Does Living Abroad Make You Feel More Patriotic.,

[MCCREADY8 0]

Does living abroad make you feel more Patriotic the same or less so.

[jacko 8,696]

Does living abroad make you feel more Patriotic the same or less so.

No, I think it is in there already, but there is more of a mix of nationalities that can bring it out.

 

If anything if 'abroad' happens to be superior, perhaps better to say less.....

[VicVegas 70]

If somebody I meet in Thailand bad mouths the US I usually get that twinge of patriotism and want to defend it, but looking at the state of America today (specifically right-wing politics and religion) often makes me ashamed of my native country.

 

Living abroad gives you a new perspective. I now have a better understanding of the negative attitudes many foreigners have towards the US.

 

I think there are still a lot of great things about the USA, but geez there are a lot of ignorant idiots living there.

[Bazle 1,427]

Indeed, is patriotism a good thing? My country, right or wrong - is that really sensible?

[Toy Boy 1]

If somebody I meet in Thailand bad mouths the US I usually get that twinge of patriotism and want to defend it, but looking at the state of America today (specifically right-wing politics and religion) often makes me ashamed of my native country.

 

Living abroad gives you a new perspective. I now have a better understanding of the negative attitudes many foreigners have towards the US.

 

I think there are still a lot of great things about the USA, but geez there are a lot of ignorant idiots living there.

 

I feel much the same way about Britain.

[capdagde 1,954]

I'm taking Friday 29th April off whether the boss likes it or not - great excuse to have a piss-up starting at 9am... call me patriotic!

 

Oh yes, and Saturday 26th Feb, have a load of French mates over so they can complain about the referee....

 

Wehey!

 

Andy Cap

Edited January 29, 2011 by capdagde

[highflier 3]

If somebody I meet in Thailand bad mouths the US I usually get that twinge of patriotism and want to defend it, but looking at the state of America today (specifically right-wing politics and religion) often makes me ashamed of my native country.

 

Living abroad gives you a new perspective. I now have a better understanding of the negative attitudes many foreigners have towards the US.

 

I think there are still a lot of great things about the USA, but geez there are a lot of ignorant idiots living there.

 

Surely you jest

[BigusDicus 9,720]

but looking at the state of America today (specifically right-wing politics and religion) often makes me ashamed of my native country.

 

 

Does the left wing politics and their anti religion make you proud?

[VicVegas 70]

Does the left wing politics and their anti religion make you proud?

 

 

First of all, there are almost no anti-religious politicians. You can't get elected in the US without saying "God bless America". The first politician who says, "Wake up America, all religion is BS" will get my vote regardless of party affiliation, but that ain't gonna happen for a long, long time. Openly athiest politicians are basically unelectable in the US, except maybe San Francisco or New York City. Too bad, IMHO.

 

What Obama (who is, BTW, a liberal AND a Christian) has tried to do does make me proud, but then again I don't go into convulsions when I hear the words "progressive" or "socialist".

[logan 1]

Not when you here about all the sh+t going on back there, far from it.

[yogi100 1,925]

If somebody I meet in Thailand bad mouths the US I usually get that twinge of patriotism and want to defend it, but looking at the state of America today (specifically right-wing politics and religion) often makes me ashamed of my native country.

 

Living abroad gives you a new perspective. I now have a better understanding of the negative attitudes many foreigners have towards the US.

 

I think there are still a lot of great things about the USA, but geez there are a lot of ignorant idiots living there.

 

If I hear some one bad mouthing the UK I usually find out that they are also British and I agree with their comments.

 

In contrast to VicVegas I find that the deplorable state of Britain today can be laid at the door of left wing politicians, not that the current shower of Conservatives and Liberals in control are any better. None of them care two hoots about the British working man.

 

The longer I stay out of the UK the less its problems concern me. I find it hard to be patriotic about a country that is governed by those that put the interests of wealthy businessmen and foreign immigrants before those of its own people. The only reasons I feel any affection for the place are my family and the few friends who are still there and the National Health Service which we all need as we get older.

[BigusDicus 9,720]

QUOTE (BigusDicus @ Jan 30 2011, 10:01 AM) Does the left wing politics and their anti religion make you proud?

 

 

 

First of all, there are almost no anti-religious politicians. You can't get elected in the US without saying "God bless America". The first politician who says, "Wake up America, all religion is BS" will get my vote regardless of party affiliation, but that ain't gonna happen for a long, long time. Openly athiest politicians are basically unelectable in the US, except maybe San Francisco or New York City. Too bad, IMHO.

