Because of the founding of our nation. Of the struggles they went through and everything they worked for.
Plus all the battles the US has been in and the people we've helped throughout our time as a nation.
Our government has certainly fucked things up, no doubt about that, but the general premise remains the same.
We try and help others. Especially if their need is dire.
My other end to that, on a personal level, is damn near all of my family has served in the military. I served in the military. I've known a lot of people ranging back to our warriors from WW2 who have sacrificed so much for this nation. And I certainly won't be the one to let that sacrifice be in vain.
"Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everybody you meet.” - General James Mattis
Europeans are patriotic? Give ma fucking break. When someone says Europe, we are looking at good old nationalism. Not only that, it's also quite widespread. It is true that the patriotism practiced in Europe and West Asia, according to my experience, is much more healthy compared to the American "patriotism" (i.e., American nationalism), but it's quite rare especially in Europe, unfortunately.
I didn't want to use that word, but that is how it seems to me. I may be wrong, but taking children who know no different and then getting them used to what appears to be "worshipping" a flag, its ideals and what it represents seems like brainwashing. It certainly does not happen in the UK, I have never seen examples in other countries (except highly religious countries but religion is another topic altogether). Maybe I'm wrong and other countries do this too?
It has ramped up a ton since 9/11. Now every sporting event is like a mini 4th of July. I am a season ticket holder for the Arizona Cardinals, a few years ago once a year you would see the field size flag brought out and there was some sort of theme to it. Now it is every other game. I grew up with my father being an active duty Marine so I was around some of this as a kid. I can say living on the base as a child you were reminded less about the greatness of USA and they have Reveille every morning.
"Privilege is invisible to those who have it."
Yep. Just now some states are turning Columbus Day, aka the figurehead for mass genocide, into Indigenous Peoples day... yet, celebrate as the Cleveland Niggers, oh, i mean Indians get to the World Series with these overly racist mascot. And nevermind the Washington Beaners football franchise. America loves being hypocritical.
People are patriotic when they have a reason to be, or a don't have a reason not to be. As George Carlin said "I was catholic, until the age of reason."
As a native american, you know when I "woke up" to this place... watching Young Guns. I saw the red white and blue and the bombs and thought it was all pretty cool. In Young Guns Chavez goes off on Billy and that's when I started paying attention, opened my eyes. As the Jewish motto states, Never Again. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096487/...item=qt0346333
infracted - forbidden topics
Personally, I feel like most of it isn't actually patriotism at all, but rather shallow flag and uniform worship, and that's about the extent of it. Then again, I could be mistaken.
To quote your linked article:
"Now British school boys of the day liked to nickname everything, which is still somewhat common. They also liked to add the ending “er” to these nicknames. Thus Rugby was, at that time, popularly called “Rugger”. Association Football was then much better known as “Assoccer”, which quickly just became “Soccer” and sometimes “Soccer Football”
The inventor of the nickname is said to be Charles Wredford Brown, who was an Oxford student around the time of Association Football’s inception. Legend has it, in 1863 shortly after the creation of Association Football, Wredford-Brown had some friends who asked him if he’d come play a game of “Rugger”, to which he replied he preferred “Soccer”. Whether that story’s true or not, the name caught on from around that point on."
So pretty much what you linked says it was called Association Football until some bloke decided to call it soccer and it caught on, the guy did not invent the sport.
The Japanese wins this hands down.
1 word.
Kamikaze.
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This is probably closer to the truth than any of us can put into words.
As far as the OP's question, when you make a statement like "regardless of American's definition of patriotism," you're playing tennis without the net. It means something different to everyone.
I'm patriotic in the sense that I enjoy living where I live despite all the crazy politics and screwed up systems (healthcare, banking, education, probably just about every system). I think we have an inherent need to support where we grew up. This obviously extends to the military and other civil servants who sacrifice their time or even their lives to support our efforts (whether they believe in them or not).
God, this is such bullshit. I'm sorry, I'm not trying to be offensive to you, I rather like America, to be honest, but this is bullshit. America, whenever it fought on the good side, didn't do it because they were trying to help people. They did it to help themselves. Take WWII (your example). America joined the war because their allies were at war and because an undemocratic and totalitarian Europe wasn't a favorable option.
"We try and help others."?? You don't even help your own people. You leave those worst off among you at the mercy of ultracapitalism.
And your struggles at founding weren't unique. There have been thousands of revolutions in the history of mankind. And I'd add that this was a while ago. It's silly to be proud of something your ancestors did 250 years ago.