Patriotism, from one Canadian’s perspective

Many people share your definition and feelings of patriotism, I don’t. I feel it is a deep feeling of community and a certain feeling of pride in doing my small part in my small dot of this country to make it a little better than it was before me. I feel one of many, not one in many, who work to make my country stronger and more effective than it was. Restoring our economic standing in the world is important to me and helping to elect the right people to achieve that, my job. Yep I am patriotic and I do tear up when the national anthem is played and I remember the souls who have been lost to protect our freedoms when I hear those words. I stand erect, hand over heart and I sing (not my strong point) along with the crowd, loudly and proudly because it is MY national anthem.

But that’s how I am 100% or I’m out. Not much in between in my life.
Jo Heroux recently posted… PATRIOTISM

Your post made me think back to the last Olympics when someone on Facebook made a comment about not caring who won the medals and stating that they cheered for all athletes. They said they thought people shouldn’t be so “My country” oriented. I thought that was a strange attitude too because, like it or not, that’s what the Olympics is about … the athletes from MY country beating YOUR country.

For any person anywhere on earth to say they have no patriotism to their country is sad for me to hear. I’m very patriotic and my eyes tear up when the flag is flown and the anthem is sung. My son, who is in the military and would DIE for this country, is very patriotic. He would be very sad (although more likely angry) at your attitude.

I have to admit that I don’t understand your non-feelings for our country. I know you’re obsessed with American politics and I often wonder if you don’t wish you were American. I know other people who think that way. That’s fine if you do but I’d rather you admit to it than just say you have blah feelings about Canada.

Like I said, mostly, attitudes like yours make me feel sad.

Well, I’ll jump in with both feet and probably get in trouble, but that’s part of my reason for blogging! I agree totally with your statements, Dawn! You’re not talking about normal, sensible patriotism where you support, criticize, and try to improve the form of government under which you live – you’re describing jingoism, that rah-rah fervor that my nations is the only one in the world that’s valuable and to hell to everybody else. Dictionary.com defines it as “bellicose chauvinism.” Anybody who has read my Future History post will know that by the 28th century nations have disappeared and people think of themselves only as Earthers. We are all the same species, so I’m always uncomfortable when the body counts of war or catastrophe stress how many Americans are killed, and, oh, yes, maybe we might deign to mention the also-rans – 20 Afghans or Japanese or Canadians also died, but so what? They aren’t Americans! Aren’t they human beings? Don’t they suffer like any other human being? Shouldn’t they be accorded the same respect in death? We are all the same species! We are humans first, and Americans or Canadians or Afghans or Brazilians or South Africans second.
Lorinda J. Taylor recently posted… I’ve Been Nominated for The Next Best Thing Award!

I’m comfortable with where I am from. I don’t think that patriotism in the normal sense fits me. I cheer for all nations to benefit. The way many people feel about their countries reminds me of a line from some Chris Rock movie where he is president (or some other politician). In it he repeats, “God bless America. And no place else!” That is what I feel many people meaning when they say they are patriotic. That their place is the best and nothing else matters. I like Lorinda’s comment that we are all Earthlings.
a.eye recently posted… I’ve been trained too well

(psssssssssst) i have 3 Canadian grandchildren…sooOOOoo
huh???huhuh???canipleeeeeeeze become Canadian??:0)
Brenda recently posted… Patriotic Nature

Very nicely put, Dawn. I had a difficult time with this topic. It seems to mean so many different things to different people, and when we can’t agree on a definition, the continued use reduces the term to meaningless jargon. Thanks for posting this.