 

What Obama (who is, BTW, a liberal AND a Christian) has tried to do does make me proud, but then again I don't go into convulsions when I hear the words "progressive" or "socialist".

 

 

 

It is what you do, not what you say you are that matters.

 

A liberal can call themselves a Christian (or whatever). But if they support and vote for laws and policies that disenfranchise and/or discourage religion they can be called 'anti religious'.

 

Just because you say you are A Christian (just to get elected?) does not mean you are.

[joekicker 53]

What Obama (who is, BTW, a liberal AND a Christian)

 

A slight stretch. Obama is exactly one of those politicians CLAIMING he is Christian, but showing no proof of it at all. He has no church, no pastor/minister, doesn't attend services etc.

 

.

[VicVegas 70]

Apologies to the OP for causing this thread high-jacking. Christianity and right-wing nuttery (which are almost inseperable from each other) are what make me feel un-patriotic about the US.

 

IMHO, anybody who honestly believes in virgin births or people being resurrected or water turning to wine is someone of questionable intelligence.

 

"God bless America"

"God bless our troops"

"God hates fags"

"I owe it all to God"

"In God we trust"

"I feel so blessed"

"I'll pray for you"

"The Lord moves in mysterious ways"

"It's all part of His plan"

 

 

Bunch of BS, just my opinion.

 

[Gary 4,096]

Quite frankly, the Politically correct, bleeding heart left wing liberals make me sick no matter what country they claim. Europe is a good example that society cannot afford left wing socialism. At least Thailand doesn't reward single women for birthing bastards and support people who are too lazy to work. Before I retired, workers were subject to random drug tests. How is it that the liberals consider drug tests for professional welfare leaches unconstitutional? I'm all for letting the druggies starve.

Edited February 1, 2011 by Gary

[Stinky 12]

Living outside the USA, in my opinion, makes me see how completely hypocritical the USA is in it's policies and actions.

[Bazle 1,427]

Living outside the USA, in my opinion, makes me see how completely hypocritical the USA is in its policies and actions.

Which makes me ask again the question I posed earlier: is patriotism a good thing? My country, right or wrong - is that really sensible?

[mykl 72]

Which makes me ask again the question I posed earlier: is patriotism a good thing? My country, right or wrong - is that really sensible?

If you are asking if I will defend my country against all comers, and I once took an oath to do just that, then yes, I firmly believe in "my country right or wrong". If you are asking if I think we are perfect then no, I don't. Lots of room for improvement.

[VicVegas 70]

A slight stretch. Obama is exactly one of those politicians CLAIMING he is Christian, but showing no proof of it at all. He has no church, no pastor/minister, doesn't attend services etc.

 

Believe me, I'd like him more if he was an atheist, but he sounds pretty religious to me.

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/03/t...a_n_818359.html

 

"The challenge I find then is to balance this uncertainty, this humility, with the need to fight for deeply held convictions, to be open to other points of view, but firm in our core principles. I pray for this wisdom every day. I pray that God will show me and all of us the limits of our understanding and open our ears and our hearts to our brothers and sisters with different points of view."

 

[Fireman Sam 336]

A slight stretch. Obama is exactly one of those politicians CLAIMING he is Christian, but showing no proof of it at all. He has no church, no pastor/minister, doesn't attend services etc.

 

.

 

 

 

You don't have to go to church, have a minister or attend any services to be a good Christian IMHO.

 

 

By the way, I'm not in the least bit religious, when religion stops killing people then maybe I will give it a second look.

 

 

Apologies to the OP for drifting off topic.

 

 

 

Best Regards

Fireman Sam

Edited February 5, 2011 by Fireman Sam

[Bazle 1,427]

If you are asking if I will defend my country against all comers, and I once took an oath to do just that, then yes, I firmly believe in "my country right or wrong". If you are asking if I think we are perfect then no, I don't. Lots of room for improvement.

For me, this makes blind patriotism indefensible.

[Greg_B 306]

If somebody I meet in Thailand bad mouths the US I usually get that twinge of patriotism and want to defend it, but looking at the state of America today (specifically right-wing politics and religion) often makes me ashamed of my native country.

 

Living abroad gives you a new perspective. I now have a better understanding of the negative attitudes many foreigners have towards the US.

 

I think there are still a lot of great things about the USA, but geez there are a lot of ignorant idiots living there.

 

Very well said, Doug

[jacko 8,696]

I was pretty quick to defend the UK many years ago, when I first started working overseas.

These days there hardly seems to be any point after a succession of poor politicians have failed to do so.

 

I can still be pedantic though when I hear my fellow countrymen, or Europeans denigrating the USA. Normally they know little or near nothing of the place, while I have good memories of good people.