proud to be an American

[oldman420]

i really feel fortunate to be a pert of American society. we have so much and need so little.
we have the freedom to speak our mind and disagree if we want to . we have no fear that our government will harm us or our families.we can vote and take part in our government in a real way
we are free and we often fail to remember the millions in the world for whom a clean drink of water would be a treat. we don't starve or freeze or die in the desert sun. we are truly fortunate and lucky to be born free.
GOD BLESS AMERICA
THE LAND OF THE FREE

 

[Kibbo]

Welcome to the Western tradition.

 

[oldman420]

yup it just came over me

 

[Triforceofcourage]

where atleast I know I'm free

 

[Taggart]

Well said. To simply be born and live in the US is essentially winning the lotto compared to other countries.

 

[SwissArmyBilly]

First off I want to assure you that I am not attacking in any way.

Is proud really the word to describe it? being born in the uS is very fortunate. I consider myself lucky to live here, happy to be here, but I wouldnt say that is the same thing as being proud to be an american. I was fortunate enough to be born with a great level of intelligence. I did nothing to get it, just won the old genetic lottery. I am not proud of my intelligence. to me that is as silly as being proud of your height. I think pride should come from things you have done and worked hard to earn. I see being born in the US or being born with intelligence or any great quality is a priviledge and a gift. I think these priveledges come with it a degree of responsibility to do something good with the gifts we have recieved.

Not trying to argue with anyone, but I feel like pride is a word that is misplaced at times.

Billy

 

[Klixxer]

Originally posted by: SwissArmyBilly
First off I want to assure you that I am not attacking in any way.

Is proud really the word to describe it? being born in the uS is very fortunate. I consider myself lucky to live here, happy to be here, but I wouldnt say that is the same thing as being proud to be an american. I was fortunate enough to be born with a great level of intelligence. I did nothing to get it, just won the old genetic lottery. I am not proud of my intelligence. to me that is as silly as being proud of your height. I think pride should come from things you have done and worked hard to earn. I see being born in the US or being born with intelligence or any great quality is a priviledge and a gift. I think these priveledges come with it a degree of responsibility to do something good with the gifts we have recieved.

Not trying to argue with anyone, but I feel like pride is a word that is misplaced at times.

Billy

I kinda agree, it's like being proud to be gay or being proud to be black. You can of course be proud of your countries accomplishments and i am sure that is what is meant by it.

 

[SwissArmyBilly]

yes, I have never been able to understand how people can be proud to be black, white, etc...

certainly there is nothing to be ashamed of in any of these, but proud just doesnt make sense to me

Billy

 

[Shad0hawK]

Originally posted by: SwissArmyBilly
First off I want to assure you that I am not attacking in any way.

Is proud really the word to describe it? being born in the uS is very fortunate. I consider myself lucky to live here, happy to be here, but I wouldnt say that is the same thing as being proud to be an american. I was fortunate enough to be born with a great level of intelligence. I did nothing to get it, just won the old genetic lottery. I am not proud of my intelligence. to me that is as silly as being proud of your height. I think pride should come from things you have done and worked hard to earn. I see being born in the US or being born with intelligence or any great quality is a priviledge and a gift. I think these priveledges come with it a degree of responsibility to do something good with the gifts we have recieved.

Not trying to argue with anyone, but I feel like pride is a word that is misplaced at times.

Billy

i understand your point. and let me say i am not attacking you.

with that being said, i am proud to be an american(a native at that!)

let me attempt to give you some insight as to why.

first off you mentioned "I think pride should come from things you have done and worked hard to earn."

i agree with that! and the freedom we enjoy was in fact "earned" it was not givin to us it was bought and paid for with blood sweat and tears.

secondly to get were we are today, well over 200 years of work has gone into it. we have really screwed up at times, and really shone at others, even when we had to do the right, but unpopular thing...even when we do the wrong but popular things.

but through it all we have survived and thrived as a nation...that is an accomplishment brought about by the effort, the will, and the dtermination of those that desire a free nation.

i am proud of that...and those of us who have worked to bring it about.

 

[raildogg]

Yes and we must protect our freedom by going after those who want to take from us. We must be on the offensive, like we are right now.

 

[bjc112]

Originally posted by: Taggart
Well said. To simply be born and live in the US is essentially winning the lotto compared to other countries.

Yep.

And most @ssholes don't know realize that.. Or just don't care.

 

[raildogg]

Originally posted by: bjc112

Originally posted by: Taggart
Well said. To simply be born and live in the US is essentially winning the lotto compared to other countries.

Yep.

And most @ssholes don't know realize that.. Or just don't care.

Right, especially these younger lunatics. I am a young person so I hang out with these clowns, and trust me they dont know any of our politicians or even care to know.

Ask them "do you support the war in Iraq" and they'll look at you with a empty stare, mouth open

 

[biostud]

Damn, I need to visit US some day to see how strange and exotic you all are in real life

 

[sMiLeYz]

I'm proud to be living in a liberal democracy that is the United States of America. As much as I think the US can be improved, I'm glad i wasnt born in China. My parents and grandparents were nationalists and 'intellectuals' whose property were seized and were forced to work in a farm.

