NationStates Jolt Archive

Doing a survey for a project. This is for any nation you might be living in be it Canada, United States, Finland, Germany, etc. Just take the poll and discuss why (or why not) you love your country.

Yes, I love the USA. Patriotism is the closest thing I have to a religion.

i live here quite by chance because it happens to be where i was born. i don't love my country, nor do i like it. i can, however, love the principles my country stands for and the freedom it gives me, while still not loving the country itself.

I love the USA. As flawed as our government can be at times, I would not want to live anywhere else.

Define "country"?

The dirt?

The people?

The ideal?

The nature?

The strippers?

I love my country (Canada), but there is a good chance I love yours too!

I love the United States...a beautiful land populated by some great folks.

I love St-Lucia, simply because of the people, though the landscape doth truly rock.

I love Spain, England, Greece, Japan and Australia, but in the same way I love Angelina Jolie: from afar, having never been there.

Do I love my Country? Well, considering I gave the better part of 19 years to her service, I suppose I would have to say "yes."

Define "country"?

The dirt?

The people?

The ideal?

The nature?

The strippers?

Yes. :)

No I don't love or even like my country (England) very much. I don't like it because I think it's an artificial construct. And I definitely don't like the people who rule/run it.

I don't understand why I should feel some sort of special attachment on the grounds of geographical or cultural coincidences.

Yes. :)

Further proof that everyone says "Yes." to strippers.

i live here quite by chance because it happens to be where i was born. i don't love my country, nor do i like it. i can, however, love the principles my country stands for and the freedom it gives me, while still not loving the country itself.
ditto.

I am from one country and live in another. Are you asking if I love my country of birth and upbringing, or the country where I now live?

If the former. Not really. I would say that I respect some of its traditions and values, but love, no.

If the latter then again no, but this time it is fun to live here, life is good if you are well educated and work hard, but it is the pits for the poor.

I love my country, I just can't stand the people running it. Or should I say ruining it?

Yes, I love my country (United Kingdom).

Well I guess I could have gotten worse.

Yes but there's a hell of a lot of room for improvement.

USA! USA! USA! USA!

(off the top of my head.. not sure if it's "O" or "Oh")

Oh say, can you see
By the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed
At the twilight's last gleaming

Whose broad stripes and bright stars
Through the perilous fight
O'er the ramparts we watched
Were so gallantly streaming

And the rockets' red glare
The bombs bursting in air
Gave proof through the night
That our flag was still there

O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave.

It (Canada) is slightly better than what it could be, but far less than what it should be. It is a nation with a lot of promise and a lot of corrupt people running it firmly into the ground or selling it to people who can't do any better. I don't know if anywhere else is truly better, but if I was brighter and richer, I'd certainly try to find out.

BELGIUM! BELGIUM! BELGIUM!

na na na na naaa nana
na na na na naa
na na na na na
na naaaa na

na na na na naaa nana
na na na na naa
na na na na na
na naaaa na

Spaceship!

How can you love your country? Its a piece of dirt. However, I do love the people of my country, even if there are a fair few twats

I love my countries traditions, I don't love the goverment, I don't love the population, I don't love the food but I do love the monarchy. I think there are more things I don't love than that I do Love.

Define "country". What is it that people who "love their country" actually love? Their fellow citizens? Their physical land? Their government?

England - never been there, but more than half of my blood is English (apparently my dad's mom is directly descended from Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine through King John I, who came up with the Three Lions shield. I take some pride in this but realize it doesn't really mean crap). I figure if I were ever going to permanently settle anywhere else on earth, I would want to be in England.

I'm a dual citizen of the US and the Canada.

I live in the US right now, and I acknowledge that it is one of the greatest countries on the planet, and I appreciate the oportunites living there provides me with. But I don't love the US.

Canada is where I grew up, and I admit to having some patriotic feelings there, but I'm not sure that's a good thing.

Every country has flaws, and patriotism often seems to imply blindly loving your country even in its most horific acts - and the US has its fair share of those.

