[Liberty4eva]

No child chooses their parents or siblings so is it irrational for us to love and be proud of our family members more than the average person? I don't think it's irrational and I don't necessarily see being proud of your country as irrational or stupid.

So is patriotism a good thing? I think it depends on what you mean by patriotism. I am profoundly disgusted by people who will wave a flag, sing patriotic music, and pledge allegiance to a piece of cloth without having the vaguest understanding of their country's history and what their country has traditionally stood for. I am also profoundly disgusted by my fellow countrymen who confuse patriotism with blind obedience to authority. Thomas Jefferson once said dissent is the greatest form of patriotism and if that be the case then I am very patriotic.

It's true that no person chooses the country that they were born in but every country on earth has a story to tell, has a history, has a unique culture, and consequently represents a small piece of humanity. I'm proud of my country's rich history and its accomplishments over the centuries. I don't get all goosebumpy when I hear the national anthem or see a bald eagle but I am proud of my nationality because of the remarkable history that goes along with it.