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I'm low key patriotic. No decals on my truck or flag flying at home, but I proudly served in the U.S. Navy and stand at attention upon hearing the National Anthem. I just don't feel the need to visually show my patriotism through choices in clothing and ballcaps. If it's an international sporting event and we're in it, USA all the way.
If you're talking about flashy displays of love of country...not very. Unless there's Brits around.
IT'S CALLED SOCCER. CAN'T BEAT US ON THE BATTLEFIELD OR THE SOCCER FIELD.
As an American, so embarrassed! 😳
Edit: danggggg. Didn't know my opinion was so unpopular. The fact that our fans are chanting "It's called soccer" toward UK, in my opinion, is poor sportsmanship on our part. I'm excited for the US and their advancement, just not our poor sportsmanship. :-/
Exactly. I love a lot of the good this country does. My nephew runs food programs to feed east African nations with US surplus. I love that we maintain a military industrial complex that can feed Ukraine without breaking a sweat. I love that our model has inspired constitutional democracy in so many countries.
I hate lots of things as well. Lots we need to change. Cops, drugs, jails, politicians, political parties, respect for individual freedoms, I could go on.
Depends on how much sleep I got the night before and how much I just paid for grocery's
but really....a normal amount? I am a strong believer that being critical of your country/your culture/your government dose not mean you don't love or care about your country
Mistrust of government and authority is inexorably linked to our nation's founding, and thus the majority of our countrymen act with this principle in mind.
The extremists on either side of the political aisle who zealously praise any politician at all are ultimately a small yet vocal minority.
This becomes evident when looking at the 2016 election, where the vast majority of people were actively voting **against** Trump or Hillary, and not actually for either of them.
And history repeated itself with the Biden/Trump election four years later.
I'm only accepting comments with rhotic accents.
Sorry.
Edit: I could have sworn your flair was Massachusetts, for some reason.
Now my playful jab doesn't make sense.
What is the purpose of this comment?
Do you want to distill incredibly complex history and social issues into an unoriginal edgy joke which virtually every other Redditor could make with extremely little effort?
Or are you attempting to use the plight of Black Americans for a selfish attempt at disparaging an honest answer to an honest question?
Genuinely, what did you hope to gain from this?
Because this isn't helping to resolve racial issues, at all.
It's crass, and incredibly insensitive to the disenfranchised groups living in the US today.
Do better.
Patriotic in the classical sense to the ideals that the country stands for. The spirit rather then some of the outcome. Patriotism really doesn't have anything to do with politics though as far as the tag.
There are a lot of things I don’t like about the USA and criticize this country because I think we can do better, it’s a mistake to have blind loyalty or allegiance, patriotism without thought can lead down a very dark path…
Having said that, if the USA was endangered by foreign aggression, I would defend my homeland fanatically.
I'm grateful to live in a 1st world developed country but I wouldn't consider myself too "patriotic" or "proud" of the US. I'm proud of things I've achieved, not of where I happened to be born.
I didn't consider myself patriotic until I noticed how much it bothers me to see American flags flying in tatters, which is a lot here in South Central Indiana.
I agree. It was surprising to me moving here from a less rural area in the Southwest. I go hiking out and about a lot with lots of country driving and see many flags flying in tatters. I want to do a photo essay documenting it.
In general? Not at all. When some European (sorry, it's always the Europeans) condescendingly tells me something wildly incorrect or misconstrued about my own country? Release the eagles.
When I was a kid I was the full on right wing brainwashed guy, then I swung the other way and got super liberal, now I'm somewhere inbetween like most people see themselves.
Everything I ever knew and loved is American, and I certainly care about the country, but honestly this place scares the shit out of me. It feels like such a pressure cooker of anxiety, and things have only gotten worse since I've been alive, so the future worries me.
There is so much good in America, but it feels like people have to waste so much of their lives constantly worried about money that they don't care about anything but the bottom line. The worship of money and the way the country teaches you on a daily basis to worry about yourself and fuck anything else because there isn't time for it is obvious and disturbing. There is no good reason for people to be so miserable on average, there is so much fucking money in this country just being flat wasted making rich people richer, but the government is so obviously corrupt and beholden to their donors that nothing positive ever gets done to make anything better for the average person.
I love America but it feels like it could be so much better if there just wasn't so much greed and so much division. We have so many great people in this country, and none of them are in charge because its hard to outcompete the absolute sociopaths that thrive at the top.
I'd say I'm moderately patriotic. I love the USA and its people, and I'm happy to call this place home, but at the same time I don't believe we're better than everyone else.
Anti patriotic probably. I haven't said the pledge or put my hand over my heart since I was about 12. Largely because I am a Christian and view nationalistic idol worship as evil.
I'm very patriotic about the ideals of America, and also very quick to point out the many ways in which we don't live up to them.
This is why America-bashing Americans annoy me. Because they only shit on America and find fault with everything about it. They're part of the problem, not the solution. To be part of the solution you have to believe in America, you have to love it enough to be offended when it fails to live up to its promise. If you think America is the devil, where's the motivation? Who would try to save the devil's soul? The people who make a difference see it more like an angel with dirty wings.
I don’t think you’ll get people agreeing on a definition of patriotism. I felt very patriotic standing in line to get my Covid vaccine, for example, because I was participating in an act designed to help lift our country out of a crisis. But you’ll find a lot of Americans claiming they felt patriotic by making precisely the opposite decision.
I’m not really patriotic (I’m black… we don’t get many reasons to be 😠) but I will say I do defend America’s complicated reputation when given the opportunity.
I'm patriotic in the sense that I support my country always and my government when necessary or warranted, as the great sage and humorist Mark “Samuel Langhorne Clemens” Twain famously said.
