Q&A for How to Be Patriotic

Well, you can not expect to change everyone in your country into more patriotic people, because they have their own minds, and even though you're allowed to disagree with them and express your opinions, you're not allowed to force them to change. You can, however, become a more patriotic person yourself and try to inspire your friends and family by showing them all of the best qualities of your nation.

By being patriotic yourself, you can inspire others with your example. Of course, talking to people about why you love your country and encouraging others to get involved in patriotic holidays and in serving their country could also inspire them.

Do your part. Fly a flag every chance you get; celebrate national holidays; demonstrate your pride in your country in your attitude, actions, and conversations.

Most schools have a tradition of flag ceremonies or singing the national anthem weekly or monthly. The school curriculum may also put heavy pride on the nation, such as the need to pass the national language and maths sections to enter high school. Geography and History could mostly be focused on the nation itself, and if there is anything about other countries in the textbook, it is just ignored.

Important duties include voting and acting respectfully to authorities. Protesting for liberty and freedom is important too. If you can, donate to causes that help the less fortunate in your community.

We can encourage our students to be patriotic by teaching them the internal cultural values of a country and symbols that signify it, such as its constitution, flag, national anthem, etc.

The difference between patriotism and nationalism is a patriot is proud of their country for what it does, and a nationalist is proud of their country no matter what it does. The first attitude creates a feeling of responsibility, but the second is a feeling of blind arrogance.

Learn about your country's values. Ask a teacher if you're not sure where to begin. Thank local veterans for serving and be respectful to people. Ask your parents to visit a museum to learn something about your country's history, or check out the history books in the library.

It shows us why a nation operates the way it does. Learning about a nation's darkest moments shows us how far the nation has improved from then. Whilst nationalism attempts to cover up, minimize, or justify history, patriotism admits to it, and points out how much a nation has improved. Think of Germany: after fascist and communist rule ended, it has effectively become one of the most accepting and diverse countries in Europe.

No one can force anyone else to love their country, or for that matter, to be ashamed of it. Blind pride in a country without recognizing and working to change its faults is false pride or nationalism. Revealing the shortcomings in a society's history offers a chance for reconciliation and improvement. True pride is based on the actual achievements of the country and its ethics, and the most personally meaningful pride is based on the individual's efforts to improve the society's flaws and to appreciate the diversity of its people and the blending of their cultures into a rich and resilient fabric to which all have contributed.