Patriotism

[GoNative]

Originally Posted by Ryzorian

Gonative, without the drive that "greed" brings you won't have anyone striveing to build homes, grow food, build elctro dams, creat medicine, fly to space. They would all sit around listlissly, wither and die. Survival is nature's instinctive way to insure species propogation and it's all about greed. You drive away any one else who competes with your ability to survive and only form unions and alliances with those who help your ability to survive.

While I do agree that your utopian culture would be wonderful, it's not practical with how man is built genetically. I do believe there will be a day when that sociaty will exist, but it will be force and destruction that ushures it's arrival.

Actually for plenty of us greed is not a big motivator at all. We strive to do things because they help others and because we have a desire for knowledge and understanding. Not all of us need to be motivated by personal gain to do great things. It is people like you who are resigned to a world dominated by greed that keeps us from really moving forward. Unable to move beyond base instincts that drive creatures without the ability to understand concepts like compassion and humility. The thing I find quite amusing is that so many of the people like you who claim to be Christians seem to have no concept of what Christ was on about. He certainly wasn't an advocate of greed, materialism or egotism. And yet you of the 'Christian' right seem to idolise such desires and emotions. Typical example of how religion is twisted by those who claim to have faith to suit the lifestyles they wish to lead.

[Ryzorian]

It's about personal choice and being responsible for it. By the way, Christ returns as a world wide dictator. Least ways if you read revelations, so he may not be the type you think he is.

[GoNative]

Fairytales can always be interpreted in ways to suit the lifestyles you wish to lead. You like greed and power and think they are good then you'll twist your fairytales to suit. It's always been that way.

[Umihito]

Woah, I haven't been able to check up on the thread since I made it and now it's this long already... wow

Originally Posted by DragonNL

QFT

Nationalism is cured by traveling. - Shakira Mebarak

When I get more time I'll be sure to pick out some more people's posts and reply to them too, but I'll just quickly give attention to this one.

To be honest, I'm not really sure what the difference between 'nationalism' and 'patriotism' is, so what I say now may just be completely wrong, so if it is I'm sorry ^^;

But if nationalism is somewhat similar to patriotism, then I can't say that quote by Shakira has applied to me at all... in fact the opposite!
Before I spent my period of time in the Far East and South-East Asia, I didn't think highly of Britain at all.
But then it seemed after my travels, that's when my higher appreciation of Britain came. Only after travel can you see what your home truly has, and realize what you take for granted.

[Ryzorian]

The only fairy tale is thinking mankind will ever stop being barbaric. He's an animal afterall, isn't that what evolution states? Nothing but an evolved monkey? Monkeys care only about survival, in fact Chimps are 10 times more aggressive with chimps than what humans are to each other.

[DragonNL]

Originally Posted by Ryzorian

By the way, Christ returns as a world wide dictator.

Are you talking about the present or the future? Because right now he's just the same as 2000 years ago. I know that as a fact.

[Ryzorian]

I'm meerly stateing what Revaltions says will happen in what it says are "the end times". Wether you believe that or not is up to you, not me. It's really just the three L's, he was either a lier, a lunatic or The Lord. But then, you can say that about anyone who makes such claims, only time will tell on that.

Honestly, if I'm wrong, oh well, nothing happens except the earth's star becomeing a super red giant some 5 billion years from now. If I'm right.........

[MMM]

Having to remind about the rules and religion makes me feel like a broken record. It is up you you guys if this conversation will be cut off.

[Umihito]

Originally Posted by MissMisa

I get annoyed at all the American hate. Literally all the American people I have ever met in person have been the most lovely, caring and polite people. I obviously don't judge an entire country on my own personal experiences, but I sometimes feel the American people are unfairly treated and there is a sort of relaxed approach to openly bashing it which I do not approve of.

So whatever.

I'm from England, I am fairly patriotic. I can recognise the faults with my own country but at the same time I appreciate the freedom of choice I have here. I like our cup-of-tea culture and I think England has a sort of quirkyness and variety about it that I really enjoy.

I also like Japanese culture. I am always fighting a battle between the want to stay in my home country and the urge to settle in Japan, it's difficult to get the best of both when they are so radically different. I think in general though I just try to see the best in the places I visit.

I know right! For the area I traveled around in the USA, every single person, shop worker, resident etc were wonderful people, even giving the Japanese a run for their money in my opinion.
I don't know if I mentioned this somewhere in this forum, but one of my fondest memories was when I was in a Wal-Mart, and I hit confusion with the tax added on after the price on the price tag, as opposed to it all being included in the price tag price here in Britain. Because my hands were full and such, the person serving me said he would pay the money I was short out of his own pocket. Safe to say, I left the supermarket with a smile!

I can't say I was in a city environment in the USA, which is probably the reason I met such a group of great people.

Anyway, the long and short of that is that I think people should cut the USA some slack, it doesn't deserve anything close to the criticism it gets from other countries, and I'd love to see their attitude change when they visit!

As well as Britain, I like the uniqueness of Wales too, where I live. That's not to say I don't enjoy my cups of tea
I like how Wales is a part of Britain, but is so different in its own unique ways that it may as well be independent! It was actually my college photography course, as well as travel, that made me realize that I do actually love Wales.

[Ryzorian]

Well the states are also subdivived by areas..The south has certain cultural influences that differ from New England as well as big city problems you also have the Midwest, south west and west coast..wich is california and north pacific coast..then you have the appalachia hill country

You can run into a dozen sub cultures around the USA as well as bumping into ultra friendly or unfriendly people, depending on where you are.