View Poll Results: Please pick the one that best suits the way you think
Happy to be an American
0
0%
I wish that I was an American
0
0%
I am not suppose to be here, but I am
0
0%
Voters: 38. You may not vote on this poll
What does it mean to you to be an American
12-23-2006 | 06:06 AM
#21
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 32,737
Likes: 1,497
From: Randolph, NJ
Originally Posted by Tomcattplus1,Dec 23 2006, 01:10 AM
And that, my dear friend is EXACTLY my point. We DO have the same faults as the rest of the world...those faults might be packaged a bit differently...but they are the same non the less.
It doesn't really matter anyway. I know I am fighting a losing battle. When in discussions like this people choose to put on blinders to the faults and failings of America, and use all kinds of extraneous facts and information to prove the point, there is nothing to talk about.
The fact remains that America as a nation has much to be proud of, and I as an American am proud to be an American., At the same time America as a nation has many faults and much to be ashamed of, and I as an American am ashamed to be an American.
My pride and my shame has nothing to do with the rest of the world. Nor should it. If we are going to stick out our chests and say it is a better place, we ought to take off our blinders and recognize our faults too.
My answer remains None of the above, both proud and ashamed at the same time
12-23-2006 | 06:58 AM
#22
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 582
Likes: 0
From: Chester, CT
Originally Posted by ralper,Dec 22 2006, 11:25 PM
I had to vote for none of the above because I am both proud to be an American and ashamed to be an American at the same time.
I am proud of what we, the American people, have accomplished in the relatively short time that we have been here. I am proud of the mix of people who live here, and I am proud that, for the most part, America opened up its arms to people from anywhere who came here for a better life. I am proud of the freedoms that we have, and of the opportunity that this country represents. I am proud that we are perhaps the most kind and generous country that has ever been. I am proud that in fact the streets really are paved with gold for those who have the skill and smarts to mine it. I am proud of the level of education at the college and graduate level that we've achieved and proud that it is largely available to everyone. I am proud to live in a land where we've come to see the mistakes that we've made and often try to rectify them. I am proud that we are often reaching to do better.
At the same time I am ashamed that we allow our leaders to lead us into a war that we never should have become involved in. I am ashamed at what we do in the name of democracy when really we are pursuing our special interests or agendas. I am ashamed that we follow and allow ourselves to be fooled into thinking that our leaders know better. I am ashamed of the people who we put into office. I am ashamed at the way we conduct ourselves in the international arena. I am ashamed that we reward ball players but can't scrape up enough money to support the arts and sciences. I am ashamed that our leaders play religion against science, rather than respecting both. I am ashamed at the level of education in our public schools. I am ashamed that the amount of opportunity available and freedom often depends on the color of your skin and the language that you speak. I am ashamed that many of us are so naive as to think that we are always right and the rest of the world is out of step when in fact it is often the other way around. I am ashamed that many of us let our triumphs mask our failings. I am ashamed that we often don't reach to do better.
So, I have to vote for none of the above. I am proud and ashamed at the same time.
I am proud of what we, the American people, have accomplished in the relatively short time that we have been here. I am proud of the mix of people who live here, and I am proud that, for the most part, America opened up its arms to people from anywhere who came here for a better life. I am proud of the freedoms that we have, and of the opportunity that this country represents. I am proud that we are perhaps the most kind and generous country that has ever been. I am proud that in fact the streets really are paved with gold for those who have the skill and smarts to mine it. I am proud of the level of education at the college and graduate level that we've achieved and proud that it is largely available to everyone. I am proud to live in a land where we've come to see the mistakes that we've made and often try to rectify them. I am proud that we are often reaching to do better.
At the same time I am ashamed that we allow our leaders to lead us into a war that we never should have become involved in. I am ashamed at what we do in the name of democracy when really we are pursuing our special interests or agendas. I am ashamed that we follow and allow ourselves to be fooled into thinking that our leaders know better. I am ashamed of the people who we put into office. I am ashamed at the way we conduct ourselves in the international arena. I am ashamed that we reward ball players but can't scrape up enough money to support the arts and sciences. I am ashamed that our leaders play religion against science, rather than respecting both. I am ashamed at the level of education in our public schools. I am ashamed that the amount of opportunity available and freedom often depends on the color of your skin and the language that you speak. I am ashamed that many of us are so naive as to think that we are always right and the rest of the world is out of step when in fact it is often the other way around. I am ashamed that many of us let our triumphs mask our failings. I am ashamed that we often don't reach to do better.
