Do you love your country?

chic said:
Yes, I love my country. I would leave it to have a freer lifetstyle just as one leaves an abusive relationship.
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In what way do you feel that you are not free?

Are you looking through the wrong lens because I see so many freedoms that I enjoy that people from other countries are denied. Every so often I count my blessings and I am content with my lot.
 

chic said:
Yes, I love my country. I would leave it to have a freer lifetstyle just as one leaves an abusive relationship.
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The issue is when you, yourself, are not a victim of abusiveness but are clearly aware of the abuse meted out to a proportion of your countrymen. Do you then (as the OP asks) “defend your country from those who badmouth it” ie those who point out the abusiveness suffered by your countrymen?
 
Capt Lightning said:
I recall many years ago a church minister in N.Ireland saying that there was nothing wrong with the country, it was the people who spoiled it.
I think you can say this of many countries - there's nothing wrong with the countries, but politicians, scroungers and other self-serving people and organisations allow it to be ruined.

Britain is gradually being destroyed and politicians don't seem to have the will to stop it. The SNP is hell bent on independence for Scotland at any cost - and it would be a very high cost.

So, I love my country, but because of the way it is going, I wish I had left it years ago.
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As I was scrolling and reading everyone's comments, I was thinking that I would write pretty much exactly what you've written... and here you are writing it first... . I couldn't agree more..

This country is probably the best country of it's size in the world.. but so many of the people I'm sad to say are probably not.

I wish I too, had moved to another English speaking country when I was younger but back when I could have gone, the vast majority of people in the UK were decent people.. , and now we're so overcrowded and we have a terrible weak government .... ..too late to move now

Just to add, I do have a home in Spain... (although I rent it out now)...and that affords me a very different lifestyle to the one in the UK and the people are different too, ... I love it there, but it's also very overcrowded, and in although beautiful in many places, deep poverty in many others, and huge corruption within the Local govt, & Police, so not a patch on the UK in that sense... my preference would be an English speaking country now..
 

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hollydolly said:
As I was scrolling and reading everyone's comments, I was thinking that I would write pretty much exactly what you've written... and here you are writing it first... . I couldn't agree more..

This country is probably the best country of it's size in the world.. but so many of the people I'm sad to say are probably not.

I wish I too, had moved to another English speaking country when I was younger but back when I could have gone, the vast majority of people in the UK were decent people.. , and now we're so overcrowded and we have a terrible weak government .... ..too late to move now

Just to add, I do have a home in Spain... (although I rent it out now)...and that affords me a very different lifestyle to the one in the UK and the people are different too, ... I love it there, but it's also very overcrowded, and in although beautiful in many places, deep poverty in many others, and huge corruption within the Local govt, & Police, so not a patch on the UK in that sense... my preference would be an English speaking country now..
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Only asking- and out of pure curiosity due to your concerns with issues of poverty, overcrowding, and corruption - why would you prefer an English-speaking country?
 
Verisure said:
Only asking- and out of pure curiosity due to your concerns with issues of poverty, overcrowding, and corruption - why would you prefer an English-speaking country?
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Because at least if you're having to face Corruption you stand a better chance of understanding what's happening if it's happening in your native language...but in reality English speaking countries just have so much less corruption among the hierarchy than countries such as the Spanish speaking countries...
 
hollydolly said:
Because at least if you're having to face Corruption you stand a better chance of understanding what's happening if it's happening in your native language...
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What are your thoughts on less/minimum/absence of corruption in a language not of your birth?

hollydolly said:
...... in reality English speaking countries just have so much less corruption among the hierarchy than countries such as the Spanish speaking countries...
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The world is made up of more than two languages as you know.
 
Verisure said:
What are your thoughts on less/minimum/absence of corruption in a language not of your birth?


The world is made up of more than two languages as you know.
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Regardless of how many languages the world is made up from.. if you can't fully understand what's going on around you, and you're taken advantage because you don't understand the language then regardless of how beautiful or wonderfully run the country is where you live.. you will always be at a disadvantage
 
I think having been born and raised in the U.S.A., I was lucky to have hit the greatest lottery God ever invented. We have many faults, yes. Who does not? We are very young and still feeling our way. We are a land of languages and ethnicities like no other and thus are gifted with multi-culturism. The pure joy of living in my nation is the opportunity to fix what is broke and freely enjoy whatever endeavor we choose. Happily, while we have endured a couple of serious wars, we have not been bombed out of our minds nor under another country's occupation. If someone wishes to bad mouth the U.S.A., I applaud their ignorance. For that is what it is. I'd defend it against all foes foreign and domestic and I have, for that matter. Let no man step foot here to destroy this beautiful country of mine.
 
SeaBreeze said:
I am grateful I was born and raised in the United States of America, and chances are I will live my last days here. I have no desire to live in any other country, I'm quite happy and content here and have had a good and comfortable life in the US.

