While
walking across the town I go to university, I can often see people with German
flags or caps with the German flag on it, especially during summer time. Seeing
these signs, you can be sure they are tourists. Germans don’t wear such things,
except during the time of the World Cup. Actually, while the German football
team plays, you can see flags everywhere, especially on cars, but these flags
disappear as soon as the event is over.
I also
observe the American elections. By doing this, and by studying and reading in general, I noticed
that patriotism seems to play an important role in America and also in Great
Britain. In fact, I think it is specifically important for Americans and, in contrary to Germany, it is considered as something absolutely positive and indespensable.
This is
very different in Germany. Due to our past, we became extremely careful with
things like national pride. Although these times are gone and most people who were living
that time are dead, this has not changed. Most people don’t feel proud when
they think of Germany and patriotic statements are always handled very
critically. At the same time, there are people who say that this is all
exaggerated and that Germany should start to feel something like national pride
again, as long as it doesn’t convert into nationalism. I am not really sure about what to think of all these discussions. On the one hand, our generation is not responsible for what happened during the National Socialism. On the other hand, it is definitely a good thing to be sensitive regarding these topics. It seems that Germany knows only extremes.
Should Germans develop patriotism again?
My personal
point of view is the following. I don’t really feel proud of my country.
It’s not that I don’t like it though. Nowadays, there are definitely a lot of positive
things here. I mentioned that there are a lot of tourists in my university town
and I must admit that it is a quite beautiful town, especially during summer. But
I don’t really understand that concept of national pride.
In my
opinion, to be proud of something, you have to achieve something or you must
have had some influence on the thing you are proud of. What exactly are people proud of when it comes to Germany? Moreover, there have already been so many problems in this world because people somehow think their country is superior to others. I do not understand why people keep thinking this. After all, they didn't even choose to be born in that country.
Maybe it is not bad to support the country you are living in by being proud of it, as long as this doesn't include debasing other countries.
So, although I like that town, I am not proud of it because there hasn’t been any contribution on my side. However, somehow it doesn't seem to be inappropriate when other people are proud of their country, it seems to be natural for other nations.
What do you
think of patriotism?
Are you
proud of your country? If so, why?
I would
love to hear some other opinions and I am willing to change my mind, so please feel
free to share your view.