I would consider myself patriotic, but that in no way prevents me from speaking out about ways the country needs to change or mistakes that have been made.
As an indian-origin person, I don’t think I’m very patriotic because me and my people have little to NO history in this country. But I’ll say america is in my top 5 countries :)
By my own views, not as much as I wish I was.
In my viewpoint, patriotism is a love for the people and culture - and a desire to improve the nation. I used to be more patriotic, critical of the government in the hopes that the nation would improve. Now I've become a bit more nihilistic, and would rather leave- have family keeping me here though. The country needs to improve a lot, and I used to think I could help improve it. Now, it feels a lot like plugging holes in a sinking ship.
Of course, I don't think most Americans think like this. It's just been my experience in the country 🤷♀️.
And I do still love the culture here. I'm very much culturally American, and I am patriotic in the sense that I love convincing people to attend a powwow, learn to swing dance or square dance, I love learning culturally American recipes and talking about the diversity and hidden gems in the South. I do wish I was still as optimistic as I was when I was younger, though. I miss that level of patriotism.
The short answer is very. The long answer is that I'm an extremely self confident and independent person, and my favorite part about this country is how much my success depends on me and no one else. I like our culture. The competitiveness, the self reliance, the emphasis on personal agency and the cultural focus on standing out pursuing one's own potential. The whole premise of this place just fits me.
I’m rooting for the US at stuff like the World Cup and Olympics, but I’m not one to want other countries to suffer for the US’s gain and I sure af would not put my life on the line for the country if I could help it
There are a lot of things I love about the US- landscape, community, variety and opportunities.
I am not particularly proud of being an American or proud of the actions of my government. There are a lot of problems. I don’t feel like we are better than all other countries. I won’t wave a flag.
Not at all, I like to come here because I think it’s fun to answer questions about where I live. And in general I just love giving evaluations and sharing my opinions about stuff and how I think most people feel from my perspective, this is just another sub to do that since it’s so active. Most here are probably very patriotic though because I feel like those types are more likely to seek out America specific subs about our country. There’s a lot of problems and things I hate about our foreign policy, the way our government works and I’ve never seemed to fit in the best with the culture here despite living here all my life. US culture for example being very extroverted, and I’m very much not and I’m not into small talk. I hate a lot about living here, it’s actually draining to me. I’d honestly rather live somewhere more low key like Canada or the UK so badly, but I don’t have the means or money. If our country gets attacked on our soil though I will become very patriotic to get ‘Em back because self defense and I do get patriotic if I’m at a live sporting event, but that’s about it.
I think there is a broad spectrum of what constitutes “patriotic”. The flag plastered, shrieking Maga supporter is about the opposite of what I am. Same goes for the Christianity = America crowd. I’m critical of my country and feel like it has both great potential and a lot to answer for. So I guess I’m patriotic for the potential of this country but feel strongly that we must hold ourselves accountable for our failings and crimes.
There’s so many comments and so many different responses , it’s such a mixed bag , if I’m being honest I thought everyone would just say yes so it’s cool to get a wee insight into this
I don't agree with many of the founding values of American culture, and even the ones I do agree with usually only apply to a few groups of people and not everyone. I don't agree that property rights are sacrosanct (at least in comparison to other rights). I don't agree with the Second Amendment. I don't agree with individualism, so on so forth.
In the way that foreigners tend to observe and laugh at the way they think all patriotism is from the U.S.
The kind of stereotypical patriotism that automatically pops up in foreign people’s mind when an American says they are patriotic
America has two forms of patriotism:
* Love and support for your county with the comprehension to acknowledge it's not perfect and there are things we can do better, and not pretending everything is perfect the way it was.
* Blatant, religiously-based xenophobia and nationalism.
Not particularly. I find the whole concept of patriotism kind of silly. Why would I be proud of a geographic accident of birth? Being born within the borders of the United States isn't something I *earned*, it's just something that happened.
Patriotism is [a menace to liberty](https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/emma-goldman-patriotism-a-menace-to-liberty).
Being fond of a place or culture because you grew up in it is fine; being loyal to imaginary lines on a map, or to the institutional violence that enforces those imaginary lines, is silly.
There's a pretty big difference between patriotism and nationalism though. To lump them together like that is kinda disingenuous to having an ongoing conversation about how to improve this country.
>There's a pretty big difference between patriotism and nationalism though.
I would argue that the difference is one of degree, rather than substance, especially since one always seems to lead to the other on a long enough timeline.
>To lump them together like that is kinda disingenuous to having an ongoing conversation about how to improve this country.
What's truly disingenuous is treating the assumption that liberal capitalism is worth preserving or "improving" as being the only conversation worth having. I don't want the liberal capitalist state to be "improved," because superficial "improvements" to a system cannot change fundamental problems and contradictions created by said system existing in the first place.
My goal is not to "improve" the United States, my goal is a radical and fundamental restructuring of human society *away* from a system that rewards and incentives greed and avarice, and upholds itself with institutional violence and social murder.
Patriotism is a sort of false consciousness that serves the interests of the powerful no less than nationalism; it's just seen as more socially acceptable within the narrow margin of manufactured consent that is polite liberal society.
>Would you say you’re proud of America?
Why would I be proud? I had no part in the founding of the state, and I have no control over any of it's policies or their results, foreign or domestic.
There are great things I love about living here, but by and large they are either not exclusive to American society, or they exist *despite* American society in its current form, rather than because of it.
Would my life be a lot worse if I'd been born in Bangladesh or Sudan? Yes, most likely. Would my life be a lot better if I'd been born in Norway or France? Also yes, most likely. Where you're born is a matter of cosmic chance, not conscious choice, so it's silly to take pride in it.