I don't think love is something that can apply to hugely contradictory mass of people and policies that make up a country. I think that patriots are people who love an idealized version of their nation, and that is a very dangerous thing.

I was born and raised in Canada. I thank my lucky stars daily to have been so lucky as to been born in my opinion the greatest nation on earth. You bet your ass I love my country. :cool:

I'm a dual citizen of the US and the Canada.

I live in the US right now, and I acknowledge that it is one of the greatest countries on the planet, and I appreciate the oportunites living there provides me with. But I don't love the US.

Canada is where I grew up, and I admit to having some patriotic feelings there, but I'm not sure that's a good thing.

Every country has flaws, and patriotism often seems to imply blindly loving your country even in its most horific acts - and the US has its fair share of those.

I don't think love is something that can apply to hugely contradictory mass of people and policies that make up a country. I think that patriots are people who love an idealized version of their nation, and that is a very dangerous thing.

I can't speak for anyone besides myself, but in my case the ideals of America are among the very things which motivate me to love Her.

Why should I love the place because I was placed here by chance?

Patriotism is another tool for the ruling class.

I love Canada - but I still see our flaws. In my case, love is not blind.

It's easy to love land. But a country is a dangerous thing to love. They're full of all sorts of people, some of them jerks, and all kinds of changing politics. If you sign on for the whole kit and kaboodle and declare your unconditional love, you don't really know what all you're on board for.

Define "country". What is it that people who "love their country" actually love? Their fellow citizens? Their physical land? Their government?

Much of it is the idea of the nation.

Its birth, its traditions, its history, its culture, its land, its people, its rights and its wrongs... probably these things (at least) are part of the concept of a nation and why we feel so strongly about nations (if you do feel strongly about it).

I love Canada - but I still see our flaws. In my case, love is not blind.

Amen!

yeah i love my country (ireland) it rocks best place to live
it just rocks :p :cool:

I love the history of my country.

I love the people of my country.

I love the terrain of my country.

Yes, I love my country.

I can't speak for anyone besides myself, but in my case the ideals of America are among the very things which motivate me to love Her.

I can understand that, but I don't think love of your country's founding principles is the same thing as love of your country.

I love My country (America) as I love my church.

I love the people that it is composed of.

I love what it stands for.

I don't necessarily love the governing body of it.
:D

Absolutely. One must also love his nation's hot dogs. hehe

I do love it's birth, history, culture, people, rights and wrongs, and by god the land itself is outstanding. Which probably does have a small part as to why I've served for just shy of six years thus far. I love America.

And of course the Hot Dogs are pretty good too. Thanks.

'Patriotism is the virtue of the vicious'
(think that's the correct quote)

Why should I lov the place I live when i exist here only by chance? I mean im grateful I am here, but I dont lov the country because of that. I certainly dont like most of te people or how the country is run (y are people given power because they are born to it?).

England - never been there, but more than half of my blood is English (apparently my dad's mom is directly descended from Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine through King John I, who came up with the Three Lions shield. I take some pride in this but realize it doesn't really mean crap). I figure if I were ever going to permanently settle anywhere else on earth, I would want to be in England.

