national feelings

[Rudegar]

read in another thread about people talking about national feelings and patriotism and the likes

i never really understod the concept at all

when the country i live in win at sports, win a war (been 1k years :P )
invent a timemachine break guiness record of standing on ones head

i really dont get how it should reflect on me for better or worse

i never contributed to any of it apart from being born a surden place

i fail to see how i could take pride in any of it

sure i vote and i agree and is happy about some aspects on the system of where i live but i'm 1 in 5million

i can only really take any pride in things I do myself

maybe it's kinda like religion with feeling strengh in feeling one is a part of something bigger then oneself
who knows

but in the grand sceme of things i believe that nationalism have caused more wars in the history then religion
where religion have just been used as an excuse alot more

[HPJ]

Group Identity mate. It sucks. Same reason people go crazy over a stupid football team.

If people thought for themselves and had a little personal accountability this world would be very different.

[OdeeanRDeathshead]

I agree. people forget that our phsycology is also an artifact of evolution. after all, as a group we are very successful.

the culture here pays lip service to patriotism but it seems to me that in countries like America people genuinely feel that patriotism. Propogander/media must play a big roll in this behavior.

[hiimcliff]

nothing wrong with patriotism. but it tends to go overboard. nationalism does cause conflict but it also gives people a sense of belonging.

[hiimcliff]

Group Identity mate. It sucks. Same reason people go crazy over a stupid football team.

If people thought for themselves and had a little personal accountability this world would be very different.

my dad gave me a great sense of practicality. his philosophy is: there are really no losers in sports except the fan. both teams, both players on both sides are millionaires. when they lose a game they don't kill themselves. when the season is over they go home to a mansion. the only loser is the fan who thinks life is over after their team lost.