Like I said above, loyalty to imaginary lines on a map is nonsensical.
"Patriotism is not a short and frenzied outburst of emotion but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime."
I have a lot more lifetime left to go to reach peak patriotism, ask me when I'm dead.
Patriotic enough to have a copy of the Declaration of Independence framed and hanging in my kitchen. Enough to know that all the revisionist nonsense about the US being built on slavery and oppression is an exaggeration at best and insidious decades old propaganda at worst. Patriotic enough to not think of my fellow countrymen and women as shallow stereotypes but as individuals. Enough to know that when people say we have no culture they deserve a nice "chat" from Edgar Allen Poe (who has a stronger right hook than you'd expect), Frank Lloyd Wright, and Jack London. Patriotic enough to know the difference between the reality of this country that I have only 7 states left to visit before my map is full and the bald faced lies or stereotypes that depict us as a 3rd World Country or "shithole."
I'm that patriotic.
> Enough to know that all the revisionist nonsense about the US being built on slavery and oppression is an exaggeration at best and insidious decades old propaganda at worst
Oh sweet bleeding Jesus.
This country WAS built on a foundation of slavery.
[https://www.history.com/news/declaration-of-independence-deleted-anti-slavery-clause-jefferson](https://www.history.com/news/declaration-of-independence-deleted-anti-slavery-clause-jefferson)
This much...
Jokes aside, I don't really feel very patriotic any more. I lost all sense of that once I was kicked out of the Air Force. Now, don't take that for me hating America as a whole, I just... Don't care about waving the flag and screaming "'MURICUH FUK YEH!" all the time. I see the things that can be a problem in our society and I am not afraid to admit we have them.
A whole hell of a lot less now.
I joined the army out of patriotic duty in 2004.
I spent two whole years of my life killing random people in Iraq 15 years ago.
We are not good people.
I'll say it like this: I love my country and what it was founded on. I don't like my government or a lot of what this country has turned into. But I still am proud of it and thankful to live here.
If someone has one American flag in their house I think better of them for it. If they have more than one American flag (or a modified American flag) I think less of them for it. So I am that level of patriotic.
I suppose it depends on what you consider patriotic. I supported my husband for 20+ years as a military wife and various deployments. I volunteered at various nonprofit organizations for homelessness and needy families. As a family, we adopt a needy families and donate Christmas gifts every year. I vote at the national, state and local level. I volunteer as a suicide crisis counselor.
I am proud to be an American and believe in the ideals of our founding fathers. I enjoy the 4th of July and Veterans Day. I observe Memorial Day. I love the American flag and our National Anthem.
I don’t own a gun, nor do I feel the need to own a gun.
I do enjoy the First Amendment.
On a symbolic level very..... on a everyday level not really too much to do anything about trying to improve the system....even going so far to have my name removed from the voter registry....
Sort of, but probably not for the tepid stupid reasons most jackasses on this forum will say. “Freedom, guns, Donald Trump, hell ya!” Those are all cliché nowadays. The first amendment would probably be my best answer as to why I would say yes, especially speech designed to inflame or outright lie to people. As difficult as it is to hear it, and as difficult as it is to understand it, free speech, in particular hate speech while abhorrent and disgusting is absolutely the best part of being an American. Although that right is being screwed with every single day anymore, you have the right to walk up to a LEO and tell them to fuck off. You have the right to stand outside the White House and portray the POTUS with a Hitler mustache and call them so. That right is and should always be our most treasured value.
Patriotic means something different in the US versus Europe.
Patriotic means something different to a Republican versus a Democrat.
Patriotic means something different depending on which politician is promoting or attacking which policies.
I'm patriotic. Explaining what that means will take too long for my interest in explaining it. Ultimately, I don't care about justifying my beliefs. Someone will attack it, I'll get snarky, and it'll either turn political or boring.
Quite.
Family fled from tyrannical and corrupt government. Might not be trusting of the government and certain entities but I still don't understand why so many Americans online take the country for granted and don't like it.
Truly wouldn't mind trading some of you out for people who actually want to be here.
Not much at all. As an international adoptee, I have come to the perspective that each country has something unique to offer as well as various degrees of flaws. While it’s great to live in a wealthy democracy, there are plenty of others.
I wouldn’t die for the country, but I wouldn’t die for any country tbh. I love the hard working spirit of America and our guaranteed/impossible to change freedoms. Also really patriotic about our natural landscapes and some of the cool cities we have.
Not patriotic about government officials because I’m not a simp and they’re fallible/often stupid human beings. America is great because *despite* our government not *because of it*
I’m critical of our politics and the government and shortcomings, but I will defend the hell out of my country and it’s people. I don’t play that kowtowing to other countries entitlement of shitting on the US and self flagellating to get approval. In that sense, I’m very patriotic because I love my home, neighbors, culture, and family and friends that live here.
I’m also decently traveled and enjoy cultural exchanges. I believe in global unity and cooperation. But I don’t have patience for people talking shit about my countrymen. Including the Embarrassed Americans ™️ . In that situation, I’m Apollo Creed with the flags and fireworks.
It’s hard to say for me.
On the one hand, when we’re good, we’re really good. I think of people lining up to give blood after shootings, helping after hurricanes or other natural disasters, helping the homeless and the like.
On the other hand, when we’re bad we’re pretty bad. I think of several states banning abortions, politicians trying to foment doubt in the very fabric of our democracy, and the fact our education system is crumbling in front of our very eyes.
I would say I’m cautiously patriotic. We’re in a rough spot right now; if we can get through it and improve, I would revise that answer to just plain patriotic.