Your right about it not meaning crap: Most of us Englanders have little idea who those people are (OK, so most would guess that two of them are kings, but thats all they would know) But this is why I love England, or maybe I just love the culture, or I dont know what. But my point is, wheras the American presidents appear to be revered by americans (or at least the famous ones such as Washington, Lincoln etc) we in Britain couldn't care less. Royal Family taken hostage by terrorists- few of us would give a toss. We don't think much of our country either; the weather is shit, all that is left of the Empire is a few boring islands. (clearly they have somthing in common with the British Isles)
I'm rambling, I'll try to keep it brief, where was I?
Yes, the few highlights of Britain include the fantstic multiculturalism of London, and Nectar Points. And a ferocious press. But thats about it.
In other words, we don't have any of this "Our country is the best God-damn country in the whole world" nonsence, we don't care for our national history, and many of us would happily move elsewhere. But I belive this kind of attitude is to be encouraged; frequently we hear cases of Judges etc being critisized in the US for being "Un-american" and tales of a powerful news network (FOX) constantly sypmathising with the presidency... All sounds a bit creepy and 1984 to me. Remember, although the most influencial people in history have been those who will stick to their ideals no matter what, simply as it is the "right thing" to them, the ones who have made positive changes rather than negative have rationally thought about whats best for all, (Ghandi using peaceful protest, rather than simply fight, as is so often the impulse of man) rather than doing what they do, just "because" (patriotism in a nutshell if you ask me. Remember Hitler thought what he was doing was right, simply because jews had "harmed his country")

In conclusion, I love the way us English generally view our country as a bit crap, and I find hardcore patriotism scary. I love the attitude of the population rather than the country i suppose, but isnt that what makes a country what it is?

I was born and raised in Canada. I thank my lucky stars daily to have been so lucky as to been born in my opinion the greatest nation on earth. You bet your ass I love my country. :cool:

But you rail against those of us who love our Country, America? How very ... inequitable.

I can understand that, but I don't think love of your country's founding principles is the same thing as love of your country.

I didn't say "founding principles," although I love those too. I said its "ideals," which have changed over time, as they should have. Plus, I love my Country itself as well.

I love the idea that I can pick up and move anywhere in the US and start over if I need to.

I love the idea that anyone in the US can vote for those they wish to govern the Country.

I love the friendliness of our people.

I love the music, both old and new, our people create, and their art and sculpture and dance.

I love that, if enough people get concerned about a direction our government is taking, we can get together and change it.

I love that people of all faiths are free to practice them here.

I love that there are truly kind and good and brave men and women who are willing to die to keep our people free to pursue their own version of freedom.

I love that I can find virtually any ethnicity's food here.

I love that there are massive cities and small towns and fields that go on forever.

I love that I can drive four hours East and be on the seashore, or four hours West and be in the mountains.

I love that America is far more child-centered than many other places on the Earth.

I love that my children and grandchildren are free ... FREE to learn and grow and follow their own convictions, chart their own course, and pass these freedoms on to their own children.

God, I love this Country! :D

AND ... I love America because ...

"Over the years, the United States has sent many of its fine young men and women into great peril to fight for freedom beyond our borders. The only amount of land we have ever asked for in return is enough to bury those who did not come back." - Colin Powell

AND ... I love America because ...

"Over the years, the United States has sent many of its fine young men and women into great peril to fight for freedom beyond our borders. The only amount of land we have ever asked for in return is enough to bury those who did not come back." - Colin Powell

How easily you people buy such empty rhetoric...

Anyhoo, I am of the opinion that there are very few things less worthy of love than countries.

I come from Italy and I love
its terrain
its traditions
its food
and I hate
the medievalish unjustified fear for everything new, the deep ignorance about the world and the science of its people,
the corruption, the demagogism, the ipocricy, the thievery and the incompetence of its political men
its unbelievable inefficency (it's a millennial problem caused by some thrashehending genetics, even the romans had to deal with it)

I didn't say "founding principles," although I love those too. I said its "ideals," which have changed over time, as they should have. Plus, I love my Country itself as well.

I love the idea that I can pick up and move anywhere in the US and start over if I need to.

I love the idea that anyone in the US can vote for those they wish to govern the Country.

I love the friendliness of our people.

I love the music, both old and new, our people create, and their art and sculpture and dance.

I love that, if enough people get concerned about a direction our government is taking, we can get together and change it.

I love that people of all faiths are free to practice them here.

I love that there are truly kind and good and brave men and women who are willing to die to keep our people free to pursue their own version of freedom.

I love that I can find virtually any ethnicity's food here.

I love that there are massive cities and small towns and fields that go on forever.

I love that I can drive four hours East and be on the seashore, or four hours West and be in the mountains.

