Should one be automatically love and think the country your born into is the best and is the best?

Just because your born into a great country, does that mean you have to run along with all the other citizens and say it's the best and yada yada yada.

Sometimes I get frustrated when people start talking about America, and how if you were born here you should love it! Well no one has any control over where they are born nor who they are born to. Why should the fact you are born in one country make you think it's the best? Irregardless of all the propaganda.

Hi Yano - love of one's country, to me, isn't the country, but the people/culture within which you are born/placed, whatever. There are many beautiful aspects to many countries - I was born in England, lived there for 28 years, loved the country and the people, migrate dto Australia, love it and the people - the thought of England still has a special emotion for me, but it's not specifically for "England", it's for people,cutlure,landscapes, cities - which same emotion resonates with me for Australia .... so I suppose love of country cannot be imposed, but "learned and appreciated" and based upon the "way of life" of it's people and culture - I would be prepared to fight and defend these things, but I sadly I feel that our 'patriotism" is to often manipulated by the powers-that-be for other agendas, - on reflection, I truly feel that the ordinary, common people of any country in the world could get along just fine, still enjoying and appreciating their way of life, if those powerful "governing and ruling"classes were not so hungry for more and more power... Having rambled on, I must say that if the country you in which are born/live provides education, health, material and social oportunities, gives you a law-abiding framework in which to live safely etc. then you should have regard and respect for that blessing - for it IS a blessing.

Simply, where you are born doesn't matter. It's how you feel compared to the country you live in. And yes I believe if you don't like the country you live in, you should get out.

Well I like the Land but not so much the Leaders. Or the government but then again I dont like europes nonchalent attitude towards things either. I like America better.

I'm going to have to go with Solaris on this one

I've always held the notion - Love it or leave it!

I don't agree with the Cut and Run option. I would sooner stay and do my bit to try and improve things.
Going to another Country,one is faced with another set of problems,normally.
I wouldn't leave my Parents,Family and Friends, to fight for a better lifestyle on their own.
By the way,I think I live in the best Country,but I try and keep it secret.

Edit. Spelling.

This post has been edited by DSTM: Feb 22 2008, 03:41 PM

A lot of people don't think their Country is the best, Which is one of the main reasons there is such a vast number of people trying to immigrate to the U.S. (and others) on a daily basis. I'd say its pretty safe to say large numbers of family's die each day trying to flee their home country from around the world (Africa for instance) looking for a safer less violent place to live. It would be hard to love your country if it was actively seeking to kill you (Think Balkans). I knew a Ukrainian in my Platoon (USMC) whose Family had made it out of the Ukraine when he was 9-10 years old (would have been the late-sixty's, and wouldn't talk about it ) and he remembers the first time they went to a "supermarket" , he said he just stood there for what seemed like eternity looking at everything ,his parents had been there a number of times and were still in awe everytime. He also said he hoped to return to the Ukraine someday to help get rid of the Russians, don't know what happened to him but I'd like to think he is alive and well, whether here in the U.S. or back in the Ukraine.
I thank God I was born American on a regular basis

This post has been edited by no one: Feb 23 2008, 03:58 PM

Patriotism comes from the Latin "pater" (father, by extension, fatherland). Once can love one's father, and respect him, but that does not mean one must blindly obey him after reaching one's majority, or not recognise his faults in not fully meeting his own ideals.
Z

I didn't explain my opinion well in my last post. I was mainly talking about people in Western Countries who are never happy,and instead of trying to make a go of it,just pack up and go to another Western Country,hoping life is easier.
Anybody who is tortured and butchered in their own Country,we should accept our share, on compassionate grounds, and I welcome them here to have a new start in life.I think we accepted around 500 from the Balkans.I also feel once their Country is stable again,they should be encouraged to return to their Homeland.

Didn't notice any rambling. Heck if that's rambling, then your a rookie. LOL

What I read, made complete sense to the point of being profound should those who see it, understand it!

Seen what goes on in other countries, and "I LOVE THE GOOD OLD U.S.A!
We are more than fortunate to have been born in, "Developed Nations" as compared to what I have witnessed in "certain" other countries.

Though it is true that I do not agree with anything our government has done or is doing right now.
I am lucky to live in a country where I can tell them so!!!!

That's the point. America is not the freest country or the only country to have all these "rights" we enjoy. We were the FIRST to guarantee them, not the only one to guarantee them. Almost all country in Europe have the same or equivalent rights as America does right now. I understand there are "certain" countries out there, specifically in undeveloped nations, where these rights are not guaranteed.

Also the right to mouth off to the government is not a sacred right to America. You can do so in Europe. (I wouldn't go to China to mouth of about them, though).

I sure do agree with you, but:
if I move to England I can never become KING!
Here, if I so choose, I can become President!

Only if you're rich, have been in strong in the political game for at least 20 years, are at least 40 years old, and lack many morals such as honesty.

And only if you were born here in America.

And, of course, if you were born in Great Britain, you could always become Prime Minister.
Z