[WANDERER]

What does the word Patriotic mean to you?
Do you consider yourself patriotic? If so, in what way?
Is patriotism always a good thing? Why or why not?
Can someone be patriotic but still criticize aspects of their government? Why or why not?

I don't really like the words: patriotic or patriot...they are words for individuals and that really affects the whole concept of being proud of your country as an individualistic thing rather than a group thing.
It divides people into those that are patriotic and those that are traitors...and that's just a matter of opinion...usually someone else's. Long live political diversity.

We can have no pride in our country without others taking pride in it as well.

I take pride in my country and it's achievements...I mourn the losses and the failures and the downturns. We're all in it together rowing the same boat. We may have different ideas about what is best for our country...and that's a good thing...flexibility, diversity and the ability to adapt and change direction...this is what contributes to the whole. If we lose that..we stagnate. I hope we never have a government that we can't criticise. That doesn't bode well for democracy...it's not working if there is no democratic process.

War is unfortunate...it sends back another nation in terms of economic growth and emergence. It has a terrible price for our own nation in terms of life and cost. No one should ever profit from being involved in a war...except by achieving peace...and hopefully that is possible. Sometimes war happens: we do what we can.

We all serve our country. Some serve others more. Some get little credit. Some are not given enough credit. And then there are those that receive public awards and are held dear. But that doesn't matter. If we don't serve our country then the nation would fall apart because we all help do our bit in keeping things functioning the way they are supposed to and at an optimum level. This is called citizenship.

We don't tend to see the worst aspects of patriotism here...mainly because it wouldn't be thought of as patriotic or un-Australian. We value quiet achievers...those that just get in and do the job without a whole lot of fuss. Possibly the worst of our so-called patriots are Pauline Hanson-ish rednecks...our isolation does mean we have some elements of racism...and with high immigration rates we have pockets of areas in cities that are overloaded and stressed. Mostly patriotism has to do with identity: vegemite, sport, hills hoists and victor lawnmowers...celebrating the small stuff...we are who we are...part of a group.

Possibly our worse aspect of national pride is thinking we are bigger in importance than we actually are...we're a bunch of Shire Hobbits : )

I am proud that countries can work together with the policies they're putting into place for the economic crisis...let's hope it works out and doesn't fizzle and that it leads to greater co-operation in other areas as well. Global citizenship is important.

Heck, I'm proud of other countries. It doesn't decrease the pride I have in my own nation any. There's a lot to celebrate and take pride in...as well as those things to sorrow over. It's not as fierce as the love I have for my own country...but my own country is better for all the good that is achieved in the world: stable governments, strong economies, scientific endeavours and so on...we build our future on it.
Patriotism with blinkers has had disastrous consequences for other nations...and for those countries that foster it. Hey, a little self-interest is healthy...but excessiveness is not good...even disastrous.