While Czechs hesitate and are afraid to show their flag,Poles wave even old flags and show kings.But the worst are the Hungarians.Incredible nationalists,flags everywhere even in pusssies.
There's nothing wrong with being proud of your country. However, there are grades in being proud of one's country: I personally think that Dutch herring is the best in the world and that all the copies of it in Germany, Poland, Scandinavia, cannot even touch its taste. In that respect I am proud of my little country. Also I'm proud of my little country because we are usually the first in trying new, sometimes controversial, ways of dealing with certain themes. And we have the best football team :) However, I don't look down on other cultures, nations and the like. I think a certain grade in multiculturalism is needed as, let's be fair, no culture has derived its traditions and values solely by itself. I also have to admit that I've become a little more "Dutch" since I live abroad, which seems to be a natural evolution for most of us. When I was still living in NL, I couldn't be bothered much, but now I see that my little country has distinct and good features. However, I don't look down on other countries; they all have their good things and their bad things; no country is perfect.
In short, I don't think patriotism is a necessarily bad thing, however, one should never be looking down on other countries. And it's a myth to deny the influence of other cultures on your own. But I guess it's my Dutch mentality who thinks it's kinda scary when ppl suddenly get all serious when talking about your country and waving the flag for no good reason (football game or some festivity) and the line between patriotism and nationalism is not so thin, but unfortunately many patriots cross it sooner or later when they start giving out to other countries.
>^..^<
M-G (tiens)
It depends what your country represents,what it stands for.For example russian nationalism is very much wanted by me but I don't see turkish nationalism this way.At the end nationalism is a trap because it lets you being manipulated by the ubernationalists.