I love that America is far more child-centered than many other places on the Earth.

I love that my children and grandchildren are free ... FREE to learn and grow and follow their own convictions, chart their own course, and pass these freedoms on to their own children.

God, I love this Country! :D
What a coincidence! Those are the very reasons I like my country!
(well... we don't have *massive cities* and i have no children... but all else)

No, I do not love my current home the United States. I plan to Immigrate some day. I find the constitution, and its current state to be abominations.

No. I love my city, and I love my state, and I love my region (New England), but I have no great affinity for the US as a whole. I feel no closer to people from Alabama or Texas or Idaho or Wisconsin than I do to people from Canada or England or Germany or Japan.

Not really. one of my least favorite parties has had power for about 30-odd years, and the political parties are so stuck in their 19th century dogmas that they can't just cooperate when they need to. Other than that, i love my friends, i love the place where i live and i love a lot of things about my country. However, the nationalist idea is not something i think is important. I'd prefer borders to be removed. They inhibit cooperation.

What a coincidence! Those are the very reasons I like my country!
(well... we don't have *massive cities* and i have no children... but all else)

Kewl! Can I come visit someday? Perhaps bring my family and spend a bit of time there? :)

I'd say I love my nation, but not neccessarily my country. I take a great pride and interest in England's history and culture.

No. I love my city, and I love my state, and I love my region (New England), but I have no great affinity for the US as a whole. I feel no closer to people from Alabama or Texas or Idaho or Wisconsin than I do to people from Canada or England or Germany or Japan.

That's just sad. You probably need to get out more, take a tour of the US, meet some folks. Come to NC! I'll show you around; you'll like it here. :)

I do.
http://img.infoplease.com/images/home/flag1.gif

That's just sad. You probably need to get out more, take a tour of the US, meet some folks. Come to NC! I'll show you around; you'll like it here. :)

I didn't say I dislike the rest of the United States. I've been around. It's just I don't feel any national pride. I think it's partially because of the huge differences in regional cultures around the nation.

Kewl! Can I come visit someday? Perhaps bring my family and spend a bit of time there? :)
Sure! Come on over! I'd advice to visit between april-september (it can get a bit chilly during the winter). :D

Yes, I love my country and my liberty.

Yes, I love my country and my liberty.

Yo, e-son! S'up? :D

Good deal, Eichen. I figured you to have a good head on your shoulders. :)

Sure! Come on over! I'd advice to visit between april-september (it can get a bit chilly during the winter). :D

Good deal! I've heard your Winters can be a bit ... intense. Heh! Certainly didn't do the Russians much good! :)

How does May of 2006 sound to ya? :D

Good deal! I've heard your Winters can be a bit ... intense. Heh! Certainly didn't do the Russians much good! :)

How does May of 2006 sound to ya? :D
Sounds like a date... how big was the family again...?

Doing a survey for a project. This is for any nation you might be living in be it Canada, United States, Finland, Germany, etc. Just take the poll and discuss why (or why not) you love your country.

I love my country because in my opinion it's the most free nation on Earth.

I love my country because it's my home

I love Canada because of it's natural beauty, because of all the untamed wilderness we have due to our small population. I love it because of it's multi-culturalism, because people of all races, religions, and ethnicities live here together in relative harmony. I love hockey. I love that we have legalized same sex marriages. I love socialized healthcare and education. I love that we have four major political parties, so we have more of a choice at election time. I love our freedoms.

I love my country because in my opinion it's the most free nation on Earth.
AHH! That's what Saddam said. So very subjective.

EDIT: I forgot the freaking smiley... here you go: :D

No I don't love my country. I love the people and friends in my country. But if shit turns sour, I'm the first to run.

Not that I don't believe in Patriotism, but I live in a country where I'm a second class citizen, and always will be a second class citizen.

I would fight for my friends and family, but not for my country.

Yes, I love the USA. Patriotism is the closest thing I have to a religion.
And he's a liberal. Yay!! Eat it.

