National Pride

[Menelaus]

Who was it referred to patriotism as the "last refuge of the scoundrel"?

[EternalOptimist]

Nope, I actually thought of this lot

i'm starting to feel a bit south American myself

[EternalOptimist]

Who was it referred to patriotism as the "last refuge of the scoundrel"?

[DodgyAgent]

Can anyone tell me why I should be ‘proud to be British (or indeed Dutch, seeing as I live in NL)?

Can’t I just be an individual, outwardly modest but inwardly proud of my achievements, happy to do my fair share and abide by the law as long as the law is moral and just, but without attaching importance to any particular flag, anthem and state?

Human beings have a strong need to feel as if they belong to some group. We need to feel a sense of identity. Most on here thing that belonging to the BCS is enough

[sasguru]

Can anyone tell me why I should be ‘proud to be British (or indeed Dutch, seeing as I live in NL)?

Can’t I just be an individual, outwardly modest but inwardly proud of my achievements, happy to do my fair share and abide by the law as long as the law is moral and just, but without attaching importance to any particular flag, anthem and state?

Well being proud of an accident of birth is a bit silly.
And many use patriotism as a cloak for their own individual failures.
However you can take pride in the better values of the society/culture you are from and try to defend those values.
Cultural values are not relative as some would have you think; based on a criterion of offering the best balance between human rights and responsibilities, some are better than others.

[Moscow Mule]

No, I’m looking for a rationale for ‘National Pride’. I don’t just do things because of blind emotion or some non-rationalized sense of loyalty.

Grouped as a whole, a population can have more positive impact on their lives than if they all worked as individuals.

A nation is a convenient block to group people.

If your group is is well regarded (WRT to manufacturing, process whatever) then you as an individual will benefit.

Why not have pride in your grouping?

[Mich the Tester]

Human beings have a strong need to feel as if they belong to some group. We need to feel a sense of identity. Most on here thing that belonging to the BCS is enough

Ah, well I understand that, but what I don’t understand is that people then wish to impose that sense of belonging on other people who may be quite happy with the groups they already belong to, like a profession, a sports club or a family. You see, in my life, nationalism or national pride just doesn’t have the relevance or purpose that it seems to have for some other people. I’ve lived in 5 different countries since I was born, have traveled to many others, and if I look at it objectively I can think of things I like and dislike in all of them, as well as people and groups to which I can belong in all of them.

[DimPrawn]

National Pride Party.

An amalgamation of a radical and violent splinter group of the National Front and the Gay Pride movement.

[Moscow Mule]

National Pride Party.

An amalgamation of a radical and violent splinter group of the National Front and the Gay Pride movement.

Do they beat themselves up over it?

[Mich the Tester]

And many use patriotism as a cloak for their own individual failures.
However you can take pride in the better values of the society/culture you are from and try to defend those values.

Ah, some intelligent answers arriving now!

I do indeed try to defend certain values, but those values are perhaps more generically western European/western/modern/libertarian/enlightenmentish than belonging to any particular nation or state.