Remember when we we proud to be Americans?

[bluestateguy]

It seems like so long ago, but I remember at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta how proud I felt to be an American. Our country was looked up to in the world. We were a leader in the world, in more ways than just having the most advanced guns and bombs.

These pictures bring me back to those feelings of pride that I felt when our athletes marched into the stadium in 1996.





Here is Clinton in Africa. Notice the large crowds.



Trying to broker peace in the Middle East



Visiting Kosovar refugees at a camp in Skopje, Macedonia



The Jordanian-Israeli peace deal



He was not a perfect president, and I will never flinch from discussing with people the policies of his with which I disagreed. But he was a fine representative of our country.

[Cuban_Liberal]

1. He was a good President.

Furthermore, he looks better and better with each passing day.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

2. I feel the same way!

I agree with 75% of what he did. Which is pretty damn good!

!!!1996 was a Beautiful year!!!

[quiet.american]

3. I needed this boost -- thanks! n/t

[LiberalinNC]

4. Not only were we PROUD to be Americans, but the rest of the world

LOVED US, and our President!

[RUDUing2]

5. that was such a short time period for me...

born in 61...grew up w/Vietnam...then Watergate...and watching clips of Ford falling down...then Iran debacle...followed by Regan and Bush years...and now baby bush...can't say pride in America has been a large part of my experience...

[tsuki]

6. I am proud to be an American, just ashamed of the government. And

the government is not America.

[marmar]

7. The idea of America is still a good one...

But these zealot warlord freaks in office are totally destroying it. I worry that to the rest of the world, the "idea" of America that drew so many immigrants over the years is lost irretrievably.

[Aristus]

8. I remember the near-euphoria I felt when, with Clinton as

President, we began to normalize relations with Vietnam, Iran and other nations we'd previously been in the doghouse with. There was this incredible sense that at long last, we were putting aside all those things that divide us from one another, and looking to the future with hope for global brotherhood. Whether that aggrandizes Clinton too much or not, I honestly felt that.

Boy, we need him back more than ever!

[Colorado Blue]

9. Can we get him back? (sigh)

[Aristus]

10. Well, House repukes are already working on repealing the

two-term limit. Let's let that work in our favor. Recruit Bill to run again. After all the shit The Chimp and the Dick have pulled, the whole Monica Lewinsky thing doesn't look nearly as bad.

[Vox_Reason]

21. OK, so repeal the two-term limit

And then let's bring on the main event: Bill Clinton vs. Chimpy McFlightsuit.

Can you imagine the nuclear fireworks??

[michael_1166]

11. Your problem, dear Americans...

is that that somehow you need to be proud of your country to feel happy.

I mean, why is that? From space, there are no borders anywhere, so why do you need to identify yourselves as Americans and not just as human beings? This notion of being a "great" country or being proud Americans is what Bush perverts now because he can, because you gave him the vocabulary to be turned against yourself and humanity in general.

I'm from Germany. I'm not "proud" to be german, I just happen to live here. I'm not even thinking of Europe as being "great". To be born on earth is a pretty random act, it can be be any country an infant sees the light of day first. So why do you human beings being called "Americans" feel so special about yourselves just because a random act assembled you all in that place that gets called the USA?

Sorry, this post might get me quite unpopular here, but I needed say what I said. If you don't stop that dogmatic thinking of "ohhh we're such a GREAT country", people like Bush (who use this kind of thinking for their own purposes) will happen to you over and over again. That is, if Bush doesn't put an end to history on earth soon.

Michael

[txaslftist]

12. Thanks for the perspective...but...

I DO need to feel pride in my country. Not nationalistic pride, but simple 'we really are good decent people' pride.

I'm embarrassed by our president, and I'm so sorry you have to witness what is going on over here.

Peace.

[michael_1166]

13. Ok,

but, do you think there is any "we"? I think everywhere there are just individuals, all with their merits and their bad sides, "we's" are just an illusion, and sometimes it is a dangerous illusion.

