Why are many Americans so Patriotic about their country

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Originally Posted by Necron99

American exceptionalism is indoctrinated in school and media.

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UN GA 2013:
President Obama delivered a forceful defense of American exceptionalism at the United Nations on Tuesday, saying, "I believe America is exceptional."

"I believe America must remain engaged for our own security, but I also believe a world is better for it," he said in the speech. "Some may disagree, but I believe America is exceptional, in part because we have shown a willingness, to the sacrifice of blood and treasure to stand up, not only for our own interests, but for the interests of all."
Obama had made a similar point during his televised address to the nation on Syria earlier this month, when he said that the United States is not the world's policeman, "But when, with modest effort and risk, we can stop children from being gassed to death, and thereby make our own children safer over the long run, I believe we should act.” He added: “That’s what makes America different. That’s what makes us exceptional.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a recent New York Times op-ed, criticized Obama for making such a claim, writing, "It is extremely dangerous to encourage people to see themselves as exceptional, whatever the motivation."

Obama tells other world leaders: ‘I believe America is exceptional’ - The Washington Post

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Originally Posted by Yasojack

Jeff the amount of abuse the military received on coming back from the war is beyond belief, that ain't flag waving.

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Bit of a myth.....

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Originally Posted by thaimeme

Bit of a myth.....

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Who created that myth? Hanoi Jane?

It's almost as if you could brainwash people by making them recite the National Anthem loyalty oath every weekday for 12 years. It would be like a reflex reaction to defend the country if someone disparaged the U.S.

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Originally Posted by Looper

Most citizens of most countries are patriotic. It is in the tribal element of human nature to be patriotic. More advanced civilisations (western civilisations) recognise that patriotism is a bit shallow if you analyse it objectively and it is generally played down as a social value in those countries so I would say the OP's question is based on a false premise.

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Interesting view, Loops and I'm going to take it on a tangent (sorry, OP). Not US, but UK for this. I've become very uneasy about the increased patriotism/racism in the last few years of our "huddled masses" (sadly being a patriot seems to mean you are a racist. The only people admitting to being one are definitely the other according to media and social media)
So, to paraphrase you, the truly patriotic are the non thinkers of society? Or am I reading you wrong?

Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.

Slightly off topic my near to be 3yr old goes to nursery, whats the first thing they teach her. The national anthem, and she sings it everyday when the TV is on.:)

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Originally Posted by Looper

The patriotism of Japanese and Thai people I have met is far more extreme and delusional than the patriotism I have witnessed from Americans.

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Ask the Chinese if China is exceptional, the Nazi's if the Third Reich was exceptional, the Japs if imperial Japan was exceptional, the colonial Brits if Britannia ruled the waves (exceptionally). Surprise, surprise, the answer remains the same. Conveniently underpinned by a racial &/or religious exceptionalist doctrine. It takes a fall from grace to come back down to earth, and that history tells us is just a matter of time (but don't bother telling that to an exceptionalist American, because America is exceptional you see).

Like every other imperial power before and after it, 'American exceptionalism' is the norm, and not unexceptional at all. A self serving ideology.

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Originally Posted by sabang

A self serving ideology.

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Every countrys' so-called ideology is self serving. Let's not be hypocrites here. The vast majority of people of all countries are loyal to their own country.

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Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

and fought in Vietnam.

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I was in Nam

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Originally Posted by Yasojack

i should of asked as well whats this thing about God bless America.?

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:banhim11:

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Originally Posted by Humbert

Every countrys' so-called ideology is self serving.

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prrrreeeecisely

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Originally Posted by Humbert

Every countrys' so-called ideology is self serving.

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'ave a brownie cake- you've earned it. :)

Of course the bigger the national entity in scope, hegemony, &/or ambition the bigger the self serving ideology required to support it.

That is why America only does God's work under Manifest Destiny, and the imperial Japanese, under the divine Emperor, were only helping the subservient but loyal Asian people rid themselves of evil Colonial influence and to become part of the greater Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere. Sometimes, a bit of divine influence is required.

Flash care to explain it to me?

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Originally Posted by flashbang

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Originally Posted by Yasojack

i should of asked as well whats this thing about God bless America.?

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:banhim11:

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Originally Posted by chassamui

Hanoi Jane

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Now the thread is getting somewhere!!!

https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/2014/09/1674.jpg


Klondyke makes a good point in post #26

The Romans did it, the British did it and now the Americans are doing it... Soon enough the Chinese will be doing it (that'll make Sabang happy... :)).

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Originally Posted by Necron99

American exceptionalism is indoctrinated in school

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In which US state did you attend school?

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Originally Posted by jamescollister

Americans, for the most part are good honest people, with a bad sense of humor

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Baloney - They just don't have a British sense of humor.

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Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

and the fact that percentage-wise few Americans ever leave it

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There is an oft repeated myth that percentage wise few Americans hold passports. This is a myth that cannot be substantiated.

Its ok just found it originally wrote by Robert Montgomery Bird then made popular by Irving Berlin.

Interesting read about it.

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Originally Posted by Yasojack

Flash care to explain it to me?

