree with you besides those morons who are really convinced that their country is better.
Keep up the good work :)
2/16/2005 c2 12Rowana S
An interesting, well thought out essay which combines all of the important points on this argument. If only others were more willing to be slightly more open minded about other countries. As a fellow Brit, I can relate to the 'it isn't perfect, but it's ours' mentality. Cynicism seems to be fostered over here, rather than patriotism. The obvious exceptions being the BNP and Robert Kilroy-Silk.
-Rowana
12Rowana SAn interesting, well thought out essay which combines all of the important points on this argument. If only others were more willing to be slightly more open minded about other countries. As a fellow Brit, I can relate to the 'it isn't perfect, but it's ours' mentality. Cynicism seems to be fostered over here, rather than patriotism. The obvious exceptions being the BNP and Robert Kilroy-Silk.
-Rowana
3/17/2004 c1 2ESC's escapes
The only countries I object to are poorly led. Britain is well led, at least in my opinion. The USA is well led too, and will be unless Bush loses the presidential election. You're right, and there is no best country, many of the better ones are backsliding right now, including my own. Arrogance and presumtion are sins, but narrow-mindedness is not. Ignorance is. Being narrowminded can mean a lot of things that you approved of in your essay are right. I am narrowminded, there are things I can abide and there are things I can't stand.
2ESC's escapesThe only countries I object to are poorly led. Britain is well led, at least in my opinion. The USA is well led too, and will be unless Bush loses the presidential election. You're right, and there is no best country, many of the better ones are backsliding right now, including my own. Arrogance and presumtion are sins, but narrow-mindedness is not. Ignorance is. Being narrowminded can mean a lot of things that you approved of in your essay are right. I am narrowminded, there are things I can abide and there are things I can't stand.
3/6/2004 c1 11Cyberskiver
Very good essay, I whole-heartedly agree. Thank you for explaining the difference between patriotism and telling everyone that your country is the best, because many people mix the two things up. Thank you for stating your points in a clear concise way. Thanks for writing this.
11CyberskiverVery good essay, I whole-heartedly agree. Thank you for explaining the difference between patriotism and telling everyone that your country is the best, because many people mix the two things up. Thank you for stating your points in a clear concise way. Thanks for writing this.
2/24/2004 c2 The White
I totally agree on every point. While I admit to being American, I am beyond tired of hearing people praise the USA and put down any other existing country, just because we're "the best". To tell you the truth, in my mind right now, we SUCK. Of course, that is just my opinion, and not a fact. Good job.
I totally agree on every point. While I admit to being American, I am beyond tired of hearing people praise the USA and put down any other existing country, just because we're "the best". To tell you the truth, in my mind right now, we SUCK. Of course, that is just my opinion, and not a fact. Good job.
2/4/2004 c2 8Rosa Vernal
Once again, your wit amuses me and makes me smile, knowing that there ARE actually intelligent people out there...
good job, man.
8Rosa VernalOnce again, your wit amuses me and makes me smile, knowing that there ARE actually intelligent people out there...
good job, man.
1/15/2004 c1 150SpawnMeister666
First off, I want to thank you for reading some of my work and taking the time to review.
Secondly, how uncanny is it that we share the same birthday? And something tells me we've probably stayed in the same hostel in Prague as well, although I could be mistaken on that one!
Anyway, on with the review...
I agree totally with just about everything you say. In fact, to be totally honest I just broke off mid-review to write an essay giving my own opinion on the subject.
This is extremely well written and puts the main point across perfectly well.
America is great. But so is everywhere else. And there is no 'greatest'
Especially not England...which sucks big time! And that's coming from an Englishman of course, so I feel I'm allowed to make that last comment!
Spawny
150SpawnMeister666First off, I want to thank you for reading some of my work and taking the time to review.
Secondly, how uncanny is it that we share the same birthday? And something tells me we've probably stayed in the same hostel in Prague as well, although I could be mistaken on that one!
Anyway, on with the review...
I agree totally with just about everything you say. In fact, to be totally honest I just broke off mid-review to write an essay giving my own opinion on the subject.
This is extremely well written and puts the main point across perfectly well.
America is great. But so is everywhere else. And there is no 'greatest'
Especially not England...which sucks big time! And that's coming from an Englishman of course, so I feel I'm allowed to make that last comment!
Spawny
1/14/2004 c1 carmice3
I agree. Prefference is such a personal thing, and will change across cultures, locations and the like. For one person to state an absolute in relation to their own circumstance is one thing, but to state an absotute in relation to circumstances outside their experiance is the hight of arrogance. Anyone who does such a thing can be sure of attracting a negative response.
I agree. Prefference is such a personal thing, and will change across cultures, locations and the like. For one person to state an absolute in relation to their own circumstance is one thing, but to state an absotute in relation to circumstances outside their experiance is the hight of arrogance. Anyone who does such a thing can be sure of attracting a negative response.
