Patriotism is important for a healthy community and society. It allows for people to care for their fellow countryman, and to care about the welfare and quality of the environment around them. While it is easy to complain about where you live, it's nice to take a step back and consider what you are grateful for. After all, no place can be 100% bad.
Redditor u/schaapdejoopheffer asked people, "What is something about your country you're actually really proud of?" and answers poured in from all around the world.
It's not perfect, but...
Giphy"USA- our music. Jazz, Blues, Rock and Roll, Hip-Hop, R&B, Country. All started here. Even the concept of MIDI originated in California.
Yes USA is in shambles politically, economically, socially, etc- but thanks to my country, I also have some of the things that get me through it!"
Great sense of direction
"That in the UK you can direct people mostly using pubs as signposts. 'Yep, turn left at the Black Swan, go a mile past the Coach & Horses and then is 100m past The Eight Bells. I miss pubs. Damn this lockdown."
Scary beautiful weather
"I live in the USA, and I love the weather. There are amazing lightning shows here and stunning supercells and tornadoes, sometimes these things are destructive, but when they aren't, they really are beautiful, and amazing."
Cash that's way ahead of its time
"I know I'm late to this feed but I'm Aussie and really proud of Australian cash. When I went to America, It really drew my attention towards how good Australian cash is because I collected SO MANY AMERICAN COINS. Also, all the notes are waterproof and the new design as braille on it."
You can experience the best of nature
"Siberia for sure, it should be the defenition of seasons, in winter it can get to -50 C°, in the summer it can get to 30 C°, in spring and autum there are a lot of berries and fruits that grow everywere, I think it is everything right about a place, you get to experiance everything."
Perfect place for vegetarians
"Indian here and it's gotta be the food. We have the most varieties of delicious vegetarian food. And the lowest consumer of meat in the world, pretty good for a country of 1.3 billion"
Incredibly well made dams
"I'm from the netherlands, and i would say our dams. Most of our land is below sea level and the dams do great work, including at the tv-tas islands. (Not the carribean islands)
It can take the biggest storms. But sadly once in 10 000 years there is a superstorm that can break them."
A bunch of quirky states
"I like having a bunch of small states in America so it's easier to distinguish where somebody is and every state kinda has their own quirk. Most countries have their own variation of this but I think America does it the best."
Protecting small businesses
"As an Aussie I'm proud that when Burger King tried to expand out from America into Australia, we made them change their name to Hungry Jacks for all their stores in Australia because of 1 really small fish and chip shop that already had the name Burger King"
A lovely gesture during a crisis
"Kenya, when the Maasai tribe donated 14 cows to US in sympathy after the 9/11 attacks"
The food is really, truly good
Giphy"As a Mexican, I have to admit that our government has gone to ****. But, we do have an amazing food culture."
Perfect place for skiing
"Austria. Don't need to drive/fly far away for some of the best skiing resorts in the world."
It's all about the landscape
Giphy"I'm from Iceland and I have to say that I'm super proud of its nature. I mean it's definitely special and so unique!"
Internationally known
"Lego"
"At one point LEGO was almost 1% of denmark's global exports."
The best dams
"Our ability to control water. The work the Dutch put in to make this land livable with the dam-systems earns my respect."
You can find all of the habitats
"As an Aussie, our diverse land of deserts, rainforests and bushland. The Australian outdoors is incredible."
Who hasn't had to read Russian literature in school?
"Яussian literature probably. It serves as a great example of our natural ability to turn our suffering into art and base our national culture on it."