RE: Patriotism, an Abomination
I agree @anarchospace the national pride that we are told to feel on July 4 is more of a covert mobilization effort to keep the imperial machine alive. But I wasn't talking about Americans.
I was responding to your Carlin quote, "why...be proud of any [nationality/ethinicity]?"
My point is that if one doesn't take pride in their heritage and tradition, then it will be taken from them. Those who still fight to preserve what's left of their traditional culture do indeed have very much to celebrate. It's not just some birth trait. People fight and die to this day for the self determination of their people.
Most Americans have no idea what it means to truly fight for their traditional heritage, unless you consider metropolitan consumer culture to be a tradition.
I used Americans as an example, but I was speaking in general. I have many friends in the Balkans and I can tell you that patriotism/nationalism is not a very useful thing for people there. It allows them to be manipulated and leads to loss of sovereignty, not to its strenghtening.
The most powerful advocates for sovereignty in Serbia, Croatia and Bosnia that I know are libertarians and conservatives who very much feel like citizens of the world, but love their homes, their languages. They may even be patriotic, but that in itself is not their strength, while it can potentially be a weakness.
It is their principles and love of freedom, and respect for their fellow man that keeps their traditions and values strong.
Forgive my ignorance, but does love of freedom/ respect for one's fellow man negate nationalism? People like to live near those who share their values and traditions. It makes for good society and economy. I believe different groups can respect each other while maintaining boundaries.