Are you proud to be an American?

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   jamesrkposted 9 years ago

   Are you proud to be an American?
   
   Religious freedom, political freedom, and a whole lot more Americans enjoy that most of the world doesn't. Men and women died for that. Are you proud to identify with them?

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   bethperryposted 9 years ago

   I definitely am very proud to be American! I have many relatives who proudly served their country -including my father and husband- and I appreciate their service more than words can ever convey!!

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   Sumit Athanereposted 9 years ago

   I am not an American. But I proud to be a humen. Huminity is better than all.

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   junksellerposted 9 years ago

   Not in the slightest. Chasing away refugee children while waving the flag was the last straw for me. It was an unforgivable embarrassment. There are far too many people who are completely clueless about the broader world and really have no idea that we are falling behind in pretty much every social indicator which can be measured, including crime, violence, poverty, education, healthcare, equality, freedom, etc.
   
   Our military actions over the past decade have ravaged the world and turned it into a battleground to fight a boogeyman which never existed (but now does) and has made us less safe and less free.
   
   What is there to be proud of? Platitudes? Greatness is from what you do, not what you say. We aren't great because people died for the country. They are great for it, not us. Citizens have a great duty to the country as well. They have a duty to be informed, to be active, and to believe in the system. Yet here we are, pathetic participation rates, abysmal political knowledge (and knowledge in general), and an entire party bent on sabotage vs. governance. 
   
   People are dying because of what we have done at this very moment, yet we are going to stand around on our crumbling walls waving flags at fireworks and talk about greatness? It isn't right and I will have no part in it.

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      Venkatachari Mposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      If you are not proud and dislike your country, what are you going to do? Do you any ideas of improving the situation and work for it, or simply desert? Simple accusation is not enough. If we can't  improve our society, we can't hate it also.

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      bethperryposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      junkseller, I am grateful to live in a country that allows me to read angry, sour comments about that country and doesn't prohibit me from making complaints about it. And a lot of good people have died to defend our right to do exactly this.

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   Venkatachari Mposted 9 years ago

   Basically, any citizen will be proud of his city and country. People get accustomed to the place they live in and start loving it and feel proud of being there naturally by developing relationships with all its environment, culture, people, social life, etc. So if you are American, naturally you shall be proud of being an American. Just like I am an Indian and am very proud of being Indian.

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      bethperryposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Very nicely said!

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      Venkatachari Mposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you bethperry,for supporting my views.

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   tsmogposted 9 years ago

   I am uncertain as is the definition of proud along with American. I know, I know picky, picky, picky. Am I proud to be a citizen of the United States . . . Yes generally speaking while specifically not always. That said one of those specifics I am proud of is the privilege to vote offered to me as a natural born citizen. I have the right of acting upon indifference, disagreement, and even lack of pride of the United States with an "X" in a box.

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   pagesvoiceposted 9 years ago

   I am proud to be an American and my flag flies with undying love of country and those who have served and died for us. My dad is buried in a veterans cemetery and each time I visit Arlington National Cemetery I feel so small.
   
   However, I am appalled and disgusted by a do nothing congress which seems to only be interested in filling their own pockets with money from special interests. I despise chicken hawks who wear a flag lapel pin espousing their love of this country while they send our men and women into war, only to learn these same individuals never wore a uniform and took their numerous deferments during the Vietnam draft.
   
   I am ashamed that we don't treat our veterans better and how we only care about taking care of corporations and the wealthy and turn a blind eye on the unemployed, working class and poor.
   
   It is upsetting to see the hatred in so many in America and how they view others who don't look, act and think like they do. When we talk about immigration, I keep wondering what the American Indians felt like when the Europeans came here and took over their land? After all, aren't all non American Indians immigrants?
   
   So, why am I still a proud American? I am proud of our free speech and the power of the vote. I believe when people have had enough they will voice their decent in the polling places. While freedom isn't free we still have the right and privilege to vote for change.

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      Venkatachari Mposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Well replied. One can be displeased with the system. But not with land of his birth. We are proud to be born where we have born and to live in the country where we are allowed to live so happily.

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      Express10posted 9 years agoin reply to this

      I could not agree more.

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      Robert the Bruceposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      If you want to get technical, the American Indians are immigrants too.

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      pagesvoiceposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Based upon DNA testing we now know that the American Indians have been on this continent for over 15,000 years. Considering that data I would think it is a safe bet that American Indians were here 14,500 years before the Europeans.

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   mdscogginsposted 9 years ago

   I am through and through an American.  As a USAF veteran I have traveled outside of the US on a mission and can still remember the moment I stepped back on US soil.  That is a feeling that only some experience and I pray for those that served but did not have the joy like I did to come home.  Being American is absolutely felt differently by a service member but today we celebrate all those that identify with this great country and celebrate our freedoms.  God Bless America

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9. 67

   Lady Guinevereposted 9 years ago

   Well Pride goeth before a fall and we certainly or going in that direction.  Proud to be ...an American....well I would be happy in whatever country that I was born and raised in.  That is just silly to put us over others and be "proud" to go with any person on the ticket.  I was born and raised here and like it very much...because of that.  The media and the government  really send others the WRONG message about this country.  Those are only THEIR message that they are supposed to state to get others riled up.  Most of us are quiet people doing day to day things in day to day situations and living in our own communities.  I cannot say that I am proud of what my president or country is doing in the last 10 years.  Though I do vote and have voted many times, it does not change.  Those with the money do all the rukus.  Just because they have money doe not mean they know anything about running a country, much less their own homes.  Those who have lots of money are not the best people in the world to get along with as they climb that ladder.  There is no religious freedom with all sides telling the others what they should and should not believe in.  No freedom in that at all.  We are not everybody's Daddy on this planet and we don't own them..or shouldn't.  Our government and military leaders only see that we should stick our noses into other people's business.   We are going to get it cut off one of these times and it's their own durn fault.

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      Venkatachari Mposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      To be proud does not necessarily mean that you are putting yourself over others. Everyone can be proud of his own country or land and still continue to regard others as equally worthy as of himself. There is no demeaning of others' respect in this.

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      Express10posted 9 years agoin reply to this

      One of the three definitions of pride is "a feeling that you are more important or better than other people" so I definitely understand your opinion Lady Guinevere. You have made many valid points.

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      Lady Guinevereposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you Empress10.

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    Sri Tposted 9 years ago

    Proud is a strange state of mind. I was taught to be proud of my city, then I was proud of my high school, then I was proud of my college, my job, then America. But later I became aware that they were all illusions. What you are really proud of is your thoughts. You either have good thoughts or you don't. It is only concepts floating through the mind. You are the reality. Everything else is transitory. Are you proud of the earth? Are you proud of the Universe? Are you proud of your existence? Without you, there is nothing.

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       Venkatachari Mposted 9 years agoin reply to this

       You are going a little bit philosophical and sceptical. Even then you should be proud of your birth, your earth, your country, your parents and everything in this universe and strive or at least think for its well being as God sent you to be here.

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    Melissa Noonposted 9 years ago

    I am really proud to be a American. It may be going through some issues right now and some growing pains but I still love my country, I just find that it suits me the best and I love some of the freedom that we have here that some other countries are lacking,

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    1. 82

       Venkatachari Mposted 9 years agoin reply to this

       That's the good spirit. You should love your country even if it displeases you in some respects just like you love your mother.

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