I am not from the USA, and even if I can understand the notion of being proud of your country, I don't get how over-hyped many seems to be and how you like to say it's the best country in the world on every occasion possible. For sure, saying that your country is the best in the world does not have to be objective since it's YOUR country and it's ok to be proud of it. But in the US, it's seems to be more of an obsession. It's just too much and too far from objectivity. And there's never a reason provided.
We love our country. I fear and loathe the state of my government, but I love my country. It doesn't have to be rational; in fact, love (of anything) can be most beautiful when it is not rational. I think what you're referring to is the concept of American exceptionalism, that there is something uniquely special about America as a country; that democracy has flourished here in a way that it has not in other places. But what constitutes "special"? I think that has changed.
In the last century, America embodied more than any other nation the concept of the rugged individual, free from government domination, seeking out happiness as they defined it. Today, progressives, hippies and other Marxist morons scoff at the very idea of specialness because in their hearts they are authoritarians -- and authoritarians have always feared free-thinking individuals who have the temerity to consider themselves "special" -- mediocrity is the new black.
So I would like to ask all of you that are always saying that the USA is the best country in the world: Why do you think it's the best country in the world and do you really believe it is putting your patriotism on the side just for the time of this answer.
I love the idea of my country, and I love my fellow Americans, and I think we're special, that we have a special role to play in history. This is not a feeling I can "put aside" -- it colors my perspectives, I can't help it. To me America is not just an address, it's an experiment in human freedom. There's a creative chaos to American culture that I love. The constant influx of new people and ideas help make me feel that America is special.
I might ask you, JPG, why are you so (apparently) milquetoasty about Canada? Does my love of country offend you? You're free to love Canada; you've got hockey, bacon, francophones, hockey, hockey hair -- what's not to love?
I sell American flags for a living (well, part of my living) and I get asked this question by tourists all the time: "Why do Americans have such a raging hardon for your country? You put your flag on everything -- it's weird." My response is: "Why don't you have more affection for your own country?" It's considered gauche, sort of trashy, to love your country. It comes across as snobby and elitist to me. A lot of my workers are immigrants, and when they get their citizenship I am very happy for them. And they are very happy to become Americans -- it rejuvenates my own patriotism, every time. These are people who always have the same story -- where they came from, they were never going to "get ahead" no matter how hard they worked. But in America, they could (and were) getting ahead. That's where the zest for America comes from, in my experience -- the chance to pursue happiness on your own terms that you couldn't find elsewhere. And every new American I've met, I've felt as though I was meeting someone with balls; because moving to a new country does take some balls.
By the way, my purpose is to be objective here, no bashing required and no wrong answer really. Even if many could debate that your reason is not good, I don't care and you don't need to justify it, but I am really curious as to what are these reasons.
Thanks! Share with us your zest for Canada. (I mean that in all seriousness.)
Like I said, I understand why you can love your country and it's normal for it not to be rational, at least not all the time. But it's just that most of the time, all we "see" is that you love your country, with no specific reason provided. If there was a reason 1 out of 10 times, I would know MANY reasons why you love your country.
Since you asked it, I feel obligated to answer why I love and hate Canada:
Love Canada for:
- It's a peaceful country and the violence is quite low
- It's a beautiful country (landscape) even if we are destroying it too fast
- It's a country with a lot of diversity
- We have hockey and maple sirup
- We have a LOT of ressources
I hate Canada for:
- We still spend so much time and energy with the French VS English people. No reason to not get over it once and for all
- We like to screw ourselves and get stomped by powerful countries (we are giving our precious resources for example)
- It's a very big country with a very low population, mainly because most of the country is too cold for big cities to be formed. So we have to build long roads that cost a lot to maintain for relatively few use.
- - Taxes are ridiculously high
I hate my province (Québec) for:
- We still argue about splitting from the country (French VS English war). Get over it. We keep our french, we stay in Canada and we get over it.
- While we have very innovative peoples that drive our province (and country), we have a damn lot of people that are there to suck it up. While I think it's important to have social help, I think that it's equally important to fight those that tries to abuse it. And there's a lot whole of them, and since it's not politically well seen, nothing is done about it.
- Our government is wasting money and very good at being counter-productive at a very alarming rate. And while Canada's debt is not so bad, the Québec province debt is very alarming and critical.
- Taxes are ridiculously high
I suppose it's similar in many countries, but if we don't change some things, it will crash at some point. And if it crashes, it will be hard for everyone. It's time to solve some problems before it's too late.
And why I love Québec?
The poutine: french fries (real ones, not McCain garbage), brown sauce (usually a thick one with nice flavor designed for the poutine) and fresh cheddar cheese in chunks. Optionally, you can then add whatever special variant you want with sausage, beef, onions, etc. etc. Eat a good burger with one of these and you have a thicket for the fast food paradise (or arterial disease)
