Well, the most common definition of patriotism is: "Love of and devotion to one's country." To that extent I think it is a good thing, unless it is an extremist thing. On the other hand I think that your loyalties can change if your country changes. Then you can be patriotic for the country that is your new home (for instance, when you acquire a new citizenship). I live in the US now...and I sincerely find myself very patriotic about America, I mourn for the US soldiers that die and observe the US national holidays. The country where you live even if it's not where you were born deserves your respect and why not, some patriotism.

Well I think it's good to love your country I know I love mine. It's when patriotism clouds your judgement I think that can be a problem. Dont jump on me here but I think think that the US are a bit over the top patriotic. If you ever tried to argue with an American about whats wrong with America you would know that. Though it is nice that nearly all Americans have an American flag outside their house. I wish the English did that more instead of just when the World Cup is on lol.

I'll probably get a bunch of negative ratings but whatever... Patriotism is a waste of time and energy IMO. If anything it is one of the things that contributes to the factioning and persecution of one group of humans to another. Why does everyone make so much hooplah about whether they ended up on one paticular area of the globe and not the other? "Oh I'm proud to be from ______" "I'm a proud ________" Oh wow thats quite an accomplishment, high fives everybody. In the grand scheme of things I doubt god or the universe or whatever cares what flag you fly. It's as if the chunk of earth you live on has some sort of divine significance the way people carry on sometimes. People will be proud they're from really crappy countries just because they happen to be planted there. I'm an American (as in a human who is a citizen of the political/economic/blah blah entity America) and its pretty nice, I live pretty comfortably and I'm glad there were people who put in the effort and sacrifice to make it that way. I say this as someone from a family with a long line of military history and a father in Iraq. But I don't love America. I mean what is America anyway? I choose to love the living family. Those who can just celebrate existence, art, and compassion to their fellow person and not a bunch of little categories and labels monikered by man.

It can be a good thing, but many people confuse patriotism with complete and utter blind devotion to ones government, wiche is almost allways a bad thing. (Just look at the U.S.)

I think it can be a good thing, provided it isn't taken to any extremes. Patriotism is nice, but fervrent nationalism isn't. Patriotism to the point of believing your country is infallible doesn't help anybody. It's also preferable to its opposite, apathy.

I think it is good to have and maintain your own culture. Patriotism is upholding your belief in the culture in which you were raised and to enable it to become something to be proud of... Without pride in the country that you live, then you don't have any structure to maintain a family, culture or the rights and priviliges that your forefathers have fought to uphold. Each person is different and we all have our own opinions, but without a mass population that is striving for the same end, then there is no direction.

As with most things, as long as it does not cloud your judgement, make you discriminate against other people etc. I believe a love of your country is a good thing

Patriotism can be a very sippery thing indeed, especially as we get older. Country-wide and local social values continually change, while what we feel especially patriotic about remains fixed in mind and memory. Having grown up in midwestern USA in the 1950-60s, I still cling tightly to those values ... many of which cannot even be found today. Having also lived outside the US for the past 20 years has also given a very different perspective on such things as patriotism by virtue of experiencing more people from more cultures. Interestingly enough I have found that some of world's most patriotic of people fall into this weird concept of "ex"patriot :-) Regards/Roger, in Bangkok

Loving your country is a good thing. It often however, seeps into the realms of blind devotion to whatever political party happens to be in power at the time to the extent where you are not allowed to criticise your government wothout fear of being labeled unpatriotic. (See history books regarding the McCarthy Redhunts, the Reichstag fire and more recently the patriot act) A wise man once said "The patriot will always be prepared to defend his country against its government" This is a point that I feel is lost when people consider themselves patriotic.

Patriotism can be quite a double edged sword. When most people think Patriotism, they think of flag-waving and a swelling of pride at being from a particular nation. Being an American gives many of us a warm, fuzzy feeling, right? I think of Nazi Germany. They were Patriots too. This article is the most succinct of those I've found that sums up my view on this; www.informationclearinghouse.info/article3575.htm I will reprint a portion below. "They rallied around Hitler because of his charisma and because Hitler used the 1933 burning of the Reichstag (Parliament) building by a deranged Dutchman to declare a “war on terrorism,” establish his legitimacy as a leader (even though he hadn’t won a majority in the previous election)...As hoped, people’s hearts swelled with pride, and the beginning of an us-versus-them mentality was sewn. Our land was “the” homeland, citizens thought: all others were simply foreign lands." I also think of the profiteering. You are a patriot, so you are more likely to buy things with a flag or a 'Made in the USA' sticker, and may be willing to pay more for it. You might even buy stuff you normally wouldn't just because you're a patriot; you NEED those $80 flag-waving eagle statues. Some people who are out for a buck and will be more than willing to exploit your patriotism for their profit. I think of how easilly the ignorant population is led to do horrible things. The mentality can easilly become one of, "You are what is wrong with our country. You are my enemy, and I will make you suffer, and I won't feel bad while doing it because my fearless leader told me you are not human and I believe him because we both want our country to be a better place.". The question is whether that mentality is more characteristic of the German soldier in WWII or the average American post-9/11. Look at the hate crimes and prejudice against Muslims in America before you answer. The are the modern-day equivalent of the German Jew. In short, patriotism has a dark side that we must all acknowledge. Nobody is immune to those pitfalls just because they are (nationality of choice), and that includes us. Response to dilligras: You are missing the point. 1) The question revolves around PATRIOTISM IN GENERAL, not necessarilly American. Nazis were patriotic too. That is all. 2) Jihadi Muslims may hate Jews, but that doesn't change the fact that Muslims in America are viewed with hatred and suspicion... as were Jews in WWII Germany. 30 Sep 06 - 1) Point taken. There are plenty of other people who have also used Patriotism as an excuse to commit genocide, but you have to admit that the Nazi's are the most well known. 2) "Muslims are hated wherever they viciously spread their vile doctrine, not just America" - That is spoken like a true, God-fearing, bible-thumping Texan and just the sort of attitude that only reinforces my belief that Patriotism can be just as dangerous as religious zealotry. Of course, it's a bit muddy where the line between secular uber-patriotism and religious fanaticism lies when one claims that their country is a Country of God or run in accordance with the Will of Allah, or whatever equivalent you care to mention. Considering the way the US is run right now the two are practically one, but that's another topic.

know patriotism is wrong what if the gov policy are wrong an unjust have good moral be honest do what right think whats right mike