Why are Americans so Patriotic?

[Chewy2nd]

A lot of Brits are downplaying what we think of our country, Brits love moaning, we moan about the weather, we moan about the telly, and we moan about the government. But really we're happy with out little island, with all its flaws, battle scars, dark history, it's not really as bad as we like to make out.

So when we look at America, who are overtly proud, we just don't 'get it' - because they're proud in a whole different way.

About countries flaws, I think it's good we have a dark history to look back on, because it reminds us not to repeat the sins of the past.

Though if there is one American phrase that makes my blood boil "We saved your asses in World War II" - No, you didn't, it was an Allied effort, the side America was on was called the ALLIES, it was made up of many, many countries. Also it's rather disrespectful to those who died before you American's came in, it's almost as if you are implying that all deaths before D-Day were pointless.

 

[interspark]

it might be just an unfair stereotype, but it's generally believed that if you badmouth america, any nearby americans will go up in arms and get very angry, and i'm just wondering why. Just to clarify, i have nothing against america, but i hardly think it's anything to write home about. and don't say that anyone would be that way about their home country, because if someone came up to be and said "hey, england's crap!" i'd just say "yeah, it is a bit"

And other countries aren't? Have you ever watched an episode of Doctor Who? VERY Nationalist British. And I like it. And I'm an American. Who serves in the armed forces. Seriously, why was this topic needed?

well that's not true, the doctor's VERY impartial to national prefferences, he DOES go to london alot, that's because it's a british show! he's been all over the world, and the universe too for that matter and at no point does he express a prefference to britain

 

[Nickolai77]

And from this board, it seems there is a degree of self-loathing. I see no reason for that, Brits. Yes, the Anglo Empire has a long list of black marks in its history, just like every other major power does. It seems like you folks could use a bit more patriotism, but not in the silly stereotype that you're somehow more intelligent and/or funnier (because that's REALLY obnoxious) but instead just developing a sense of belonging in, I'll admit, a great nation. There is nothing wrong with being proud of the greater community in which you reside.

Speaking as a Brit, it's purely down to the weather here, it inspires a state of perpetual wistful melancholy.

But being serious, it's probably a relic of the class system, whereby people were supposed to be modest about their station in life, be it working middle or upper class. Sure you were allowed to go up a class if you wanted too, but it would have been considered inappropriate to blow your trumpet about yourself and how you were going to become richer and wealthier, you were expected to quietly work your way to the top and be modest about your achievements. This also relates to Victorian stoicism, where any sort of outburst of positive or negative emotion was discouraged, and this again translates into modesty. The key behavioural attribute here is modesty, Brit's are supposed to be modest, modest to the point of self-depreciation, and this in turn also means being modest and self-depreciation about ones country.

Of course, many Brit's are actually proud of themselves and their country, we're just do it subtly. Be it, say buying a flashy car and saying little of it but making an effort to get to work early so you can park near the front door where everyone will see your new car. Or in tv films and other forms of media, you'll get a subtle undertone of patriotism of sorts. Largely coming in the form of historical drama's about British history. On the face of it, it's a simple history drama, but it's also a telling of Britain's, long, extensive, bloody and heroic history. (This is why, as a nation, we're obsessed with WW2) But overall this is why Brit's react adversely to American style patriotism, as it's very "in your face" in our view.



And when i have a bit more time, i'll add my "two cents" on American patriotism.

 

[Death_Korps_Kommissar]

Not sure if it has been mentioned yet but this all stems from the 1950's and the McCarthy witch hunts. If you weren't overtly patriotic back then you could be accused of being a communist and black listed for the rest of your life. Hence why "In god we trust" and all that bollocks is everywhere.