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how do you feel about patriotism?

I've had the privilege of living in multiple countries and each country I found that there were individuals that I had more things in common with than many people who share my national origin. I also used to live in Seattle and I would often drive across the border to Vancouver and I'd find people in Vancouver to be a lot more similar to me in attitude and lifestyle than people in Kansas, where my job used to send me a couple of times during year. I often wonder why I should feel more loyal to my countrymen who are sometimes more of a stranger to me than those "foreigners" with whom I can bond easier? If the whole idea of patriotism is protectiveness and admiration for a way of life, your way of life, shouldn't you feel more loyal to those who represent your way of life more closely? The concept of country, is really really young. There were no countries until the 17th century. What makes countries, so special, that we should feel loyal to them all of a sudden? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westphalian_sovereignty

Public Comments

1. well I care most about my family, next about my friends, next about my community, next about my state and next about my country. I don't identify with all the people in the world .
2. Patriotism is about loyalty to your country and your country's people...not those who represent you. I think that would be a difficult task in any country, especially the US where many people's cultures, beliefs, daily life, etc. differ greatly.
3. Patriotism isn't about who you get along with the best, it's about respecting everyone that has sacrificed so that you can live with the freedom to decide you like better. It's about appreciating everything we've been provided with in your country... about knowing you're safe and being grateful. You don't have to betray your Canadian friends to be proud of your American heritage.
4. It's good- mostly. I'm patriotic. I'm an Australian, and proud to be one.
5. I belive you may be mixing patriotism up with friendship and with loyalty and with security and a source of income. And beginning to think about long term decisions such as where you will settle, and which qualities you would like your children to appreciate and share with others. But don't mistake genuine patriotism for xenophobia or fear of change, or real appreciation and getting to know & value even one other person well.
6. I have a hard time taking anyone seriously that quotes Wiki.