silly patriotism

I think it's just a sign that evolution hasn't wiped tribalism out of our psyches altogether. Human society is large, very large, and we are likely to feel lost unless we have our "roots" or our "home team" to feel close to or part of. It's all very well to be a citizen of the world, and yet, there are some places we are more likely to be comfortable and a much smaller number of places we might consider "home". Once we realize, as the Animaniacs sang "it's a great big universe and we're all really puny, we're just tiny little specks about the size of Mickey Rooney", we start to feel alone and insignificant. So we are most comfortable as part of a group, even if it is just a group of like-minded football fans.

I simply can't understand the way the Scottish people are about the England soccer team. Granted if they were playing us well yes they would support Scotland and hope that we lost, but if England were not in the World Cup I would support Scotland, Wlaes or Ireland. To me we're all British!!

That's just the logical thought process of true sports fans, jb! If my team can't win the championship, I'm going to do a complete 180 and start focusing on the teams I dislike getting their butts kicked. I will root for anyone who plays against them and the bigger the loss my enemies suffer, the happier I will be. :)

Yep we are like that too with sports. And politics. We pick our "team" and we are not so much hoping as our side wins but the other "team" gets thrashed.So don't feel bad...it seems to be a worldwide issue.

I know that America is widely disliked in other countries, but when did we become the enemy of Scotland? I didn't think that most Americans even knew that Scotland existed, so what could we have done that was so egregious as to warrant such dislike from them as to be placed on the list of enemies right under England?

Hi bunny in present world borders dont mean anything! If they meant, why would there be strife internally! And why would we feel safe enough to settle elsewhere. Time we re-examined the concept of countries. May be we now need to look at it as our earth versus some alien planet!

JB, I agree. I am an American, I am a PROUD American. But some people get carried away! I think everybody should be patriotic, not not violently! So, it is ok for me to carry a flag, I just shouldnt gut people with it.

hi ye old blue bunnie I am also an American and am proud to be one but since being here on mylot a lot for three years I m also becoming less insulated from the rest of the world. I am patriotic to a certain degree'but am learning to appreciate many other countries. I can learn new customs and get a kick out of comparing some of ours to others and know I am in a small world after all.

It may be silly, but I bet most people feel the same way.

and from there it can lead to mob violence.........

Hello JB, I remember the Fight between Manny pacquiao and Hatton. during the singing of national athem, the supporters where saying boo on us, but we didn't, now that's going to far. but i admired the english for still singing and chanting for they're boxer even though he has lost. that's something i believed my people couldn't never do. it's alright to be patriot but you don't have to bash on some one else.