3 ms·

Assuming you're American this is the most hilariously ironic comment I've ever seen on HN. Americans are some of most obnoxiously nationalistic people I've eve

Assuming you're American this is the most hilariously ironic comment I've ever seen on HN. Americans are some of most obnoxiously nationalistic people I've ever encountered. Note: I've lived both in Paris, and also NY and California (14 years in the US). Only in the US do you hear mobs of nationalistic folk chanting "USA USA." I've never been in France or the UK and seen similar things. Think about things like Americans boycotting French Fries and calling them "Freedom Fries" when France decided not to join the illegal and immoral Iraq War.

ada1981 8y ago
We actually had elected officials chanting “USA! USA!” at the last State of the Union Address. Very fine people on all sides of course.
- fapjacks 8y ago
  My favorite part of the "USA! USA!" chant is how seriously non-Americans are about it. Every time I've started or participated in a "USA! USA!" chant it was only about 15% nationalism and 85% a joke. Part of its enchanting humor is how that seems lost on everybody else.
  - em500 8y ago
    "We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be."
  - ada1981 8y ago
    So part of why it’s “funny” is that it’s offensive to most people who don’t find it funny? I must admit, you’re the first person I’ve ever heard refer to a USA chant as enchanting.
int_19h 8y ago
There's an interesting attitude towards the word "nationalism" in US. As you say, it's probably one of the most enthusiastically civic nationalist nation in the world - indeed, to the point where American sociologists have described it as a "civic religion" at times. But the word "nationalism" itself is almost exclusively interpreted as "ethnic nationalism", and has an unambiguously negative vibe. So people who practice civic nationalism describe themselves as "patriots" instead.

3 ms·

Assuming you're American this is the most hilariously ironic comment I've ever seen on HN. Americans are some of most obnoxiously nationalistic people I've eve

by saberience 8y ago

ada1981 8y ago
We actually had elected officials chanting “USA! USA!” at the last State of the Union Address. Very fine people on all sides of course.
- fapjacks 8y ago
  My favorite part of the "USA! USA!" chant is how seriously non-Americans are about it. Every time I've started or participated in a "USA! USA!" chant it was only about 15% nationalism and 85% a joke. Part of its enchanting humor is how that seems lost on everybody else.
  - em500 8y ago
    "We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be."
  - ada1981 8y ago
    So part of why it’s “funny” is that it’s offensive to most people who don’t find it funny? I must admit, you’re the first person I’ve ever heard refer to a USA chant as enchanting.
int_19h 8y ago
There's an interesting attitude towards the word "nationalism" in US. As you say, it's probably one of the most enthusiastically civic nationalist nation in the world - indeed, to the point where American sociologists have described it as a "civic religion" at times. But the word "nationalism" itself is almost exclusively interpreted as "ethnic nationalism", and has an unambiguously negative vibe. So people who practice civic nationalism describe themselves as "patriots" instead.