Tell us why you love (or don't love) your country.

In My Humble Opinion
21

I’ve been in Germany for 17 years now but I’ll never stop identifying myself as an American first, so I’m going to chime in on both countries.

USA:

Do you love your country?
I do.
If so, can you articulate why?
Well. It’s home. I can disappear into the crowd there and feel like I’m swimming in the midst of the school. Plus I truly believe in the promise and potential of the American ideal. At its best, America is a great and a good country.
If not, why not?
Does not apply
If you don’t love your country, why do you still live there?
Does not apply.
In what country would you prefer to live, given your druthers?
If I only had myself to consider, I’d be back in America in a heartbeat.

Germany:

Do you love your country?
Um. I don’t know that I would use the word ‘love’ to describe my feeling about Germany. This is not the ideal environment for an introvert who appreciates gracious, friendly behavior and likes to feel intelligent. I get along fine in German now, but I still miss quite a bit of what people say, especially in group conversations, and I don’t like that feeling one bit. I also singularly dislike feeling like ‘foreigner’ is such a prominent part of my identity here, even after such a long time. My father-in-law is a great guy, for example, but he still solemnly explains German expressions to me at almost every gathering, generally ones that I have known longer than the grandchildren I gave him who are sitting right beside him and not getting treated to the same condescending lecture do. Also, while I’m all about the crankiness, it’s too damned dark here. We’re coming off the darkest winter on record and I’m pretty sure my vitamin D levels must be negative right about now. And do not get me started on the school system and its rigid, downward-sorting, class-oriented vibe.

On the other hand, I’m blessed to live in a place with such a rich cultural life. My husband and I have had a subscription to the Frankfurt Opera for over a decade and they are world class. There are local festivals all the time which are great fun. We have terrific friends and, while it took us waaaaaay longer to get rooted in the community here than it would have in America, strong community ties. There may be very few nice days here, weather-wise, but the silver lining there is that you do learn to fully appreciate every single one. I’ve had some extraordinary experiences here, like winning tickets to watch an opera at Bayreuth from seats set on the stage to being chosen as an audience member lifeline on the German version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire. (Call me, Günther Jauch!)
If you don’t love your country, why do you still live there?
It’s not just about me. My husband is German. Our kids are rooted in life here. Until they’re out of school (bite me, German school system), here is where you’ll find me. Once they move on to university, I expect I’ll be able to spend more of each year in the States, and if I could spend my winters around my family in Florida, I foresee my grumpiness dropping away dramatically.
To all those who expressed a preference for no-bake cheesecake: you’re dead to me.

22

I am so confused.

23

I really like Chefguy’s answers and will use them as my own! (I’ve not traveled like he has but I identify with being comfortable with the culture here) :slight_smile:

I will add that as a Christian I feel oogy about patriotism and exalting one’s country. I don’t even know what it is I exactly think about it, but I feel like one’s loyalty shouldn’t be to one’s county, but to one’s god. And I’m not even super Christian or anything! It just is a weird thing with me.

24

1. Do you love your country?

Love it? Not…really. I like many things about the US, dislike others, and am very grateful to have been born there as opposed to most other countries. Maybe that means I should love it, and if the US were seriously threatened or if I were exiled and never allowed to return I’d probably discover untapped depths of feeling. But at the moment I’d be lying if I said that I felt real “love” for the US. I don’t really miss it when I’m away, and I can imagine emigrating without much internal conflict.

2. If so, can you articulate why?

I’m touched by and sometimes feel emotional about the idea of America and the American character. There’s an epic scope to the country’s history. Although a lot of luck and happenstance contributed to America’s success, there was also a lot of hard work and enterprise. We’ve produced a ton of great culture, both high and low. The US is a country that matters. In theory it’s exciting to be a part of all that. The US has provided a setting that has allowed my extended family to lead relatively stable, peaceful, prosperous lives, and has done so for at least a couple generations now. That’s all great.