(Okay, so maybe I'm a little onry tonight, probably means I should go to bed)

Your right about it not meaning crap: Most of us Englanders have little idea who those people are (OK, so most would guess that two of them are kings, but thats all they would know) But this is why I love England, or maybe I just love the culture, or I dont know what. But my point is, wheras the American presidents appear to be revered by americans (or at least the famous ones such as Washington, Lincoln etc) we in Britain couldn't care less. Royal Family taken hostage by terrorists- few of us would give a toss. We don't think much of our country either; the weather is shit, all that is left of the Empire is a few boring islands. (clearly they have somthing in common with the British Isles)
I'm rambling, I'll try to keep it brief, where was I?
Yes, the few highlights of Britain include the fantstic multiculturalism of London, and Nectar Points. And a ferocious press. But thats about it.
In other words, we don't have any of this "Our country is the best God-damn country in the whole world" nonsence, we don't care for our national history, and many of us would happily move elsewhere. But I belive this kind of attitude is to be encouraged; frequently we hear cases of Judges etc being critisized in the US for being "Un-american" and tales of a powerful news network (FOX) constantly sypmathising with the presidency... All sounds a bit creepy and 1984 to me. Remember, although the most influencial people in history have been those who will stick to their ideals no matter what, simply as it is the "right thing" to them, the ones who have made positive changes rather than negative have rationally thought about whats best for all, (Ghandi using peaceful protest, rather than simply fight, as is so often the impulse of man) rather than doing what they do, just "because" (patriotism in a nutshell if you ask me. Remember Hitler thought what he was doing was right, simply because jews had "harmed his country")

In conclusion, I love the way us English generally view our country as a bit crap, and I find hardcore patriotism scary. I love the attitude of the population rather than the country i suppose, but isnt that what makes a country what it is?
i agree, unequivocally loving or supporting the country, its government, its decisions, and the system is pretty stupid (sorry). there needs to be an element of sceptisism - something we Brits have in abundance :D
generally, we hate our government (who-ever is in power) and everybody (of mild intelligence) consistantly questions it, but will always support it if necessary.
its a different kind of hatred of government in this country, too. (many) americans seem to actually hate the government for interfering in their liberties. we couldn't care less, in general we trust it not to do anything crazy (*cough* Iraq), or impede our liberties (*cough* Terrorism Act), and just wish it would get out of our collective face - to its job and not bother me about it. well that sums up my attitude to british government anyway.
(no i don't love my country ;) )

BELGIUM! BELGIUM! BELGIUM!

na na na na naaa nana
na na na na naa
na na na na na
na naaaa na

na na na na naaa nana
na na na na naa
na na na na na
na naaaa na

Spaceship!
lmao!

I tried to love my country once and got arrested for lewd behavior in public.

LOL!!!!


I love my country, 'cause I was born here, and it's the perfect mix of cultures and climate.

God save the Queen!! And all that.

I love aspects of my country (UK) but i love that i can be critical of my country even more... :D


I think me and Pure Metal can agree with the homer simpson like statement of "mmmmmmmmmmmmmm scepticism" :D

I love aspects of my country (UK) but i love that i can be critical of my country even more... :D


I think me and Pure Metal can agree with the homer simpson like statement of "mmmmmmmmmmmmmm scepticism" :D
mmmmmmmmm doughnuts is better, but since we're out scepticism will have to do :p

(UK) I'm proud of what my country once was but I have no love for it now...if I could afford it I would take my loved ones and hot foot it somewhere else....warmer for a start!

mmmmmmmmm doughnuts is better, but since we're out scepticism will have to do :p

ooooooo....doughnuuuuuuuuuuuuuutttttttttttttttssssssssssss

mmmmmmmmm doughnuts is better, but since we're out scepticism will have to do :p

*munches on dohnut*

nope i got both! :D woohoo!