12/9/2003 c1 Retlor
Well it is opinion, but everyone knows Britain are the best! Sorry, the Rugby team got back recently and I'm still celebrating. However, it does get a tad annoying when such things happen. i have to say though, that this is not an America only thing, plenty of people I know arew like that.
Some of Mbwun's comments were very low blows. Germany is now ultra-nice to everybody trying to atone (their refusal to back the Iraq war partially stemmed from cultural fear of this sort of thing). The U.S did not start either World War and if I were being over-fastidious I would say that the 2nd World War started in Manchuria. The good old Middle East crisis, that one is our bad. Most people besides the Labour government (who are on Bush's team) admit to that. It goes back to the First World War though and was partially due to lack of communication between different bits of the army (ie Balfour, who was talking to the Jews had no idea that Lawrence of Arabia was offering the same to the Palastinians.)
Well it is opinion, but everyone knows Britain are the best! Sorry, the Rugby team got back recently and I'm still celebrating. However, it does get a tad annoying when such things happen. i have to say though, that this is not an America only thing, plenty of people I know arew like that.
Some of Mbwun's comments were very low blows. Germany is now ultra-nice to everybody trying to atone (their refusal to back the Iraq war partially stemmed from cultural fear of this sort of thing). The U.S did not start either World War and if I were being over-fastidious I would say that the 2nd World War started in Manchuria. The good old Middle East crisis, that one is our bad. Most people besides the Labour government (who are on Bush's team) admit to that. It goes back to the First World War though and was partially due to lack of communication between different bits of the army (ie Balfour, who was talking to the Jews had no idea that Lawrence of Arabia was offering the same to the Palastinians.)
11/23/2003 c1 7Silvanus
I personally believe that this essay (or well-organized rant) really doesn't deserve many of the apparently hostile reviews it has received. I found nothing inflammatory in the entire text! As a rebuttal, it was very effective – anyone that frequents the essay section of this site knows exactly whom you are refuting, and yet you get by without naming names, something which should always be avoided in these kinds of essays (at least the good ones). It was well-edited and almost free of errors (I think you forgot to close quotation marks somewhere). The feature that bothered me the most was your use of typing some words in all capitals for emphasis. That is better left to italics, which are easy enough to do if you save your document in the correct format.
As for content, I thought you were right on. ‘Best’, is, of course, subject to perspective. Someone in China, who truly believes in the merits of communism (or at least the form used in present China), would believe that China is the world’s greatest country, and they would have plenty of facts to back them up: China has a rich and broad history, an interesting culture, and the population speaks the most spoken language in the world. From a western perspective, things are different. I am a young American who isn’t particularly patriotic – I don’t burn flags or defame the nation, but I usually am just indifferent. I also don’t bother to rank nations. I am glad I live in America, but I would love to live somewhere else for a while. I look forward to participating in study abroad programs in college – I plan on living for one semester in France and another in Italy. Personally, I think there is a lot to be gained by visiting and living in other countries. It gives you different perspectives from which to look at the world. That, to me, is invaluable. So I agree with you, and I honestly don’t understand what the big fuss some people are making is about.
7SilvanusI personally believe that this essay (or well-organized rant) really doesn't deserve many of the apparently hostile reviews it has received. I found nothing inflammatory in the entire text! As a rebuttal, it was very effective – anyone that frequents the essay section of this site knows exactly whom you are refuting, and yet you get by without naming names, something which should always be avoided in these kinds of essays (at least the good ones). It was well-edited and almost free of errors (I think you forgot to close quotation marks somewhere). The feature that bothered me the most was your use of typing some words in all capitals for emphasis. That is better left to italics, which are easy enough to do if you save your document in the correct format.
As for content, I thought you were right on. ‘Best’, is, of course, subject to perspective. Someone in China, who truly believes in the merits of communism (or at least the form used in present China), would believe that China is the world’s greatest country, and they would have plenty of facts to back them up: China has a rich and broad history, an interesting culture, and the population speaks the most spoken language in the world. From a western perspective, things are different. I am a young American who isn’t particularly patriotic – I don’t burn flags or defame the nation, but I usually am just indifferent. I also don’t bother to rank nations. I am glad I live in America, but I would love to live somewhere else for a while. I look forward to participating in study abroad programs in college – I plan on living for one semester in France and another in Italy. Personally, I think there is a lot to be gained by visiting and living in other countries. It gives you different perspectives from which to look at the world. That, to me, is invaluable. So I agree with you, and I honestly don’t understand what the big fuss some people are making is about.
11/23/2003 c1 No Trust
"But what self-respecting superpower cares? Any nation with great influence is subject to envy and hatred, no matter how many humanitarian efforts it makes or how many apologies it issues. To quote, "The world apparently likes the U.S. when it is on its knees." And that's the Democratic foreign policy in a nutshell. Sympathy power."
