You should always be patriotic.

[Note: I am not simply challenging the notion of American patriotism, but challenging the idea of patriotism in general. I happen to live in America so I will base many of my arguments off of that premise.] I realize I am treading some deep water here when I challenge the very notion of patriotism. But let me establish my position. I believe Bertrand Russell said it best when he was quoted: "Patriotism is the willingness to kill and be killed for trivial reasons." I assume I will be receiving accusations of treason and ignorance and be greatly hailed as disrespectful. However, I will try my best to present a logical defense for my arguments here. I was born in America and I currently live in Southern Oregon. If it were my choice though, I would not claim citizenship to any institution or government. I will concede that the United States does have some good qualities based in its government. I am very grateful for personal freedoms that I am allowed to have and for the right to express my opinion. I also am a fan of the free market and am glad that the country which I live in is based on capitalism. After saying these things, someone might say, "How can you be grateful but not patriotic? America has been so good to you, why can't you show some respect?" As a response I would say, Yes, America has been fairly good to me. I live a happy life in this country, but freedom and happiness are NOT UNIQUELY American. If was born in the UK I would have almost all the same freedoms that I have here. (Probably more since the passage of the Patriot Act.) Here I make a point that few Americans seem to be able to understand. "If I was born [outside of the US]..." is a thought that not very many people have. In fact, very few people from any country get outside of themselves and imagine what life would be like if they were not born in their own country of origin. Most Americans today would like to think that if they were born in Nazi Germany (I am very sorry for referring to Nazi's--I think they are used WAY too much as a reference... but I hope my point is clear), they would not have killed one Jew. But it is very egocentric and self-conceited to do so. If you were raised from infancy, believing that the Jews were the bane of your existence and told it was perfectly okay to kill them, I'm not saying you wouldn't have any choice, but it would be very hard for you to not believe what you were taught. Just as so many people inherit the religion of their parents for really no other reason than that was how they were raised. Or why so many Americans believe that the US is the best country in the world. Or why so many Chinese believe that China in the best country in the world. Or why so many Spaniards think Spain is the best country in the world. I hope I got my point across. Americans love America for no other reason than that is what they were raised believing. I am simply open to the idea that America ISN'T the best country in the world. I realize that if I was born in virtually any other country, I would not think that America great. It is just by chance that I was born here and I don't find that as sufficient reason to pledge my allegiance to an all but perfect government. As long as there is patriotism, there will never be peace. The fact that Americans were raised believing capitalism is the best, and the fact the Russians were raised believing communism is the best, almost led to nuclear warfare. For some reason, when people say that something "is the best", they feel the need to eradicate anything that is different. Why couldn't America be happy with capitalism on its own soil? Why do we find it so important to force our beliefs onto others, who clearly don't want our help? The ideas of superiority and inferiority are the causes of probably every war. The egocentric and seemingly inescapable idea that "I am right and you are wrong" has already does so much more harm than is will ever do good. Patriotism only fosters these feelings of superiority and too many people blindly support their government and its past. I think that is enough to get the ball rolling.