Comrade Chernov

I like your avatar and you seem like a cool person! =)

I think it is just your inner-history nerd. AS long as it stays at that level of appreciation I do not think there is much to be concerned over. Now if you started religiously pushing it in peoples faces and proclaiming a bunch of nationalistic jargon then that would be a problem.

I have a friend whose father has an Irish coat of arms. I consider these to be more historical relics (and replications) than anything else. Though of course in the hand of a reactionary it can be made into something negative. So I think again this traces back to how one looks at and talks about a specific item, event, ect.

Perhaps a bit but stereotypes when used by people identifying with the specific group as a inside-joke can be fun in moderation. I use it often with Queer issues. The only caveat is not to over to it thus transforming the rhetoric from fun to reactionary.

That is often the difficult part. It can take a while to find a adequate substitute. In the end though you can only take things one step at a time and understand that any kind of change takes a while.

That would be a good place: I know it was something that I had to work on. lol... can actually be a process if you are how I was and liked to cuss a lot; seriously, was like a sailor with my language.

Self-improvement is the name of the game

Maybe, maybe not. Depends on many factors

Precisely and when arguing with people even informally it is best to show a modicum of respect for their beliefs even if it is complete trash. I like to think rationally and that does not often happen if I say the first thing that comes to mind. More often than not though I am more concerned about the spontaneity of it all and how it effects the quality of my debate.