Wishing all of you all the best for your fight against the "bad" people!
Michael

[donkeyotay]

14. Well aint' you just a party pooper?

Here, we're just getting cranked up about the good-old days and Boom! Next a couple dozen people will show up and crank on about how America never was good... racists, slavery, etc. etc. Then there's all our history of war-hooey and the invasions and dirty ops and secret shit.

Even that twice un-elected chimp in the WH said that "his people" are depressed. Well, shit, no wonder. You're not helping...

:-) :evilgrin:

[michael_1166]

17. Lol no, I see it in a way

that America is a geographic location on earth, it can neither be good nor bad nor great nor shit. It just is what it is, a piece of land which happens to be quite large.

I was just talking about people who use the place they live in to define who they are. Without such thinking, a person like Bush would be impossible. The germans once made that mistake and ended up with Hitler.

Michael

[donkeyotay]

20. I am not in a serious mood today, but seriously...

you're on to something. I think most Americans see our "geographical location" as actually being The Promised Land. And you're right, it is part of what makes us vulnerable to the politics of Manifest Destiny. More and more I see myself as a human first, one who was lucky enough to not be born into poverty and civil war... but come to think of it, many here at DU are expecting those things to come find us soon.

Hey, there's a cool book out (well, it's a bit thick, actually) called "Multitude" and it talks about the idea of a globalized democracy that truly belongs to all people... sort of as a counterweight to corporate globalization. Maybe the day is coming when the people of the world really do see their common interests.

Good lord, I've got to go. I might almost be making sense and I want no part of sobriety at the moment.

Cheers across the pond!

[leftchick]

15. I agree with you...

I have been happy when the US has helped in humanitaian ways in the past, but we should help! What is to be proud of? I sgree, this patriotism stuff is BS that bush* has twisted to his own advantage. Sick.

[rzemanfl]

16. I'd settle for just getting back to where the USA was a nice place

to live. It isn't now and that is new to most of us. About half the country is nuts and there is no way get away from them. There are smug jerks who drive around in their SUV's with their Bush stickers and Support the Troops ribbons and mingle with the remainder
of the nuts in their junkers with Jesus fish, Bush stickers, troop ribbons and bald tires. I have to make my way through this sea of stupidity every day to and from work. It sucks.

[michael_1166]

18. Yes, I didn't

like Reagan or even daddy Bush for example, but neither of them gave me that feeling of an immediate threat to world peace. With George W. its diferent, I'm scared.

[rzemanfl]

19. Remember when Reagan made that lame bombing joke?

If Bush did that the whole room would collectively shit their pants, then call home on their cell phones to say goodbye.

[Aristus]

23. You bring up some good points, Michael.

During the Roman Republic, the Romans prided themselves on not being ruled by kings; after the Emperors took over, the Romans prided themselves on being able to kick anyone else's ass. (Sound frighteningly familiar?) After the fall of the Western Empire, the Romans prided themselves on...shoot, I don't know.
I used to be proud to be an American because of our diversity, our distaste for war, and our desire to be a force for good in the world. That's all gone up the chimney, of course. The Greek word 'ethnos' means 'nation', and if there is an American ethnicity, I want to believe that it is of a people who are kind, generous, open-hearted, tolerant, forgiving and merciful.
Hmm. I can tell I'm rambling. I guess what I'm driving at is, there is no need for national pride to be a symptom of "otherness". I personally, and many here at DU believe that America can be a nation among nations, promoting brotherhood and peace. We don't have to live in an "us-against-everybody" state of mind. The people currently in charge in the U.S. are frightened, insecure little human beings who DO live in an "us-against-everybody" mentality. To quote the movie 'Superman', their "only means of expression are wanton violence and destruction". Maybe someday, we'll have again the type of leader who reaches out to other nations with hope; who can be proud of his country without belittling (Freedom Fries, anyone?) or bombing someone else's.

I used to consider myself an American. Now I consider myself a human being who lives in America, and wants what's best not only for America, but also my fellow human beings. As you said earlier: from orbit, there are no national boundaries. In the big picture, all we have is each other.

Peace.

[smurfygirl]

22. kick

:kick: