Why is America so patriotic?

Question

I am australian and I don't understand how you do it so good.
I have traveled to many diferent places.
Noboy dose patriotism so well.
for the record I think australia is the best so don't dripple on about america.

Answer 1

It has to do with the fact that Americans are ignorant of other places and cultures.

Only 7 percent of Americans have ever been anywhere besides Mexico or Canada.

There are many European countries that now have better democratic cultures as well as better social systems. Corporations are exerting more and more influence in government at the expense of the average american. Our healthcare non-system sucks. We spend $4500/person/year and 45 million Americans are not covered!!! Meanwhile Canada pays $2300/person/year to cover everyone with better health outcomes overall. We tend to favor standardization, mechanization and quantification over quality. Our food tastes like wallpaper in comparison to that of other countries. We are obese yet we continue to poison ourselves with fastfood. We don't really support fine arts, humanities or education the way many other countries do. Our life expectancy, infant mortality rates and overall health are terrible for an industrialized nation and getting worse actually. The economy is being propped up by foreign investment as we are running a massive budget deficit. Thousands of American jobs are being outsourced everyday. Our president is an absolute moron, an embarassment throughout the rest of the world, who illegally spies on his fellow citizens. Oh, and don't forget the *patriot act* which effectively repeals all of the constitutional rights we once enjoyed.

On the other hand we are number one when it comes to 1.) making a fast buck off each other and 2.) spending it on expanding a military that can't even stabilize Afganistan let alone Iraq.

Can we learn a f*cking lesson already?

P.S. Contra Muse (below), history shows that we are as eager to support facism and totalitarianism abroad as we are to support democracy. It comes down to whatever suits our interests. The Iranians hate us because, for many years, we propped up the Shah of Iran against the interests of the people. The same thing can be said about Saudi Arabia today...if we are so keen on spreading democracy, why not start in a country like Saudi Arabia which is a modern monarchy? Answer: a Saudi monarchy which is dependent on our military aid makes it easy for us to get what we want, namely oil.

Answer 2

The root of our patriotism is the spirit that binds us together as a nation. That being the idea that all people are created equal and have the right to freedom and liberty. We are a multi-cultural nation with multiple ideologies and exist in relative harmony bound by that ideal like no other place in the world.
Although we've been through a civil war and had racial rioting in the streets, that ideal has withstood time. The notion of freedom is strong within us, and each American is willing to bear arms to protect it. We can't help but impose this philosophy on the rest of the world. It has been the root of our support of the state of Israel and the reason we cannot tolerate fascism in any manner.
If nothing else, the USA shows the world that people of different ideologies can exist in peace.

Answer 3

In my opinion, being born in America and knowing the history of our beginnings as a country, we are still a young country and aside from the short lived control by the English, we have never been "occupied" by another power or nation.

There were bloody battles fought for our first independence from the English King. With my limited history of the world, I can't think of any country that was ever so united in the goal for freedom that our early settlers were ready to fight side by side to the last man to achieve that freedom.

For those who have any knowledge of our history, the desire to protect our freedom stems from all the brave men and women who have sacrificed for more than 250 years to preserve it.

Every generation that has come along during that time has enjoyed our freedoms that were made possible by those first settlers.

Bear in mind that occupation by another power is beyond our imagination. Even with battles within our own country, when a threat posed itself, the people united. Maybe the fact that we are made up of immigrants who lived under subjection has a lot to do with it.

This is not to say that other countries have not obtained their freedom, but at some point in time most were occupied and sometimes succumbed to rule by an individual or group.

I suppose that when our Constitution gave us the right to bear arms, that may have been the greatest deterrant to other nations or our own government to consider dictatorship.

One can cite the negatives, but it just is what it is.

All in all, the positives outweigh the negatives.

I think it may be difficult to explain it fully, and other countries may never understand it.
Maybe I've rambled too much.

Answer 4

Australia is undoubtedly a very patriotic country. It is a nice country as well. I was there for several weeks on business and the people were very nice. The only thing that pissed me off (but it is their country) is closing half a day on Sunday. I had no place to go. Just waked the streets. Australia fought side by side of the Yanks in WW2 and gave a rather good showing. Glad they were with us. Many Yanks married Australian women and were very happy with them.

Answer 5

To be honest, we know we're the best country in the world. We alway help everyone else, and basically make everyone agree with us. Everyone wants to come here and some risk their lives to get here.

There's a lot of different cultures here, and for the most part, everyone can live whatever kind of life they want.

We have a lot of religious freedoms, and you can go from rags to riches if you work hard enough.

So, what's not to be proud of?
Our strength far outweight our weaknesses.

I used to think Austrailia would be a good place to visit, but then i met some australians online, and they weren't so nice. I think it's probably because over there, you don't really come into contact with a lot of different cultures, so you don't know what's insulting or how to respect other races. not really your fault.

Answer 6

I'm a kiwi and in my opinion, New Zealanders are (rightly) the most patriotic nationality. America's propaganda is extreme. Kiwis and Aussies love their homes because they are such beautiful countries. The life-style down under is so laid back. The people are friendly. And we're not afraid of travelling and apreciating other countries. Americans dig USA because they don't know any thing else. Less than 10 % of them even own passports and most of those are in the army!

Answer 7

I truthfully didn't think we were. I hear so much Bush bashing in the media. Plus we aren't doing enough to stop the islamo-facist because we don't seem to have the will. We seem to be overly concerned about what rest of the world thinks about what we are doing instead of just taking care of business. We need to stop holding back and put an end to this war. The way it is curenntly being conducted is causing it to go on and on.
If we had the same level of support like this during WW2 we would not have won. But thanks for your comment. I guess not everybody hates us, which is what alot of people here like to say.

Answer 8

Alot of it is propaganda, then there is the blind concept that other places in the world dont have cars, cable tv, dsl, cell phones, malls, airports, microwaves like we are the only ones who have this material standard of living. I would have to agree with anyone who loved his/her country. How about this? Talk to most people in Thailand they love thier king. That cant be said about the US despite all the "america love it or leave it" flag waving, bully bashing, meatheaded, ham fisted, no brain, cowboys who live here. I think the basic love of this country is the material wealth factor. Unfortunately living here leaves little room for much else other than the pursuit of money which is a horrible waste of life.

Answer 9

I feel pre 9/11 we American's were not nearly as patriotic as we are today.

9/11 affected every American citizen as well as other nations around the world.

It now seems American's appreciate the freedoms we have and are more tolerant of those freedoms that must be infringed on for the safety of all of our citizens as well as the guests in our country.

I hope this helps...
Good Luck

Answer 10

All countries are patriotic.In India if u even try to say someting bad bout India they will kill u.Even the cops will help in killing u.
But the thing is,most of the countries have too many things on their minds to think too much bout it.America,phleez they have got lots of time.2nd reason,the politicians control the media therefore telling the people that America is devine even if it is killing thousands of people in other countries.