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Originally Posted by Jerrek
Yes indeed. It forms bonds of association. If I'm in some god-forsaken country in this world, my face always brightens when I hear an American/Canadian accent. If an earthquake strikes California, I feel a lot more pain than a simliar earthquake hitting people I don't know.
The more I associate with someone, the more inclined I am to feel his or her pain, joy, and other emotions. And I do think that pledging allegiance and singing the national anthem as a nation does a lot for the soul.  |
Ahh and thereby hangs the reputation of the US and so many other nation states. "My country right or wrong".
Perhaps remembering we are all citizens of the world with duties and responsibilities to all humanity regardless of nation, creed, religion or anything else that divides us is the key.
Flag waving jingoism only serves to divide and antagonize and has no place in a modern world IMHO.
Accepting that a child's tears carry the same pain where ever they are shed is therefore my personal point of reference.