National Pride/Identity

[quote=FatelBlade]How do y'all MOBAFirians feel about national pride? As an arab american, people often find it weird when they realize just how much I love America, but they can't understand what its like to live somehwere else and have a sense of comparison. I have this friend that used to be a normal American Christian girl, but then radicalized and became a moslem in college. She's really annoying and preachy about it, and acts as if she's goddamn Mohammad V2. At one point she said I was "detached" from the views of the arabs living in the middle east. Like who the fuck do you think you are? I fucking have family that I visit (that are also being oppressed by the IDF) yet apparently I'm detached? Anyways yeah she bashes on America all the time without really considering other points of views, and seems to think that anyone that loves America must be a hardcore Trump lover/conservative, when it's easy to love America no matter what your views are. What are your views on national pride and identity? I know this site features people from all over the world and it would be great to get some input![/quote]

[quote=DreamingInRed]I can't really grasp the concept on being proud of something you have absoulutely no responsibility for, like the place you are born or the colour of your skin.[/quote]

[quote=Latest Legend]I don't think nationalism has done this world any good. It almost always leads to ostracization and some ridiculous feeling of superiority. Like someone is entitled to something because of their place of birth. Why not think big and love the whole human race while you're at it? Are you calling someone radicalized because of their choice of religion? Is this a flamebait directly from Reddit? So many questions. EDIT: DreamingInRed beat me to it ^^;[/quote]

[quote=Meiyjhe]The less national pride and identity the better. Where you live or where you are born does not define you as a person nor can you take pride in actions that you yourself have not contributed towards. If you were to do this and people would come by to make changes to the country (even simply by existing in it), it will likely make you bitter towards those people. They take away a part of "your identity" after all. However, on the other side it is great to be happy where you live and appreciate the people that made this all possible. Because with this mindset, you realize it wasn't you that made this country better and you realize it is okay if things change drastically, as long as everyone within it is able to live happily and healthily. This allows you to focus more on yourself instead of being distracted by the bigger picture. That allows for self development and that allows for a better living environment for everyone.[/quote]

[quote=Lasoor]I don't take pride in living in America, because I didn't create it or do anything to help make it the way it is, however I love the country I live in because I have everything I want here and love the freedoms I'm given. And I wouldn't really say I'm proud to be European ethnicity... I mean does it really matter where my great ancestors came from or what color my skin is? Who gives a damn lol[/quote]

[quote=FatelBlade]Your national identity defines who you are. Y'all say that there's no reason/point to be happy of something you have contributed nothing towards but if your national identity defines a large part of your culture, are you saying you shouldn't be proud of your culture? The American identity has defined and influenced me and many parts of my personality were lifted from the culture; parts that make me a proud human that always tries to do the right thing. Just because I didn't contribute to it (though IMO everyone contributes in their own way) doesn't mean I can't be proud how I have let it influence and define me. And I'm calling her radicalized because she has been radicalized.[/quote]

[quote=DreamingInRed]National identity doesn't make you try to do the right thing, you do. You can always be proud of who you are, got nothing to do with national identiy.[/quote]

[quote=GrandmasterD]I think patriotism has use, definite use. Being someone who is from a country where nationalism is almost completely absent, I can definitely say that the amount of bashing gets tedious and annoying, especially when the country is doing really well. Also, patriotism and nationalism can inspire hope, which can be that push to get people to work on things, improve it, all that good stuff; without pride, people don't have much reason to work on it; why work on your country when you can move to a better one? Too much, well, then it all goes down the drain; you stop seeing the flaws of your own country, and thus nothing gets fixed either.[/quote]

[quote=Lasoor]I'm a patriot, I don't see that has in relation to pride though.[/quote]

[quote=FatelBlade]No, had I grown up in Palestine, similar to many of my family members, I would be a different person. It is naive to state that who I am is because of who I am. The area you grow up in and the culture and the identity play a role in developing you as a human being. The American identity that I have adopted is a major part of who I am, and I could easily see myself being an entirely different person had I grown up in Palestine. And GMD, I agree. Blind nationalism and faith is where too much of a good thing comes into play and really fucks things up.[/quote]