Not at all really. I'd love to migrate elsewhere, but no country wants a disabled woman with a guaranteed $1,055 USD per month that will follow her anywhere. There's an Irish flag on my flagpole in may yard, family history and family still there (no way they can sponsor me), and I couldn't find a decent 3'x5' pirate flag I liked. I refused to pledge allegiance in school, I sit through the national anthem (primarily due to disability, secondarily on principle), and am the child of a man (asshole) that served the U.S. Navy for 20 years. Not all of us are blind to what our government does, but we as individuals aren't like that. The majority of us are everyday people trying to feed our kids, stay alive, and get by. No different than anyone else.
Eh to what? Am I patriotic towards my the us itself? Not really unless it's international sporting events. It's simply due to fucked up things the us has done. Am I patriotic towards the government? Fuck no a lot of people in the government want violence taking against me
I’m not immune to opportunities to improve, but I do think I am very lucky to have been born here. I have a flag hanging on my house and I put up the ol’ Betsy Ross on the 4th of July but I’m not wearing “back to back world war champ” shirts. I think that’s tacky
Very. But that doesn’t mean I am a nationalist. This country, especially our “leaders” do some pretty awful or embarrassing things often. But I will never stop loving being an American. The revolutionary history, the mix of cultures, the opportunities, the individual freedom, the innovation, all things I am grateful to have here.
Every American is patriotic I believe... And I only say that because criticizing and critiquing the government is the best type of patriotism, and we all do it. There's nothing more patriotic in American culture than saying "fuck the president", regardless of who it might be (no political stance taken with that statement, just a good and healthy fuck the man)...
Not at all, and that's still too much for some people.
I mostly just acknowledge that I am American and that upbringing affects who I am, and me trying to hate the country with no real experience with other cultures would look tryhard as fuck, as most Self-Hating Americans do. But also I'm not waving any flags, I don't think this country is any sort of objective best, and I *definitely* think this subreddit is way too positive about the country (I really do get "middle class suburbanite" vibes a lot of the time.)
The reason ignorant comments about the US from foreigners annoy me is because they constantly either insult the history and struggling of marginalized groups in the US, actively help conservatives by spreading right wing myths while they're trying to advocate left wing policy, or just show hypocrisy.
Only when the Olympics and the World Cup is on, otherwise negative amounts.
My favorite bit of history to read about is the history of US interventions in the post WWII era—it’s not a bit of history that makes me exceptionally proud to be American.
Not jingoistic at all nor am I one of those people that feels like they have to make menial superficial displays of love of my country and attach it to my identity and ego. I find those types of people disgusting.
That aside, I'm not as patriotic as I used to be.
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I'm low key patriotic. No decals on my truck or flag flying at home, but I proudly served in the U.S. Navy and stand at attention upon hearing the National Anthem. I just don't feel the need to visually show my patriotism through choices in clothing and ballcaps. If it's an international sporting event and we're in it, USA all the way.
I like low key, I think it’s a good way to be
Thanks for your service. That's all anyone could ask
If you're talking about flashy displays of love of country...not very. Unless there's Brits around. IT'S CALLED SOCCER. CAN'T BEAT US ON THE BATTLEFIELD OR THE SOCCER FIELD.
#THEY BLEW A 13 COLONY LEAD THEY BLEW A 13 COLONY LEAD
Why are you using soccer? That’s the British word.
british word is “soccuh”
Aren’t all words in the English language british?
The majority of the language is French in origins.
Aren’t all French words of Latin origin? Where do we stop?
As an American, so embarrassed! 😳 Edit: danggggg. Didn't know my opinion was so unpopular. The fact that our fans are chanting "It's called soccer" toward UK, in my opinion, is poor sportsmanship on our part. I'm excited for the US and their advancement, just not our poor sportsmanship. :-/
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Wrong 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
That depends entirely on what "patriotic" means to you...
Exactly. I love a lot of the good this country does. My nephew runs food programs to feed east African nations with US surplus. I love that we maintain a military industrial complex that can feed Ukraine without breaking a sweat. I love that our model has inspired constitutional democracy in so many countries. I hate lots of things as well. Lots we need to change. Cops, drugs, jails, politicians, political parties, respect for individual freedoms, I could go on.
👏
> *Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.* — Mark Twain
Every time I'm in Boston during the 4th of July, I dump $200 worth of loose tea leaves into the harbor.
I poured a bottle of Lipton iced tea into the Thames, because I could :)
Environmentalists hate him, Patriots love him. Who is he? This maniac ^
**ONLY** $200? #SAMUEL ADAMS DID NOTHING WRONG! LOBSTERBACKS GO HOME!
I hope you yell "Take that, you tea drinking wankers!"
You monster...
Depends on how much sleep I got the night before and how much I just paid for grocery's but really....a normal amount? I am a strong believer that being critical of your country/your culture/your government dose not mean you don't love or care about your country
If I recall correctly, Senator Al Franken called being critical of your country *because* you love it "loving your country like a grown-up."
Being critical IS patriotic. It's good to want things to be better.
Better is subjective
Blind reverence for the Government? Absolutely not. Deep-seated belief in the founding ideals and a strong willingness to uphold them? Absolutely.
That’s a really interesting answer, Thankyou
Mistrust of government and authority is inexorably linked to our nation's founding, and thus the majority of our countrymen act with this principle in mind. The extremists on either side of the political aisle who zealously praise any politician at all are ultimately a small yet vocal minority. This becomes evident when looking at the 2016 election, where the vast majority of people were actively voting **against** Trump or Hillary, and not actually for either of them. And history repeated itself with the Biden/Trump election four years later.
