Patriotism is arrogant, irrational and obstacle to human progress

Patriotism isn't thinking your country is the best. It's just loving and supporting your country. Nothing wrong with that.

Wow what a great thread. Really well thought out and definitely hasn't been brought up by countless other idealists on a moral crusade throughout history. Good job OP. True original. I especially like how you've put more quotes in your argument than your own personal thought.

“Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else's opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation.”

Wow. What a great post. Really subtle sarcasm which definitely hasn't be used by countless other smug, pretentious, pseudo-intellectuals on a thread thoughout TSR history. Good job "mensa member". I especially like how you provide no real argument against the statement and instead use your high IQ to ridicule those who believe that other people may have the ability to articulate better than themselves.


“Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit.”

― Oscar Wilde

I didn't need to respond to other people's opinions. Your first sentence is a lie. Patriotism isn't what you tried to define it as, so you're wrong.

I didn't need to respond to other people's opinions. Your first sentence is a lie. Patriotism isn't what you tried to define it as, so you're wrong.

Patriotism is the ultimate arrogance, to believe that your country is the best because you were born there.

Albert Einstein
"He who joyfully marches to music rank and file has already earned my contempt. He has been given a large brain by mistake, since for him the spinal cord would surely suffice. This disgrace to civilization should be done away with at once. Heroism at command, senseless brutality, deplorable love-of-country stance and all the loathsome nonsense that goes by the name of patriotism, how violently I hate all this, how despicable and ignoble war is; I would rather be torn to shreds than be part of so base an action!"


François Fénelon
“All wars are civil wars because all men are brothers... Each one owes infinitely more to the human race than to the particular country in which he was born.”

I don't see anything wrong with patriotism. I'm proud to live in a country where I can largely speak my mind, have agency over my own body and choose to live my life as I see fit. I would be more than happy to do whatever I could to protect that way of life.

What you're talking about is closer to nationalism. Patriotism is supporting your country because you like things about it, while nationalism is supporting your country simply due to affinity of birth. They're difficult to tease apart at times, but they are conceptually distinct.

Moreover, being a patriot doesn't mean that you hold supremacist beliefs about your country. It's possible to be patriotic on the basis of features which many other countries share.

So your proud of the western world? Not the UK in particular?

Perhaps, though I also have a strong fondness for our typically British traits e.g our wit, sense of humour, stiff upper lip, love of queuing etc. Not to mention the NHS - I don't really see how loving any of these things is arrogant, irrational or an obstacle to human progress?

Nationalism and patriotism are listed as synonyms in the dictionary, if you a source for your difference please quote it so I can understand where you're coming from. If Britain and France were to go to war, would you wish for Britain to win? If so, would you be willing to fight to make it so?

Patriotism is the ultimate arrogance, to believe that your country is the best because you were born there.