Foolishness. Minding your own business is not the same thing as living on your knees. Minding other peoples' business is nothing to be proud of.
Democrats can be just as vicious in foreign policy as Republicans, and Republicans can be just as whiney about war as Democrats, if it's a Democrat fighting it. It's just a game that the weasels play-unsurprisingly, with other peoples' lives.
There have been many self-respecting superpowers throughout history; none of them are worth emulating.
"But what self-respecting superpower cares? Any nation with great influence is subject to envy and hatred, no matter how many humanitarian efforts it makes or how many apologies it issues. To quote, "The world apparently likes the U.S. when it is on its knees." And that's the Democratic foreign policy in a nutshell. Sympathy power."
Foolishness. Minding your own business is not the same thing as living on your knees. Minding other peoples' business is nothing to be proud of.
Democrats can be just as vicious in foreign policy as Republicans, and Republicans can be just as whiney about war as Democrats, if it's a Democrat fighting it. It's just a game that the weasels play-unsurprisingly, with other peoples' lives.
There have been many self-respecting superpowers throughout history; none of them are worth emulating.
11/23/2003 c2 2Morning Mist1
I read an article in Time recently about this called "To Hell with Sympathy." Apparently Democrats feel that this arrogant cowboy President of ours "squandered" the world's outpouring of goodwill and cooperation by invading Iraq. Perhaps if that had not happened, they say, there would be more pro-American headlines in Le Monde.
But what self-respecting superpower cares? Any nation with great influence is subject to envy and hatred, no matter how many humanitarian efforts it makes or how many apologies it issues. To quote, "The world apparently likes the U.S. when it is on its knees." And that's the Democratic foreign policy in a nutshell. Sympathy power.
I am loyal to my country simply because I was born here and have enjoyed its freedoms for my entire life. But I will feel less proud of the U.S.A. if it continues to grovel for the short-lived pity privileges of victimization.
2Morning Mist1I read an article in Time recently about this called "To Hell with Sympathy." Apparently Democrats feel that this arrogant cowboy President of ours "squandered" the world's outpouring of goodwill and cooperation by invading Iraq. Perhaps if that had not happened, they say, there would be more pro-American headlines in Le Monde.
But what self-respecting superpower cares? Any nation with great influence is subject to envy and hatred, no matter how many humanitarian efforts it makes or how many apologies it issues. To quote, "The world apparently likes the U.S. when it is on its knees." And that's the Democratic foreign policy in a nutshell. Sympathy power.
I am loyal to my country simply because I was born here and have enjoyed its freedoms for my entire life. But I will feel less proud of the U.S.A. if it continues to grovel for the short-lived pity privileges of victimization.
11/22/2003 c1 Steven Lawrence
So lemme get this right:
According to both Cata Maran and Guin, I don't love my country correctly because I don't extoll the failures and weaknesses of my country? Is that how the Europeans see it?
"It sounds, from the remarks of the die-hard U.S.A fans, that they were poorly informed, as well as unworldly."
Once again, as I stated before, I celebrate my country and I'm automatically uninformed. I'm sure Ms./Mr. Maran is much more "uninformed" than I could ever be.
"To truely love your country is to love it's faults and well as it's strengths. To love only it's strength and what is perfect in it is not to truely love your country. You loving only part of it, not the whole."
Says who? You? Why, because I won't bring up everything my country did wrong. If that's the case kiddo, than you're the LAST one to speak. Being English means EVERY comment you make about your country should be covered in apologies to about 80% of the world, and then a great "but we're ourselves!"
Please.
"And that's what I love about it. It DOESNT try to be the greatest."
When did we TRY to be the greatest?
Once again, I would love for the Europeans to really give a solid reason as to why any American that celebrates their country is automatically a "fanatic" or "wrong" or "ultra-conservative" ec.
Or is that not possible?
-Steve
So lemme get this right:
According to both Cata Maran and Guin, I don't love my country correctly because I don't extoll the failures and weaknesses of my country? Is that how the Europeans see it?
"It sounds, from the remarks of the die-hard U.S.A fans, that they were poorly informed, as well as unworldly."
Once again, as I stated before, I celebrate my country and I'm automatically uninformed. I'm sure Ms./Mr. Maran is much more "uninformed" than I could ever be.
"To truely love your country is to love it's faults and well as it's strengths. To love only it's strength and what is perfect in it is not to truely love your country. You loving only part of it, not the whole."
Says who? You? Why, because I won't bring up everything my country did wrong. If that's the case kiddo, than you're the LAST one to speak. Being English means EVERY comment you make about your country should be covered in apologies to about 80% of the world, and then a great "but we're ourselves!"
Please.
"And that's what I love about it. It DOESNT try to be the greatest."
When did we TRY to be the greatest?
Once again, I would love for the Europeans to really give a solid reason as to why any American that celebrates their country is automatically a "fanatic" or "wrong" or "ultra-conservative" ec.
Or is that not possible?
-Steve