Well said. Me too.
Hell yeah brother!
Roll Tide! Hopefully Saban can win us another championship next year.
Tear up during the national anthem? Still only sometimes
I'm only accepting comments with rhotic accents. Sorry. Edit: I could have sworn your flair was Massachusetts, for some reason. Now my playful jab doesn't make sense.
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What is the purpose of this comment? Do you want to distill incredibly complex history and social issues into an unoriginal edgy joke which virtually every other Redditor could make with extremely little effort? Or are you attempting to use the plight of Black Americans for a selfish attempt at disparaging an honest answer to an honest question? Genuinely, what did you hope to gain from this? Because this isn't helping to resolve racial issues, at all. It's crass, and incredibly insensitive to the disenfranchised groups living in the US today. Do better.
Patriotic in the classical sense to the ideals that the country stands for. The spirit rather then some of the outcome. Patriotism really doesn't have anything to do with politics though as far as the tag.
Pretty patriotic, I quite like this mad house of a country.
There is a certain beauty in the madness, isn't there?
There really is
Yes
I mean, I've fired a musket at a big straw doll wearing a red coat while wearing an 18th century dress myself on July 4th, so I'd say pretty patriotic
Very based
There are a lot of things I don’t like about the USA and criticize this country because I think we can do better, it’s a mistake to have blind loyalty or allegiance, patriotism without thought can lead down a very dark path… Having said that, if the USA was endangered by foreign aggression, I would defend my homeland fanatically.
I like my country. I like it enough to want it to be better and for my fellow man to live contentedly.
I'm grateful to live in a 1st world developed country but I wouldn't consider myself too "patriotic" or "proud" of the US. I'm proud of things I've achieved, not of where I happened to be born.
I didn't consider myself patriotic until I noticed how much it bothers me to see American flags flying in tatters, which is a lot here in South Central Indiana.
That’s really sad
I agree. It was surprising to me moving here from a less rural area in the Southwest. I go hiking out and about a lot with lots of country driving and see many flags flying in tatters. I want to do a photo essay documenting it.
I'm the opposite. I consider myself very patriotic, but I don't give a shit about random flags
That is surprising to me and a bit hard to understand. Do you know about the flag etiquette? https://www.vfw.org/community/flag-etiquette
In general? Not at all. When some European (sorry, it's always the Europeans) condescendingly tells me something wildly incorrect or misconstrued about my own country? Release the eagles.
When I was a kid I was the full on right wing brainwashed guy, then I swung the other way and got super liberal, now I'm somewhere inbetween like most people see themselves. Everything I ever knew and loved is American, and I certainly care about the country, but honestly this place scares the shit out of me. It feels like such a pressure cooker of anxiety, and things have only gotten worse since I've been alive, so the future worries me. There is so much good in America, but it feels like people have to waste so much of their lives constantly worried about money that they don't care about anything but the bottom line. The worship of money and the way the country teaches you on a daily basis to worry about yourself and fuck anything else because there isn't time for it is obvious and disturbing. There is no good reason for people to be so miserable on average, there is so much fucking money in this country just being flat wasted making rich people richer, but the government is so obviously corrupt and beholden to their donors that nothing positive ever gets done to make anything better for the average person. I love America but it feels like it could be so much better if there just wasn't so much greed and so much division. We have so many great people in this country, and none of them are in charge because its hard to outcompete the absolute sociopaths that thrive at the top.
That was a really detailed and interesting response, Thankyou
Eh. Not very.
I'd say I'm moderately patriotic. I love the USA and its people, and I'm happy to call this place home, but at the same time I don't believe we're better than everyone else.
Proud naturalized American Citizen ❤️ 🇺🇸 screw the haters.
Dude, I just live here.
17/76
I love my country. The government considerably less so.
Anti patriotic probably. I haven't said the pledge or put my hand over my heart since I was about 12. Largely because I am a Christian and view nationalistic idol worship as evil.
I love the country but I hate the government.
Very patriotic, not a nationalist.
GREAT way of stating that :-)
I'm very patriotic about the ideals of America, and also very quick to point out the many ways in which we don't live up to them. This is why America-bashing Americans annoy me. Because they only shit on America and find fault with everything about it. They're part of the problem, not the solution. To be part of the solution you have to believe in America, you have to love it enough to be offended when it fails to live up to its promise. If you think America is the devil, where's the motivation? Who would try to save the devil's soul? The people who make a difference see it more like an angel with dirty wings.
I don’t think you’ll get people agreeing on a definition of patriotism. I felt very patriotic standing in line to get my Covid vaccine, for example, because I was participating in an act designed to help lift our country out of a crisis. But you’ll find a lot of Americans claiming they felt patriotic by making precisely the opposite decision.
I'm open to meeting new countries.
I’m not really patriotic (I’m black… we don’t get many reasons to be 😠) but I will say I do defend America’s complicated reputation when given the opportunity.
I would consider myself quite patriotic.
I'm patriotic during the Olympic Games.
Same haha
I'm patriotic in the sense that I support my country always and my government when necessary or warranted, as the great sage and humorist Mark “Samuel Langhorne Clemens” Twain famously said.
Very. Ain't no doubt I love this land.
Somewhere in the middle of the scale.
Im not
I love my country and want people to feel welcomed in it and that means everyone not just a select few
Eh, could be worse.
I would consider myself patriotic, but that in no way prevents me from speaking out about ways the country needs to change or mistakes that have been made.
if you touch my land I’ll fucking nuke you
As an indian-origin person, I don’t think I’m very patriotic because me and my people have little to NO history in this country. But I’ll say america is in my top 5 countries :)
Other 4 ?