So, I have to vote for none of the above. I am proud and ashamed at the same time.
I was composing my post as I was reading but I could not have said this any better. I've traveled quite a bit for work and I can't wait to get home. I do love this country and the principles on which it was built.
I just spent a week in Williamsburg doing some work for the Army. I get especially sensitive when I realize what a treasure these men and women of the armed forces are and that we have let our leadership squander this treasure on ideology and arrogance. I spent some time in the colonial village and took part in the reenactments. I just couldn't help but be in awe of the sacrifice that our founding fathers made in the name of liberty. I pray that we have the courage to never let it go and the intellect to see what it is that will truly take it away.
12-23-2006 | 07:52 AM
#23
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 4,563
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From: Marblehead
Easy for me. I'm an immigrant who was given opportunities; perhaps my bias is a reflection of my appreciation. Been to 44 countries. Some are wonderful, some look good on the surface but suck under the veneer, most were definitely not desirable. This country does have its warts. Polarizing politics, hypocricy, phony PC, substandard education, and media mind manipulation come to mind. To me this country is like a large family. You got this unscrupulous uncle; this embarrassing cousin, this tax and entitlement cheat aunt, this unsavory or drop-out sibling, and this substance abusing niece. But, despite our member's failings, we're still family. In many ways, we have something very special here. Man the parapets, we're surrounded by barbarians!
12-23-2006 | 10:58 AM
#24
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 230
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by ralper,Dec 23 2006, 06:06 AM
My answer remains None of the above, both proud and ashamed at the same time
That's the nice thing about an opinion...everyone is allowed to have one and still be
respected. One thing I think everyone should remember is that opinions are created from every individuals own personal life experiences, therefore, we have so many different opinions on this topic. None are any more right or wrong then anyone elses.
It's an opin
12-23-2006 | 02:11 PM
#25
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 22,581
Likes: 834
From: The (S)Low Country
I'm proud, happy and consider myself lucky to be an American. I'm quite delighted that I was fortunate enough to be free despite the fact that I'm female. I am fortunate that I do not have to face mutilation of any of my sex organs, that I have the same opportunity as any male to seek and obtain an education so that I can hold ANY job I choose. I can vote for whomever I wish without fear. I am happy that I am free to choose whichever religion I'd like to practice or choose to not be religious at all. I'm delighted that I can travel whenever and wherever in this great county that I'd like. I'm just plain lucky, happy and proud to say I am an American.
12-23-2006 | 06:37 PM
#27
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 9,560
Likes: 151
From: West Deptford NJ
Originally Posted by dean,Dec 23 2006, 06:09 AM
Failing all of those, I imagine that living in Ken's guest room in Panama would be very nice as well. 
I look forward to have the opportunity to someday qualify for dual citizenship.
I am pleased to live in a country where I have been afforded the opportunities to have reached many of my goals. But there are many days when I remember what my generation was going to do, and then I remember what we have actually done. I think the term is ambivalence ( I hope that is spelled correctly).
I am very happy with many things that this country has acheived, but there are many things for which I am not pleased, but I am sure that most of you have seen my views on the sub-forum.
Dean, the Pacific is quite nice in Panama, still fairly unspoiled.
12-24-2006 | 01:33 PM
#29
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,752
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh, PA
Originally Posted by valentine,Dec 23 2006, 06:11 PM
I'm proud, happy and consider myself lucky to be an American. I'm quite delighted that I was fortunate enough to be free despite the fact that I'm female. I am fortunate that I do not have to face mutilation of any of my sex organs, that I have the same opportunity as any male to seek and obtain an education so that I can hold ANY job I choose. I can vote for whomever I wish without fear. I am happy that I am free to choose whichever religion I'd like to practice or choose to not be religious at all. I'm delighted that I can travel whenever and wherever in this great county that I'd like. I'm just plain lucky, happy and proud to say I am an American.
12-24-2006 | 01:46 PM
#30
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 10,478
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by Zippy,Dec 23 2006, 09:37 PM
Dean, the Pacific is quite nice in Panama, still fairly unspoiled.