Are you proud to be an American?

No I am not. Pride is something that should be reserved for things that you achieve on your own power. Something that happens by accident of birth is not something you should be proud over.

I am happy to be an American, but since I was born one, and did nothing to become one, I do not deserve to feel pride over it.

 

I like the attitude exhibited in this post, and entirely agree with your sentiments (as regards any country), but be prepared for criticism by 'patriotic' Americans.

 

I am Proud to be an American.

I have EARNED the right to be proud.

And since I have traveled to many, many other countries around the world and have lived in such placed for longer than the average 10 day tourist vacation....I am aware of the difference between living in such places compared with living in the U.S.

There is no place else I would rather live.

AboveAlpha

 

Yeah, why be pride over your birth in a country? Unless you came here, I don't see much need to be proud to be an American.

 

Why would you say this?

AboveAlpha

 

because you didn't work to become an American, you were born to it. You did nothing, other then sit in on your lazy bum for 9 months, being fed through a tube. And then, bam, instant American.

 

So what, you were born with a family surname too. No doubt you'll claim you should have no pride about your family or its history either, but to me that idiotic. As an Aussie i think Americans have plenty to proud about although they're falling back into the pack with this equality of outcome progressive rubbish path they're on. Like all nations their good and bad, be proud and repeat the good while correcting the bad.

 

I have pride in my family, for what they did. I have pride for their culture. I don't care about the country, it's just a name of piece of land on the map. I look at their culture, and say "This is nice."

 

Really? You earned the right to be proud of being an American? How? What did you do to become an American? Because like I said, pride should be reserved ONLY for things that you achieved by YOUR OWN WORK. Anything that you did not work to achieve is not something to feel pride over.

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No, I do not have pride in my family's hostory because I did nothing. Pride in anything that you did not personally work to achieve is undeserved. Racial pride, national pride, etc.....They are all meaningless.

 

Although I am a 5th generation American...I...like members of my family before me have served this country in several ways to EARN the privilege to be proud that I am an American.

AboveAlpha

 

Well good for you at least you're consistent. I just dont agree, im very glad my ancestors created a civilization that suits me and my family. I always find it amusing people with your attitude are found in the West enjoying what they built. Personally i much prefer what they built over other places, if i didnt id be living in some third world cesspool.

 

Daggdag stated....Really? You earned the right to be proud of being an American? How? What did you do to become an American? Because like I said, pride should be reserved ONLY for things that you achieved by YOUR OWN WORK. Anything that you did not work to achieve is not something to feel pride over....end quote.

I was BORN an American and I have served and earned the right to be proud.

AboveAlpha

 

So you're proud you were born American? You didn't earn being an American, you were given it.

 

I am proud to BE an American and proud of what I have done specific to protecting the Constitution of the United States.

AboveAlpha

 

I'm sure you are. But the problem is, you're talking about I'm assuming military service. That's pride in serving your country. That goes for anyone, serving their country. That's not an American trait, that's universal.

 

Right, another person who doesn't understand what "American Exceptionalism" is while they complain about it. BP

Anyway, I' am proud to be an American, we are the nation that set off legions of other nations who wanted to emulate us, who wanted to have their Philadelphia moment, to ensure liberty and justice for their people. Before us, there was Kings and Despots. After us, there were Referendums and elections.

We also inherited something, the proto-classical Liberal notions of the Founders, which, bare none, have proven themselves to be the most conducive formula for human prosperity.

We are a nation, founded by those who understood the importance of humility, of individual liberty, where other nations seek to empower Government, and create Social charters 10, 20, to 100 times longer than our Constitution... and all for naught, as they all fail to see what the Founders saw right off, the need of Humanity to be free. Not "free from failure", not "free from want", but free.

They knew, that they nor anyone who would come after them, would ever know enough to dictate the affairs of the common man, and so sought to constrain their own power and temptation to do so. They sought to set the Government against itself, the States against the Federal, so as to ensure that the Sovereignty of the individual would remain secure.

It is the most liberal notion ever-struck upon by mankind, and they passed it onto us. I for one am honored.

 

Although many members of my family are Military....including my Father....I am not Military as I am..."CIVILIAN" in the manner the quotes denote as well is my Mother.

I occasionally work with members of the U.S. Military and I have been wounded in the field as I was shot several times at close range and survived.

I have had to deal with people you would NEVER want to have to meet.

AboveAlpha

 

Then what did you do?

 

Very nice post Slim.

AboveAlpha

 

I have been doing occasional...JOBS...with a hand picked team of KIDS that are members of the U.S. Military for over 3 decades now.

I keep trying to retire but I keep getting sucked in to helping and although the names and faces of my team have changed over years...these KIDS are the best and brightest of all of us...and it is hard for me to say no when I know that the two times I have said no...I spent the entire time they were gone pacing back and forth...constantly looking at the clock and worrying.

Eventually I will become too old to do this...as I am definitely too old to be doing it right now...but because I am good at what I do...and I LOVE these young men...I will probably do it awhile longer.

AboveAlpha

 

So does your job have a name, or is it just a job?

 

I guess you could call me a Problem Solver.

I and my team get brought in when all other efforts at a peaceful solution have failed.

My...JOB...is to attempt to communicate that we are here as a LAST CHANCE for all parties to resolve the issues PEACEFULLY.

I judge success upon a deal being worked out and everyone on all sides going home safe.

AboveAlpha

 

Okay. Listen, I would like to have this conversation in the morning. It's past 2 here, and I would like to catch some sleep. Good Night.

 

Nite.

AboveAlpha

 

Being glad and happy about something and feeling pride over it are two separate things.