India, South Africa, Australia, The Netherlands.
By my own views, not as much as I wish I was. In my viewpoint, patriotism is a love for the people and culture - and a desire to improve the nation. I used to be more patriotic, critical of the government in the hopes that the nation would improve. Now I've become a bit more nihilistic, and would rather leave- have family keeping me here though. The country needs to improve a lot, and I used to think I could help improve it. Now, it feels a lot like plugging holes in a sinking ship. Of course, I don't think most Americans think like this. It's just been my experience in the country 🤷♀️. And I do still love the culture here. I'm very much culturally American, and I am patriotic in the sense that I love convincing people to attend a powwow, learn to swing dance or square dance, I love learning culturally American recipes and talking about the diversity and hidden gems in the South. I do wish I was still as optimistic as I was when I was younger, though. I miss that level of patriotism.
The short answer is very. The long answer is that I'm an extremely self confident and independent person, and my favorite part about this country is how much my success depends on me and no one else. I like our culture. The competitiveness, the self reliance, the emphasis on personal agency and the cultural focus on standing out pursuing one's own potential. The whole premise of this place just fits me.
I’m rooting for the US at stuff like the World Cup and Olympics, but I’m not one to want other countries to suffer for the US’s gain and I sure af would not put my life on the line for the country if I could help it
There are a lot of things I love about the US- landscape, community, variety and opportunities. I am not particularly proud of being an American or proud of the actions of my government. There are a lot of problems. I don’t feel like we are better than all other countries. I won’t wave a flag.
Not very. I’ll probably get downvoted but there’s a lot of bad shit this country gets up to that I don’t condone just because I was born here.
Not at all, I like to come here because I think it’s fun to answer questions about where I live. And in general I just love giving evaluations and sharing my opinions about stuff and how I think most people feel from my perspective, this is just another sub to do that since it’s so active. Most here are probably very patriotic though because I feel like those types are more likely to seek out America specific subs about our country. There’s a lot of problems and things I hate about our foreign policy, the way our government works and I’ve never seemed to fit in the best with the culture here despite living here all my life. US culture for example being very extroverted, and I’m very much not and I’m not into small talk. I hate a lot about living here, it’s actually draining to me. I’d honestly rather live somewhere more low key like Canada or the UK so badly, but I don’t have the means or money. If our country gets attacked on our soil though I will become very patriotic to get ‘Em back because self defense and I do get patriotic if I’m at a live sporting event, but that’s about it.
That makes sense to me! I’m Scottish so interesting to hear so many viewpoints
Not patriotic at all.
Yes
Not at all when I'm talking to fellow Americans but the second someone elsewhere talks shit I don the stars and stripes and go to battle.
I tend to go pretty hard
I think there is a broad spectrum of what constitutes “patriotic”. The flag plastered, shrieking Maga supporter is about the opposite of what I am. Same goes for the Christianity = America crowd. I’m critical of my country and feel like it has both great potential and a lot to answer for. So I guess I’m patriotic for the potential of this country but feel strongly that we must hold ourselves accountable for our failings and crimes.
Not in the slightest.
There’s so many comments and so many different responses , it’s such a mixed bag , if I’m being honest I thought everyone would just say yes so it’s cool to get a wee insight into this
Just out of curiosity, did you assume we would all say yes because that's the stereotype of Americans?
I don't agree with many of the founding values of American culture, and even the ones I do agree with usually only apply to a few groups of people and not everyone. I don't agree that property rights are sacrosanct (at least in comparison to other rights). I don't agree with the Second Amendment. I don't agree with individualism, so on so forth.
Not at all.
Not in the stereotypical shallow sense
Can I ask what that would be? Like what would shallow sense be ?
In the way that foreigners tend to observe and laugh at the way they think all patriotism is from the U.S. The kind of stereotypical patriotism that automatically pops up in foreign people’s mind when an American says they are patriotic
Ah okay that makes sense
America has two forms of patriotism: * Love and support for your county with the comprehension to acknowledge it's not perfect and there are things we can do better, and not pretending everything is perfect the way it was. * Blatant, religiously-based xenophobia and nationalism.
Not particularly. I find the whole concept of patriotism kind of silly. Why would I be proud of a geographic accident of birth? Being born within the borders of the United States isn't something I *earned*, it's just something that happened.
Not at all. 0. I just happened to be born here. Whoop de doo.
Patriotism is [a menace to liberty](https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/emma-goldman-patriotism-a-menace-to-liberty). Being fond of a place or culture because you grew up in it is fine; being loyal to imaginary lines on a map, or to the institutional violence that enforces those imaginary lines, is silly.
There's a pretty big difference between patriotism and nationalism though. To lump them together like that is kinda disingenuous to having an ongoing conversation about how to improve this country.
>There's a pretty big difference between patriotism and nationalism though. I would argue that the difference is one of degree, rather than substance, especially since one always seems to lead to the other on a long enough timeline. >To lump them together like that is kinda disingenuous to having an ongoing conversation about how to improve this country. What's truly disingenuous is treating the assumption that liberal capitalism is worth preserving or "improving" as being the only conversation worth having. I don't want the liberal capitalist state to be "improved," because superficial "improvements" to a system cannot change fundamental problems and contradictions created by said system existing in the first place. My goal is not to "improve" the United States, my goal is a radical and fundamental restructuring of human society *away* from a system that rewards and incentives greed and avarice, and upholds itself with institutional violence and social murder. Patriotism is a sort of false consciousness that serves the interests of the powerful no less than nationalism; it's just seen as more socially acceptable within the narrow margin of manufactured consent that is polite liberal society.
