I have never been really proud of my country.

[bunnies]

Speaking for myself. Me: bunnies. I'm 35 years old and my country has never made me really proud. Sure, Im glad to be an American... and thankful for it. But *proud* of my country is something I have yet to be.

I mean... what has my government done for the world that I should be PROUD of? What has my country done for itself that I should be PROUD of?

It's possible that I missed something, but when I look back at the actions of my country in my life, I feel more ashamed than proud.

Just saying.

[dsc]

1. ended genocide in bosnia

[bunnies]

3. Ignored genocide in Rwanda. nt

[dsc]

11. yeah we did

and we shouldn't have. But we did end genocide in Bosnia which did make me proud.

[bunnies]

15. but its relative.

Rwanda... Darfur... Tibet... Palestinian refugees... Saudi Arabia (treatment of women) etc. Either we stand for humanitarianism or we dont. And I think we've proven that we dont.

[cali]

2. I don't even think in those terms. Never have.

I've never considered myself patriotic at all.

[bunnies]

I never have either until today and this whole Michelle Obama thing.

Me and Mr. bunnies were talking about whether we'd ever been proud of our country. Both of us: no. :shrug:

[stellanoir]

4. Bingo

and I'm not even Afro American.

As a 13th generational american on my mum's side, I've felt nothing but shame since I lived in England in the 70's and learned of what we did in Chile.

Then much later, when I learned of what we did in Iran in '53, I was equally appalled.

A new Hope is a totally appropriate and much warranted meme.

[bunnies]

6. And our whole policy in the middle east....

If anyone really delves into it... No Wonder why they hate us. And yet... we should be proud?

[stellanoir]

21. They don't just hate us for our freedoms for sure.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

5. "It's possible that I missed something"

Indeed.

[bunnies]

7. So educate me. nt

[TheWatcher]

17. He won't. He can't.

However he will toss childish insults and flagellate himself over his ability to irritate, condescend, and inflame.

[AZBlue]

19. ...

:thumbsup:

[bunnies]

22. flagellate.

n. To whip or flog.
:rofl: :yourock:

[MonkeyFunk]

8. Good for you

but if your spouse ever runs for President, it would be wise to keep that to yourself.

[bunnies]

12. heh. Spouse wouldnt be the one to run. I would.

But I'd never make it. I'm tarnished. :evilgrin:

[MonkeyFunk]

24. Heheh...

me, too! Here's to tarnish! :toast:

[bunnies]

35. To Tarnish!

and to Peruvian hairless face-fuckers... Which, btw, is still the funniest thing Ive ever seen on DU. :toast:

[kerry-is-my-prez]

9. I was a lot prouder before George Bush was President. JFK made me proud.

n/t

[bunnies]

10. But I'm post JFK.

When since JFK have you been Proud of this country?

[kerry-is-my-prez]

14. I felt sort of proud when Clinton was President. Can't stand that button-swelling sentiment though

"America is the greatest.... has the best...." very obnoxious.

[VolcanoJen]

13. Listening to Pat Buchanan makes me want to puke.

Is Pat Buchanan "proud" of America? What, with all its people of color, and immigrants, and all?

And he keeps saying, "Was she proud when the Berlin Wall fell?" Jaysus. So now, we get to take credit for that, too? Screw the Germans! Screw the people of Berlin who suffered for decades! That was ALL US. :eyes:

This is such a faux "scandal." And while I've been proud of America during my adult lifetime, I haven't been proud since 2001, that's for sure. :-(

[Beregond2]

16. Proud

My earliest memories are of Vietnam, and there hasn't been a lot since then to be proud of. I love this country. But proud? Not really; and that is sad.

[bunnies]

18. Thank you.

That's my point exactly.

[lse7581011]

23. I Agree! n/t

[calico1]

20. Your spouse isn't running for President.

People in the public eye have to be extra careful of what they say otherwise it can get twisted. May not be fair but that's just the way it is.

[FlyingSquirrel]

25. Careful. This is an issue the Repugs will take and run with

They'll call Democrats "America-haters" and fan the flames to get the rednecks out to the polls

[Beaverhausen]

26. I feel proud everytime a space shuttle goes up. I also felt proud when Nancy Pelosi...

... was sworn in as the first (finally!) female Speaker of the House - notwithstanding her performance since.

I'm not proud of everything we do by a longshot, but I can take pride in some of the things that our country has achieved.

[demosincebirth]

27. Started a war with Mexico and Spain for expansion.

[Neshanic]

28. Not for anything? Not the smallest thing? Not one itsy-bitsy thing?

Jesus, and people call me a cynic and have me on ignore.

[bunnies]

38. Im the worlds most cynical bitch.

or so says mr. bunnies (and everyone else I know). :P And I notice you didnt give me an example of even the itsiest-bitsiest pride-worthy thing. :evilgrin: I suspect you and I are tragically cynic. Ah well.

