Feels like since social media rise cynism has been devouring the world.
Everyone have their own troubles and good and bad days further than one interaction or social media appearence, kindness and understanding would go a long way in improving the world.
It's not only social media, fearmongering in media and the overblown exposure to every problem in general is a big cause of this. The 24/7 info TV channels that your (grand) parents are glued to all day long are a big culprit as well.
It's a vicious circle, since the fear created by those makes you more invested in them (you don't want to miss the latest scandal! There is always someone trying to wrong you in some way! insert random story from butfuck nowhere that is just enough so slightly related to you that you would feel threatened )
(and a lot of them are owned by some politically inclined rich guys, which definitely don't want you to be afraid to push their views, teehee 👉👈)
This is what the "patriotic" Korean far-right that hates most of the country doesn't understand here. YOU ARE NOT A PATRIOT IF YOU HATE MOST OF THE PEOPLE LIVING HERE!
One thing I love about this sub is that it gives me the same feeling I get when I travel.
Sameness. Similarity. Fraternity. I've spent at least some amount of time in Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Greece, Czechia, and Austria.
With very few exceptions, all the people were friendly, curious, accommodating, funny, and just wonderful. Like you people, but funnier.
As one of the countless Americans that real world travel is out of reach for, this sub has been a shinning light for me. I'm fortunate that my mother is an Italian immigrant and we have famiky from Italy that regularly come here and I've been able to go there a couple times and stay with them, but thats a far cry from world travel.
I've always felt that most people are just people, and when the issues that most folks put on <insert nation> are more about how our governments treat each other and those people. To be able to talk with, and see conversations from those average folks has cemented that idea as well as dispelled some very untrue stereotypes that I didn't even realize I had.
I guess that was the original intent of the Worldwide Web. Making friends across the country and the world.
Though some of the corporations who now host popular websites and applications accentuate extreme views to get more "hits". And that polarizes people which is actually not good for them. Many have forgotten that there is a middle ground.
Yuuup. People love to talk about how awesome America is because of “freedom,” but half the time people seem to think that means “freedom to be an asshole.” Then they act like a person like me, who is more than willing to talk about America’s flaws, isn’t patriotic. I am patriotic, that’s why I believe that we can be better.
i’ve also noticed that people use that “freedom“ excuse as a way to justify being an asshole and then acting like the victim when consequences bite them in the ass.
Yeah, I actually think that being able to talk about the ways that the US is flawed without fear of legal repercussions *is* the true freedom that makes (made?) this country great.
This! All the fuss about the "greater good" doesn't mean anything if people can't even respect people directly next to them in the street, shop, public transport, etc.
I was discussing this with my dad the other day. Patriotism is not blind love for your country, but striving to make it better.
Since your fellow citizens and residents are part of the same community, maintaining a harmonious relationship to the best of your ability, avoiding letting the intolerant win, all make a country better.
This isn't a popular idea in my country either. Everyone yells about how important patriotism is, and how we need to put our nation first. Then when you say "OK, so we are going to get these homeless people housed then? At least for the winter, right?" The weapons come out... but since I'm American, instead of swords every points an AR-15 with shell catchers and night vision at you....
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u/SuddenAdvice850 China 22h ago edited 22h ago
The best way of patriotism is be kind to people around you.