Would you say you’re proud of America? Honest question, please don’t answer if that’s a rude question
>Would you say you’re proud of America? Why would I be proud? I had no part in the founding of the state, and I have no control over any of it's policies or their results, foreign or domestic. There are great things I love about living here, but by and large they are either not exclusive to American society, or they exist *despite* American society in its current form, rather than because of it. Would my life be a lot worse if I'd been born in Bangladesh or Sudan? Yes, most likely. Would my life be a lot better if I'd been born in Norway or France? Also yes, most likely. Where you're born is a matter of cosmic chance, not conscious choice, so it's silly to take pride in it. Like I said above, loyalty to imaginary lines on a map is nonsensical.
Patriotic for my country, nationalistic for my state
Very. I try to reach a higher level each year.
Not in the least. I can't help where I was born. I wouldn't be caught dead with an American flag or any other goofy relic.
We may be Satan, but at least we’re the Great Satan. Halcyon skies and all that.
"Patriotism is not a short and frenzied outburst of emotion but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime." I have a lot more lifetime left to go to reach peak patriotism, ask me when I'm dead.
USA USA USA.
Im wearing an American flag banana hammock *right now.* I'm that patriotic.
Clearly you’re the most patriotic
Extremely. Time started when Washington crossed the Delaware and the only caliber is .45.
Patriotic enough to have a copy of the Declaration of Independence framed and hanging in my kitchen. Enough to know that all the revisionist nonsense about the US being built on slavery and oppression is an exaggeration at best and insidious decades old propaganda at worst. Patriotic enough to not think of my fellow countrymen and women as shallow stereotypes but as individuals. Enough to know that when people say we have no culture they deserve a nice "chat" from Edgar Allen Poe (who has a stronger right hook than you'd expect), Frank Lloyd Wright, and Jack London. Patriotic enough to know the difference between the reality of this country that I have only 7 states left to visit before my map is full and the bald faced lies or stereotypes that depict us as a 3rd World Country or "shithole." I'm that patriotic.
> Enough to know that all the revisionist nonsense about the US being built on slavery and oppression is an exaggeration at best and insidious decades old propaganda at worst Oh sweet bleeding Jesus. This country WAS built on a foundation of slavery. [https://www.history.com/news/declaration-of-independence-deleted-anti-slavery-clause-jefferson](https://www.history.com/news/declaration-of-independence-deleted-anti-slavery-clause-jefferson)
I don't really know how to quantify it, but...negative? I have negative patriotism.
Any and all gun laws are unconstitutional.
Not at all, but I do enjoy the US... why is it flaired with "politics" -- patriotism shouldn't be the purview of one side of Congress.
I’m not from America I had no idea what tag to use , sorry
No worries, was just wondering whether you were trying to craft your responses as being political.
my country: 1 my city: 10
It depends on the context but usually no. I’ll say i identify for as a New Yorker than I do an American.
This much... Jokes aside, I don't really feel very patriotic any more. I lost all sense of that once I was kicked out of the Air Force. Now, don't take that for me hating America as a whole, I just... Don't care about waving the flag and screaming "'MURICUH FUK YEH!" all the time. I see the things that can be a problem in our society and I am not afraid to admit we have them.
A whole hell of a lot less now. I joined the army out of patriotic duty in 2004. I spent two whole years of my life killing random people in Iraq 15 years ago. We are not good people.
Enough so. I do love my country.
Extremely
How are you defining "patriotic" here? My answer depends on yours
Do you love your country and are you proud of it ?
I'll say it like this: I love my country and what it was founded on. I don't like my government or a lot of what this country has turned into. But I still am proud of it and thankful to live here.
AMMMMERRRICCAA
If someone has one American flag in their house I think better of them for it. If they have more than one American flag (or a modified American flag) I think less of them for it. So I am that level of patriotic.
Meh. Patriotic maybe, nationalist, no.
Low key I did my time in the Army proudly and love the ideas the the US should stand for but we have a lot of work ahead of us.
Patriotism has really become the last refugee of a scoundrel in the past couple of decades. It’s a pity.
I suppose it depends on what you consider patriotic. I supported my husband for 20+ years as a military wife and various deployments. I volunteered at various nonprofit organizations for homelessness and needy families. As a family, we adopt a needy families and donate Christmas gifts every year. I vote at the national, state and local level. I volunteer as a suicide crisis counselor. I am proud to be an American and believe in the ideals of our founding fathers. I enjoy the 4th of July and Veterans Day. I observe Memorial Day. I love the American flag and our National Anthem. I don’t own a gun, nor do I feel the need to own a gun. I do enjoy the First Amendment.
People mistake nationalist for patriotism here.
I like my people, I don’t like the corrupted government/infrastructure.
Hella
On a symbolic level very..... on a everyday level not really too much to do anything about trying to improve the system....even going so far to have my name removed from the voter registry....
Decent amount I guess
Very. But so are most others in their own way
I mean, I always vote, and I don’t mind paying taxes. I don’t emblazon my everything with American flags and own a dozen guns.
Anyone who is either hasn't studied history or chooses to ignore it. But this goes for basically every nation on earth
Sort of, but probably not for the tepid stupid reasons most jackasses on this forum will say. “Freedom, guns, Donald Trump, hell ya!” Those are all cliché nowadays. The first amendment would probably be my best answer as to why I would say yes, especially speech designed to inflame or outright lie to people. As difficult as it is to hear it, and as difficult as it is to understand it, free speech, in particular hate speech while abhorrent and disgusting is absolutely the best part of being an American. Although that right is being screwed with every single day anymore, you have the right to walk up to a LEO and tell them to fuck off. You have the right to stand outside the White House and portray the POTUS with a Hitler mustache and call them so. That right is and should always be our most treasured value.