[rocktivity]

29. You don't have to be proud of your country to be proud of your countryMEN.

I've been proud of the things that my fellow countrymen have done--the way we pulled together after 9/11 for instance. I'm proud that when the going gets rough, we get going, whether to help as many people as the Katrina victims or as few as Andy Stephenson--wheter the "government" likes it or not.

And like Michelle Obama, I'm proud of what's going on now, the way we're perplexing the pundits, calling out the media manipulation and pooping on the polls. I'm proud that we've broken through our wall of apathy and have decided to take our country back.


:headbang:
rocknation

[stillcool]

32. yeah...that's it...

I am proud that so many people have stepped out of the past. I am equally proud that so many people in state after state, are walking the walk to the voting booths in record numbers.

[whosinpower]

30. You have much to be proud of - and much to be not so proud of

Your country has provided an atmosphere in which creativity and inventiveness has led to a revolution in the modern era. You guys went to the moon, and travel in space regularily. Your guys invented the airplane, the automobile, the telephone, the refridgerator, and countless other devices that have uplifted all our lives as humans.

I think the personality crisis is that what you were led to believe your nation was, and what it really is - is causing you some shame. Perhaps you were raised to think that all things are possible in America and everyone is entitled to freedom, prosperity and the pursuit of happiness.
The reality is that there is a cost to all those things - freedom is never free in that your freedom may mean oppression and poverty of another nation - your prosperity may be the result of propping up dictatorial regimes who keep their population in utter poverty so to exploit their resources - and your happiness is a bit of an illusion unless you can put blinders on of what the world is under the US as a sole superpower.

Your nation is not a democracy, and not a republic. It is an empire - a modern empire. And, as all empires evolve - inevitably, corruption ensues and the empire fails and falls. Every time. And yet there was a time, when immigrants flocked to your shores under the promise of freedom, prosperity and the pursuit of happiness. These lofty ideals are something to be proud of - something to work for, and ensure for future generations. These ideals are what you, as Americans need to acknowledge for the entire planet - not just your country.

[Neshanic]

33. That was an amazing post! Thank you!

[Kali]

34. there are still a lot of people who want to come here

[bunnies]

37. Yet,

as you point out... those ideals of my country are meaningless rhetoric.

"freedom is never free in that your freedom may mean oppression and poverty of another nation - your prosperity may be the result of propping up dictatorial regimes who keep their population in utter poverty so to exploit their resources - and your happiness is a bit of an illusion unless you can put blinders on of what the world is under the US as a sole superpower"

I assume you dont live in the US, so your post illustrates my point. The refrigerator, the airplane, the automobile, or the telephone, dont make up for ignoring genocide. Nor do they make me proud of my country.

Things vs. Lives?

I chose lives.

[whosinpower]

40. Yes but

With all understanding of the good and evil your country has wrought - you can change the meaningless rhetoric into something substantial and lasting. Only you have the power. Because as much as you understand, and as more informed you are, you can shift future generations into a more equitable exchange of goods, resources, ideas.

Ignorance is the true evil in this world. Of that, I am certain. And ignorance comes in many shapes, forms and flavours. But you can educate your children - and they, their children - and, in time, a shift will occur, as it must inevitably do. It is a generational thing - there are no overnight magic bullets, and there will be no instant gratification.

And because you have chosen lives over things - you have made an important distinction. Because you have the moral authority to state it is wrong to kill other people and oppress the remainder and install a puppet regime to ensure resource access, you are one step forward to making your nation one to be proud of, generations from now.

You have the power and responsibility to make it happen. I'm not talking about elections. I'm talking about something far more relevant and important. Learn to live simply, within your means and teach your children to do the same. Get off the oil addiction. Deny the big mega corporations the market they will kill for. Find a way to be self sufficient - and then find a way to be able to repeat the process for others. That is what I am seeking - a way to be self sufficient without oil as an energy source - either for vehicles or electricity. I know I am not alone. And the more of us seek, research and demand - the sooner it will be a possibility, rather than a dream.

[Hill_YesWeWill]

41. Wow, great post, thank you! nt

[Zynx]

31. I'm generally quite critical, but then I look at other countries and don't see much

a whole lot better. We all need work.

[usregimechange]

36. I agree for the most part

[Asia Expat]

39. I beg to differ with you

Yes the current leadership of our country is a disgrace.

Yes our nation has done some things in the past that I disagreed with.

But overall, the world we live in is a much freer place only because of who we are and that we exist.

For example, just the other night in Kosovo, I was very proud to see American flags being waved in amoungst the ecstatic crowds who had just declared their independence.

Also, I live in a country where if its citizens were saying some of the things that are written here at DU, they could expect a knock on their door.

Wake up. You should be very proud.