No, the USA is a cesspool of sin and is a doomed nation, unless the people stop their wickedness, sin, and idolatry, and repent and beg the Almighty Sovereign God to spare them the wrath of hell.

Of course it's already predestinated who is going to repent, and who isn't, so there isn't really much you can do except hope you're Elect. If you're Elect, you'll know it.

No, I do not love my current home the United States. I plan to Immigrate some day. I find the constitution, and its current state to be abominations.
where would you emigrate to that doesnt have the problems of the US or worse problems yet?

I don't love my country. I love my (ex-)girlfriend. And my car. Other than the car, you can't 'love' inanimate objects.

No, the USA is a cesspool of sin and is a doomed nation, unless the people stop their wickedness, sin, and idolatry, and repent and beg the Almighty Sovereign God to spare them the wrath of hell.

Of course it's already predestinated who is going to repent, and who isn't, so there isn't really much you can do except hope you're Elect. If you're Elect, you'll know it.

good luck with that elected thing.

No, the USA is a cesspool of sin and is a doomed nation, unless the people stop their wickedness, sin, and idolatry, and repent and beg the Almighty Sovereign God to spare them the wrath of hell.

Of course it's already predestinated who is going to repent, and who isn't, so there isn't really much you can do except hope you're Elect. If you're Elect, you'll know it.

Well other than God apparently gave man Free Will so predestination is a lie :rolleyes: ...but thats for another thread...

Well other than God apparently gave man Free Will so predestination is a lie :rolleyes: ...but thats for another thread...


By claiming that God gave man free will, you undeify the deity, you debase God to the level of a mortal in the scope of His power.

To claim that God was surprised by original sin, you are claiming that He had no way of knowing... Wrong, He made it happen because it so suited Him to do so. All things are predestinated, and yes, this would make a nice thread, perhaps we ought to get one going?

I detest all nations equally. Nations, more specifically, states, are just lines in the dirt for people to die for. These lines protect the strong and kill the weak, all in the interest of preserving the power of some sort of ruling class. The story of these lines in the dirt are always tragic, mostly bloody. They confine the human spirit and provides a prison of the mind for all it's inhabitants. You think: what, no nations, what will happen to me then? What happens to society and all those other conventions you hold dear? That, darling, is your gilded cage.

By claiming that God gave man free will, you undeify the deity, you debase God to the level of a mortal in the scope of His power.

To claim that God was surprised by original sin, you are claiming that He had no way of knowing... Wrong, He made it happen because it so suited Him to do so. All things are predestinated, and yes, this would make a nice thread, perhaps we ought to get one going?


God must be really chuffed that you know exactly what he's thinking! Tell me....does He talk to you too?

No, i dont love my country. I like some people, i like some laws, i like some of the landscape, some of the culture, etc... And i dislike some of all that. A lot of all those things can be found in the neighbouring countries and some are specific to here. Thus i feel nothing special about this borders i live in.

Vote Early

God gave us the ability to choose... to choose Him or not.

Free will! (this doesn't mean that God doesn't know who will choose him... but from our perspective, we still control our choices).

oh, and:

it's = it is

God must be really chuffed that you know exactly what he's thinking! Tell me....does He talk to you too?


Through the writings of John Calvin, He speaks to His Elect.

My country is like my brother; though I hate it sometimes I love it unconditionally.

I love my country I just don't love the people who run it. *Cough* Bush *Cough*

I love my country I just don't love the people who run it. *Cough* Bush *Cough*

thats funny. my countries ok but i dont like the ruler who kisses bushes ass so much he has a brown nose. *cough blair*

Is it so much to ask that just one measly thread doesn't devolve into an argument over the relative merits of the esoterica of the various Christian sub-cults?

"My country, in dealing with other countries, may she always be Right. But she is still my country, right or wrong." -Stephen Decatur

I am a patriot, but i also disagree with things my country has done. A patriot is not necessarily a person who follows his country blindly.

Gotta love the best country in the world-USA

those nationalist extremists are retards.