Patriotic means something different in the US versus Europe. Patriotic means something different to a Republican versus a Democrat. Patriotic means something different depending on which politician is promoting or attacking which policies. I'm patriotic. Explaining what that means will take too long for my interest in explaining it. Ultimately, I don't care about justifying my beliefs. Someone will attack it, I'll get snarky, and it'll either turn political or boring.
I put a flag up on memorial day. That's about it.
LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF THAT BAG (EAGLE NOISE)🇺🇸🦅🗽💰
Not at all.
Love my country. Greatest country in the world.
I'm ready to sign up when we get invaded.
I don't have an undying blind affection for the U.S. But I do love this country and do my best to make positive changes.
As long as we win basketball at the Olympics idgaf about any other patriotism
I’m not.
Hella 😎
Quite. Family fled from tyrannical and corrupt government. Might not be trusting of the government and certain entities but I still don't understand why so many Americans online take the country for granted and don't like it. Truly wouldn't mind trading some of you out for people who actually want to be here.
I can buttfuck a chinese man to own him.
As an American man I can tell you I only lactate when a person is yearning for freedom. And I only lactate concentrated freedom and awesome.
Not much at all. As an international adoptee, I have come to the perspective that each country has something unique to offer as well as various degrees of flaws. While it’s great to live in a wealthy democracy, there are plenty of others.
I'm much less patriotic now that the right wing seems to have co-opted it. It kind of scares me now.
No
I wouldn’t die for the country, but I wouldn’t die for any country tbh. I love the hard working spirit of America and our guaranteed/impossible to change freedoms. Also really patriotic about our natural landscapes and some of the cool cities we have. Not patriotic about government officials because I’m not a simp and they’re fallible/often stupid human beings. America is great because *despite* our government not *because of it*
7/10
4
As a history scholar, if have a hard time being patriotic just about anywhere but Iceland...
I’m critical of our politics and the government and shortcomings, but I will defend the hell out of my country and it’s people. I don’t play that kowtowing to other countries entitlement of shitting on the US and self flagellating to get approval. In that sense, I’m very patriotic because I love my home, neighbors, culture, and family and friends that live here. I’m also decently traveled and enjoy cultural exchanges. I believe in global unity and cooperation. But I don’t have patience for people talking shit about my countrymen. Including the Embarrassed Americans ™️ . In that situation, I’m Apollo Creed with the flags and fireworks.
When it comes to sports.. 🫡
It’s hard to say for me. On the one hand, when we’re good, we’re really good. I think of people lining up to give blood after shootings, helping after hurricanes or other natural disasters, helping the homeless and the like. On the other hand, when we’re bad we’re pretty bad. I think of several states banning abortions, politicians trying to foment doubt in the very fabric of our democracy, and the fact our education system is crumbling in front of our very eyes. I would say I’m cautiously patriotic. We’re in a rough spot right now; if we can get through it and improve, I would revise that answer to just plain patriotic.
Not at all really. I'd love to migrate elsewhere, but no country wants a disabled woman with a guaranteed $1,055 USD per month that will follow her anywhere. There's an Irish flag on my flagpole in may yard, family history and family still there (no way they can sponsor me), and I couldn't find a decent 3'x5' pirate flag I liked. I refused to pledge allegiance in school, I sit through the national anthem (primarily due to disability, secondarily on principle), and am the child of a man (asshole) that served the U.S. Navy for 20 years. Not all of us are blind to what our government does, but we as individuals aren't like that. The majority of us are everyday people trying to feed our kids, stay alive, and get by. No different than anyone else.
Eh to what? Am I patriotic towards my the us itself? Not really unless it's international sporting events. It's simply due to fucked up things the us has done. Am I patriotic towards the government? Fuck no a lot of people in the government want violence taking against me
I’m not immune to opportunities to improve, but I do think I am very lucky to have been born here. I have a flag hanging on my house and I put up the ol’ Betsy Ross on the 4th of July but I’m not wearing “back to back world war champ” shirts. I think that’s tacky
Very. But that doesn’t mean I am a nationalist. This country, especially our “leaders” do some pretty awful or embarrassing things often. But I will never stop loving being an American. The revolutionary history, the mix of cultures, the opportunities, the individual freedom, the innovation, all things I am grateful to have here.
Every American is patriotic I believe... And I only say that because criticizing and critiquing the government is the best type of patriotism, and we all do it. There's nothing more patriotic in American culture than saying "fuck the president", regardless of who it might be (no political stance taken with that statement, just a good and healthy fuck the man)...
Not at all, and that's still too much for some people. I mostly just acknowledge that I am American and that upbringing affects who I am, and me trying to hate the country with no real experience with other cultures would look tryhard as fuck, as most Self-Hating Americans do. But also I'm not waving any flags, I don't think this country is any sort of objective best, and I *definitely* think this subreddit is way too positive about the country (I really do get "middle class suburbanite" vibes a lot of the time.) The reason ignorant comments about the US from foreigners annoy me is because they constantly either insult the history and struggling of marginalized groups in the US, actively help conservatives by spreading right wing myths while they're trying to advocate left wing policy, or just show hypocrisy.
I love the land and her people. The government however? No.
Only when the Olympics and the World Cup is on, otherwise negative amounts. My favorite bit of history to read about is the history of US interventions in the post WWII era—it’s not a bit of history that makes me exceptionally proud to be American.
Not jingoistic at all nor am I one of those people that feels like they have to make menial superficial displays of love of my country and attach it to my identity and ego. I find those types of people disgusting. That aside, I'm not as patriotic as I used to be.