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Originally Posted by flashbang

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Originally Posted by Yasojack

i should of asked as well whats this thing about God bless America.?

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:banhim11:

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I was jokingly suggesting that you should be banned for your constant abuse of the world's greatest language. Here's the boring part:

• should of - very wrong and often used by tracksuit wearing chavs and people too lazy to educate themselves - it's really not that hard.

• should have - correct usage of the world's greatest language. Innit.

“More Americans have passports now than ever before,” says Ken Chavez, spokesperson for the Bureau of Consular Affairs at the US State Department. Over one-third of the population to be exact, or nearly 110 million out of 313 million Americans. That’s more than double the number of US passports in circulation in 2000 (48 million) and around 15 times 1989’s 7 million. At that last number (under 3 percent of Americans), you can sort of understand why my European traveling buddies were scandalized.

Try this the police have been here before.

Lauren - French exam - The Catherine Tate Show - BBC comedy - YouTube

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Originally Posted by flashbang

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Originally Posted by Yasojack

Flash care to explain it to me?

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Originally Posted by flashbang

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Originally Posted by Yasojack

i should of asked as well whats this thing about God bless America.?

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:banhim11:

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I was jokingly suggesting that you should be banned for your constant abuse of the world's greatest language. Here's the boring part:

• should of - very wrong and often used by tracksuit wearing chavs and people too lazy to educate themselves - it's really not that hard.

• should have - correct usage of the world's greatest language. Innit.

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Humbert,

No offence, but Americans can be, and often are, utter fukwits. (so can most folks, obviously)

What I notice about the Americans in my line of work is: 1) their conventionalism and, 2) the way they ignorantly force their conventions upon others.

So, you have folks that just don't think (most Americans have shockingly poor critical thinking skills thus are very easy to manipulate; a state of play that has been socially engineered since Reagan went about reengineering the American education system...), but are very willing to force their 'values' (which are based on nothing other than propaganda) upon others.

Here in Korea, every second person is an American forcing their religious views upon the Koreans. The texts and ideologies the Americans use in my work place are totally cultural imperialistic and ignorant of local cultures/histories. This is standard American-ness, as it was standard British Empire building-ness before...

The Americans are a pain in the arse because they are stupid and empowered.

The talk highlighted above of 'exceptional American-ness' is dehumanizing to every non-American; is that how a 'world leader' should construct their discourse???


Having said that, I am of no better opinion of British society. Although, I will add that there is (or at least used to be) a healthy skepticism/critical discourse in the UK/Ireland that is very lacking among out propaganda following American brothers and sisters...

Betty Boo,
No offense but it's just your subjective opinion based upon your experience. You have acquired a prejudice that has no basis in reality. I could come up with a list of negatives that I have noticed to be common in many Brits I know but I am not stupid enough to paint the entire nation with the same brush.

You mean he's anally retentive.

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Originally Posted by Humbert

Betty Boo,
No offense but it's just your subjective opinion based upon your experience. You have acquired a prejudice that has no basis in reality. I could come up with a list of negatives that I have noticed to be common in many Brits I know but I am not stupid enough to paint the entire nation with the same brush.

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Originally Posted by Humbert

Betty Boo,
No offense but it's just your subjective opinion based upon your experience. You have acquired a prejudice that has no basis in reality. I could come up with a list of negatives that I have noticed to be common in many Brits I know but I am not stupid enough to paint the entire nation with the same brush.

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People are framed by societies, to notice and explicate that is to critically analyze people and societies; something, due to the social framing in the US (and increasingly in the UK too) that Americans never bother doing.

Fundamentally, I am pro-American and pro-America insomuch as the myth survives, but I am certainly not pro-ignorance, pro-aggression, pro-crony capitalism, pro-cultural imperialism or pro the numerous other traits that most Americans I meet are substantiated by.

Just out of interest, how can one acquire a prejudice that isn't based upon reality although it is from one's experience? Experience, embodied and experiential experience is reality. Propaganda and cliches of 'paint the entire nation with the same brush', 'no basis in reality' are framed social manipulation, almost always for political purposes, they are not reality... It's interesting to note, how comfortable Americans are with cliches; of course, cliches are pre-scripted phrases/ideas that need no thinking to decipher, so they fit perfectly with people that follow with conventions rather than apply critical thinking skills to their social situation. Modern day American-ness could, on one level, be described as the ultimate cliche...

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Originally Posted by Bettyboo

No offence, but Americans can be, and often are, utter fukwits.

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Then why don't you feel considerably more human empathy, speakin' as a Brit?

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Originally Posted by sabang

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Originally Posted by Bettyboo

No offence, but Americans can be, and often are, utter fukwits.

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Then why don't you feel considerably more human empathy, speakin' as a Brit?

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I left the UK for a reason, Sabang - most Brits are such utter fukwits... I suspect that my views on Brits are probably pretty similar to Davis' views on Americans. It's shameful the way our society has lost its ability/desire to think; instead just watching Big Brother and reading the Sun while the old school tie network rapes the nation of every last penny...

Reaganism in the US was paralleled by Thatcherism in the UK. Fuked up both of our societies beyond redemption, imho.