3. If not, why not?

The American idea is one thing; the reality is another. Too much of it is ugly cities, sprawling suburbs, failing schools, violent neighborhoods, dreary highways and strip malls. The politics grind you down. American people can be friendly, but no moreso than what I’ve found in other countries.

Also, I moved around a lot growing up and never formed a strong attachment to one place in the US, which maybe precludes forming a love for the country as a whole? Also, living overseas part of the time as a kid (even if only as part of an American military community) meant that from early on I could compare the American way of life to that in other countries. The US often came up short.

4. If you don’t love your country, why do you still live there?

I hate this question, because it makes it sound like emigration is a breeze. It’s not. Years ago I inquired at a couple consulates, worked temporarily in the UK, and even applied for a long-term visa there. (It fell through.) If you’re not a doctor, computer programmer, or rich enough to hire an immigration lawyer, it’s not exactly easy to move to another country.

Also, of course, I don’t hate the US. I might prefer to live somewhere else, but I’m not absolutely desperate to get out.

5. In what country would you prefer to live, given your druthers?†

The UK and Germany are the first two that come to mind. London is probably the world’s greatest city, and the rest of the country is nice too. Germany is just beautiful and interesting and well-functioning, plus I speak enough of the language that I think I could integrate successfully. If I already spoke the language I could imagine moving to France, the Netherlands, or some Scandinavian countries as well.

25

It’s interesting to me how many Americans take the question as “do you love your country, the State and culture” and how the Aussies, Kiwis (and 1 South African) took it as “Do you love your country, the land.”

And I say this as someone who thinks America can be a very beautiful country, with possibly more areas of natural beauty than any other.

26

Do you love your country?

“Love” is a bit strong, reserved for people, pets and some bits of music, but I do like it a lot.

If so, can you articulate why?

I live in Scotland, and it’s the landscape, the light (in summer anyway!) and the simple fact that it is home. I’m comfortable here - I know how it works. Plus the weather is mostly benign, if a bit patchy.
**
If not, why not?**

N/A

If you don’t love your country, why do you still live there?

N/A

In what country would you prefer to live, given your druthers?

Happy here, but I could probably get by in France, the Netherlands or Italy. If money was no object, then I’d keep a place in New York, which massively impressed me. It’s quite the polar opposite of where I live, but it’d be fun for a few months a year.

27

I was born in Scotland, but have been Canadian for 39 years now. Scotland’s a nice place to visit, but I’m glad dad come here for work.

Do you love your country?
“Love” and country don’t go together. This (Canada) is a great place and I’d rather be here than south of the boarder though.

If so, can you articulate why?
Mostly playoff hockey. Followed by health care and multiculturalism. There’s almost zero racial tension here.

If not, why not?

N/A

If you don’t love your country, why do you still live there?

N/A

In what country would you prefer to live, given your druthers?

I could easily live in the US. I’ve been to probably 2/3 of the states at some point and blend in like Zelig: except when I ask where the vinegar for my fries is aboot.

I could go back to the UK I suppose. The summers would be cool, but the winters would be reasonable. I could blend in there too, as long as I managed to look right before stepping off the curb.

28

I am a USA-ian.

Do you love your country?

Yes, but not all aspects of it.

If so, can you articulate why?

I have a natural affection for it, simply because I was born here, have spent the vast majority of my fairly pleasant life here, and have most of the things and people I care about in here. As far as the special qualities of America go, I appreciate the fact that we have a high standard of living and a large degree of freedoms. But I have no patience for the quasi-religious veneration of our institutions and history exhibited by so many of my countrymen. God has certainly blessed America, but we’re not His favorites.

In what country would you prefer to live, given your druthers?

If some kind benefactor was willing to give me a very large bag of money, I would like to live in the land of my English ancestors.

29

This, with just two differences: I’m not from Christchurch, I’m from Auckland, the ugliest, dullest city in the country. And I’m not planning to move to the US (and don’t ever plan to). To clarify: I’m a Kiwi and British citizen, both. Lived in NZ most of my life, currently live in London.