Are you proud to be an American?

I try not to be prideful. It's kind of a bad thing.

 

if not, are you actively trying to make it a place that you can be proud of?

 

I'M AMERICAN AND LAND IS LAND.

 

KC took the words right out of my mouth.

 

I feel pride that we managed to produce a genius like George Carlin. Have to say that I'm also proud to be a Texan, with some of my people being here since the Revolution (the Texas Revolution), even if we have had a chunk of excrement as Governor for what seems like forever. I know that doesn't make sense, because I agree with Carlin about pride. For some reason, I think George would understand, while ripping me for it (with me laughing the whole time).

 

Heck yes I am proud to be an American !

Are we perfect? No, but we are the best danged country this world has ever seen.

DD

 

I am proud. But the pride is bittersweet, knowing how much wasted potential still exists.

 

And what makes us the 'best danged country' ? We have a pretty crappy average life span, shed more innocent blood than any civilization possibly ever, and we're completely dumbed down by mindless television and circus spectacle events. No one knows anything about history, politics, or law.

"The perfect slave thinks he's free."

 

We also have a more enlightened society than many in terms of civil rights, women's rights, a very high median standard of living, etc. There is plenty that can be improved on, but that doesn't mean there isn't also plenty to be happy about.

 

I agree completely with Carlin. In fact, I've said the same thing many times.

 

Freedom !

And speak for yourself, if you strive to be average, then good for you.

DD

 

Ditto this.

DD, it scares me when I completely agree with you like this. Please post something nonsensical in another thread so the natural balance of things will be restored.

 

Proud to be an American, proud to be with DD on this.

 

I have always been proud to be an American. Even more so now.

 

Why more so now?

 

I feel lucky to be born an American instead of say, a Haitian or Somali. But pride is not the right emotion. While being the beacon of freedom and defender of democracy is something to be proud about, being mindless, obese mass consumers, trampling, wasting and polluting our way through the world's resources is kind of disgusting.

The idea that if we quit consuming our economy collapses is just a fundamental philisophical failure.

 

We have a pretty crappy average life span - False. We have one of the highest in the world at 78 years.
Shed more innocent blood than any civilization possibly ever - False. The Soviet Union purged millions after WWII, not the USA. Percentage wise, we're a benign empire.
we're completely dumbed down by mindless television and circus spectacle events - False. We have the finest higher education facilities to ever exist. More scientific output has taken place in the US right now than ever before in history.

Hater.

 

LOL. I always find it funny that people say that their country is the best country in the world. Many people are very happy in the country they live in.

I love the fact that I can live in the Netherlands. However I would never say that it is the best country in the world (I also do not think the US is the best country in the world, there are too many things I really do not understand in the US). I think many countries are great, and people should be happy that they are able to live in those countries.

Different countries have different advantages, but saying one is better than the others is subjective. It all depends on your values. And even than it is difficult to say one is better than the other countries. Furthermore many people who say one country is the best in the world have not lived in other countries (or even visited other countries).

Too answer the question. No I’m not proud to be Dutch. I love the fact that I live in the Netherlands and I really want my children (when I get kids) to grow up in this country. But I'm not proud to be Dutch. It is something I had nothing to do with, and being Dutch does not make you better than being another nationality, we are all people and some are fortunate to live in a country where they have many opportunities and high life expectancy.

 

arno,

I didn't say other countries could not be great, just that the USA is the best.

:grin:

DD