Does "USA! USA!" bother you....

[ThatsMyBarack]

During the Olympics? It bugs me: It makes me think of Freepers and pro-war protesting shitheads! :yoiks: :popcorn:

[Stinky The Clown]

In context .... no different than "Yankees! Yankees!" in the Bronx.

[realisticphish]

1. nah

it's an event where you cheer on your country. One of the few places i find it appropriate, actually :shrug:

[ncrainbowgrrl]

2. Nah- it's one chance to be proud of efforts of my fellow americans.

I think it's great to be able to have a reason to have these patriotic moments- and to see the best that Americans can do!

[cobalt1999]

3. Nope.

It is actually okay to cheer for your country every once in awhile. Don't let the freepers take that away from you.

[Fuzz]

4. No

[2KS2KHonda]

5. Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.

Somebody said that a long time ago...she was right.

[ColbertWatcher]

6. Chanting USA! USA! May sound to the rest of the world as ...

a bit naive of the US's standing with the rest of the world.

Unless it is for a team in a team event, it might come off as a little ignorant of how we are seen by the rest of the world.

Maybe, I don't know, I'm not in China, but I can see why you might ask.

[Mike Daniels]

7. You don't think other countries are doing the same?

It's no different than fans singing their team songs or national tunes during soccer's World Cup event.

[rwheeler31]

8. Yes no respect for the sport only Nationalism.

[AllentownJake]

9. In sporting events nah

Who else am I going to root for?

[marmar]

10. I guess it shouldn't....but it does.

I was at a candlelight vigil on the evening of 9/11 and a bunch of people started chanting it - it really weirded me out.

[SpookyCat]

19. Now see, in that context it would creep me out.

At the Olympics, no.

Totally different connotation to me.

ETA: Plus it's just inappropriate. A candle light vigil is a quiet, reflective thing, seems to me.

[emilyg]

11. No.

[ElizabethDC]

12. Nope

[devilgrrl]

13. No.

eom

[Redbear]

14. Only when George Bush is in attendance (n/t)

[SunDrop23]

15. Sounds like a cry for help to me...(nt)

[DinahMoeHum]

16. No.

n/t

[liberal1973]

17. Nope. I enjoy it.

:applause:

[Renew Deal]

18. No

This is my country. I share it with the morans, and we have many things in common.

[backscatter712]

20. In sports, no. Elsewhere, yeah.

Specifically, when hooting and hollering to try to start a war, at political events and such. In that case, it's jingoistic fucktardery.

[stillcool]

21. I feel kind of sad when they..

play the national anthem. It reminds me that everything I thought I knew about my country is a lie.

[BlooInBloo]

22. No. I can take context into account when forming opinions.

[JVS]

23. USA USA USA!

:headbang:

[nsd]

24. No, not at all.

USA! USA! USA!

:P

[Celeborn Skywalker]

25. A little bit.

Not too much, though.

[Arugula Latte]

26. Yep. I'm bloody sick of it.

Enough, people. Enough.

[bridgit]

27. Not in the least

[LeftyMom]

28. Nationalism bothers me. From any people, in any context. nt

[Marr]

29. Yes-- and I'm surprised so many DUers don't realize how rude/stupid it's

perceived by much of the world. It's not just rude for the US to do it-- it'd be boorish for anyone to do. To do that in a foreign country is, IMHO, amazingly rude and yes, embarrassing.

[shanti]

30. you know...

until you mentioned it, it never crossed my mind. i've not been aware of this at all....:shrug:

[underseasurveyor]

31. Currently it does

only because I feel there isn't much to USA USA about at this point in our history. Normally it doesn't bother me.

[last_texas_dem]

32. Kinda, yeah...

The loudmouthed jingoistic blowhards that started to seem so much more prominent post 9/11/01, but particularly around the time of the Iraq invasion, have screwed up things like that for me.

Yeah, I know the majority of the folks chanting "USA!" at sporting events aren't thinking about politics or anything like that, and are just cheering on the team that they identify the most with. But, honestly, I guess I'm just a pathetic excuse for an American... I honestly don't really care how many medals America gets or whether they get more than any other country. I identified strongly with the DUer who posted a couple of days ago about often finding themselves rooting for a competitor from some "underdog" country unlikely to win many competitions or medals. I'm just not very competitive to begin with, and, I guess, not all that "patriotic," either; at least, if being patriotic involves strongly rooting for your country's athletes to win all competitions, no exceptions.

(I do always root for Shawn Johnson, though. She's cute. haha)

[Oeditpus Rex]

33. I'm all for national pride

— as long as it's in something one's country has actually done, or works or stands for, such as peace and other humanitarian efforts.

I find it rather odd when people draw national pride from the accomplishments of athletes — who, after all, don't really have much choice as to which "team" they compete for.

In any case, I don't understand why some people are so obnoxious in their pride.



Serene, accomplish'd, cheerful but not loud;
Insinuating without insinuation;
Observant of the foibles of the crowd,
Yet ne'er betraying this in conversation;
Proud with the proud, yet courteously proud,
So as to make them feel he knew his station
And theirs: — without a struggle for priority,
He neither brook'd nor claim'd superiority.

[TahitiNut]

34. Why should it?

Life's too short to let something bother me merely because I might choose to behave differently or might disagree. If anything, I'd like folks to make this nation (and this planet) even MORE deserving of pride. As it is, I'm ashamed of what we've become. It takes a lot of effort and patience to be part of spreading TRUTHFUL information. Why waste energy that could go to that? Sometimes, "Don't Sweat The Small Stuff" is a decent maxim.