From my personal experience in life, the American people are kind, caring and generous, always a good vibe from those who I've come in contact with over the years. Of course there are things about America that haven't been ideal in our history, I don't like that but I accept it. If others have valid criticism of actions we've taken in the past, I don't defend against anything if it's truthful.

If for some odd reason I'd have to live in another country, of course it would be our neighbor, Canada. Another beautiful country with great people.
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Same here!
 
I can see great benefits in going to another English speaking country. Years ago, I could stagger by in German, and I even picked up a bit of Dutch. That's OK for holidays, shopping etc., but not for major things like buying property, insuring your car, understanding the law and loads of other things. If we had moved, it would have been to a European country, but by the time I stopped work, it would probably have been too difficult to pick up another language to a usable level. There was also the issue of exchange rates, as our pensions and investments are paid in £'s.

So, I'm somewhat stuck in a country that I really like, but a political system that I don't. Maybe I could go back to England, but that might be 'out of the frying pan and into the fire'.
 
hollydolly said:
Regardless of how many languages the world is made up from.. if you can't fully understand what's going on around you, and you're taken advantage because you don't understand the language then regardless of how beautiful or wonderfully run the country is where you live.. you will always be at a disadvantage
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That is one of the saddest things I've ever heard. 😥 I was hoping to spark determination for people to learn another language. 🥺 I mean, the really, really good places to live don't speak English as their first language and so it seems an unfortunate trade-off.
 
Verisure said:
That is one of the saddest things I've ever heard. 😥 I was hoping to spark determination for people to learn another language. 🥺 I mean, the really, really good places to live don't speak English as their first language and so it seems an unfortunate trade-off.
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Well I've lived and worked in several Countries that don't Speak English... Italy, Spain, Germany , Greece, France.. & Belgium.. and like the UK they have their good and bad parts.. the UK ( and please believe me I have no real love for this country)... is by far the most civilized in just about every way...and not only because I speak the language.. ( I also speak Spanish, and have a smattering of the others)
 
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hollydolly said:
Well I've lived and worked in several Countries that don't Speak English... Italy, Spain, Germany , Greece, France.. & Belgium.. and like the UK they have their good and bad parts.. the UK ( and please believe me I have no real love for this country)... is by far the most civilized in just about every way...and not only because I speak the language.. ( I asloo speak Spanish, and have a smattering of the others)
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I have to laugh about "the most civilized" bit. :) I'm sure it's a matter of orientation. I too have lived in several countries around the world. Things change. "My" country was the absolute best there was, or in the top three, I'd say. Today I'd put it in the top ten, not very good, eh? I think I could manage well in Switzerland or return to Norway but for my life investment I've made and the bother of starting afresh now at 74. If God forbid I'd lose my family then I would leave but I'd remain in Europe without any doubt. Living again in the Americas, Africa, Asia, or Australia isn't on. I never felt "at home" in any of them. I just didn't feel it.
 
I was born and lived most of my life in the USA. However, the USA, just like the old gray mare, ain't what she used to be.
So to answer, I quote Thomas Paine, whom I think is a great American.

The world is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion. - Thomas Paine

But yes, I do love my country, very much so. 🌎♥🌍♥🌏
 
Pink Biz said:
We're in a love-hate relationship.
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That's my feeling about the USA. On one hand I have land, money, health care, food, and plenty of stuff, so that is awesome, but on the other hand throughout my adult life I became more and more aware of the disconnect between what people say about how great the USA is, and how it really is compared to other countries.
 
Much of the rest of the Old World was overrun by human abuse before the New World was discovered by Western civilizations. As a decades long outdoors person, the North American western areas over a range of environment types, are arguably some of the best on the planet. A prime reason living in California is such a popular destination of people from around the world although the majority living here in urban regions are oblivious to that value. And why the land itself still remains so loved regardless of the societal issues. Additionally, the United States of America, despite its faults, has a history full of true heroes of the human race.
 
It strikes me as strange when people talk about the USA. You have 50 states most of which are bigger than any of the 4 home nations of the UK. Yet, we tend to say we love Scotland or England etc., we even consider ourselves as being from one part of our nation.

Do people really love every bit of the 'good old USA', or just their state, or even county?
 
Capt Lightning said:
It strikes me as strange when people talk about the USA. You have 50 states most of which are bigger than any of the 4 home nations of the UK. Yet, we tend to say we love Scotland or England etc., we even consider ourselves as being from one part of our nation.

Do people really love every bit of the 'good old USA', or just their state, or even county?
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Really good questions! I've also noticed that most white Americans when asked their nationality they reply, "Scottish, German, Polish, Italian, etc." even though they've never been to those countries.
 
Warrigal said:
In what way do you feel that you are not free?

Are you looking through the wrong lens because I see so many freedoms that I enjoy that people from other countries are denied. Every so often I count my blessings and I am content with my lot.
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I'm not free in every way that matters to me. My country does not love me. If it did my answer might be different and I would like to know how many people feel their countries love them? Those answers would interest me.
 

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