 

[oldman420]

given that i participate in the system pay taxes vote and try to help others i do feel proud to be an American.
America is a concept and a way of life as much as a physical place.

 

[The Green Bean]

unity faith and discpiline...

My country lacks all three.

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: biostud666
Damn, I need to visit US some day to see how strange and exotic you all are in real life

Indeed, we don't all look like inbreds here in the US.

 

[arsbanned]

While I agree that we in the U.S. have every comfort and every advantage, I believe we should be part of a larger World community and should not be cut off like some leper, as we are now....
After 9/11, the U.S. experienced an unprecedented outpouring of solidarity from friend and foe alike around the World. In just a few short years that solidarity has been replaced by derision and mistrust. Any sense of respect the rest of the World had for us has hemorrhaged.
No amount of flag waving, arm pumping or "patriotic" songs can change that fact.

 

[Klixxer]

Originally posted by: Taggart
Well said. To simply be born and live in the US is essentially winning the lotto compared to other countries.

No offense but i wouldn't want to live in the US.

 

[cKGunslinger]

Originally posted by: Klixxer

Originally posted by: Taggart
Well said. To simply be born and live in the US is essentially winning the lotto compared to other countries.

No offense but i wouldn't want to live in the US.

Hmm. Rather Germany than here? I've never been to Germany, so I can't really make any *valid* comparisons. Maybe you just appreciate good beer? :beer:

 

[Klixxer]

Originally posted by: cKGunslinger

Originally posted by: Klixxer

Originally posted by: Taggart
Well said. To simply be born and live in the US is essentially winning the lotto compared to other countries.

No offense but i wouldn't want to live in the US.

Hmm. Rather Germany than here? I've never been to Germany, so I can't really make any *valid* comparisons. Maybe you just appreciate good beer? :beer:

I have been to the US for a couple of trips lasting a few months and i am happier in Germany, it is not that different actually.

I WOULD like to live in Finland, Sweden, Norway or Denmark for a while though, Finland is where i grew up and spent my youth so it is "home" for me.

It's the small differences that makes me choose Germany over US. :beer:

 

[KevinH]

Originally posted by: Klixxer

Originally posted by: cKGunslinger

Originally posted by: Klixxer

Originally posted by: Taggart
Well said. To simply be born and live in the US is essentially winning the lotto compared to other countries.

No offense but i wouldn't want to live in the US.

Hmm. Rather Germany than here? I've never been to Germany, so I can't really make any *valid* comparisons. Maybe you just appreciate good beer? :beer:

I have been to the US for a couple of trips lasting a few months and i am happier in Germany, it is not that different actually.

I WOULD like to live in Finland, Sweden, Norway or Denmark for a while though, Finland is where i grew up and spent my youth so it is "home" for me.

It's the small differences that makes me choose Germany over US. :beer:

You know I have relatives in England and Germany and in my visits with them, I'd have to agree with you. It seems like the day to day life in a Western nation is pretty much the same. The differences are subtle at most. Heck Shanghai China, other than being crowded didn't feel that much different than any other big city, USA.

 

[Dissipate]

Originally posted by: oldman420
THE LAND OF THE FREE

Land of the free my @ss. Welcome to the land of income taxes, conscription & socialism. I'm glad to live in America, but I think it is foolish to believe that this is the land of the free. Just because America happens to be better than 99% of the other sh!tholes on this planet, isn't good enough, we need to end the government before this is really the "land of the free."

 

[1EZduzit]

Originally posted by: Dissipate

Originally posted by: oldman420
THE LAND OF THE FREE

Land of the free my @ss. Welcome to the land of income taxes, conscription & socialism. I'm glad to live in America, but I think it is foolish to believe that this is the land of the free. Just because America happens to be better than 99% of the other sh!tholes on this planet, isn't good enough, we need to end the government before this is really the "land of the free."

So your not proud to be an American? I got news for you, you can't have everything your way in a democracy. Get over it.

 

[Dissipate]

Originally posted by: 1EZduzit

Originally posted by: Dissipate

Originally posted by: oldman420
THE LAND OF THE FREE

Land of the free my @ss. Welcome to the land of income taxes, conscription & socialism. I'm glad to live in America, but I think it is foolish to believe that this is the land of the free. Just because America happens to be better than 99% of the other sh!tholes on this planet, isn't good enough, we need to end the government before this is really the "land of the free."

So your not proud to be an American? I got news for you, you can't have everything your way in a democracy. Get over it.

I'll put it this way, I'm proud to live in one of the most relatively economic free countries in the world. However, in order to achieve real freedom we must rid ourselves of this god awful monstrosity called the U.S. government.

You are right about this farce we call "representative" democracy. Nobody can have everything they want under this craptacular system, because everything in this system is done at the expense of someone else. It is a zero sum game, and guess what? The American people are rolling snake eyes. The government on the other hand is hitting the jackpot, along with the banks and other favored industries. I'm not going to get over it, and neither should anyone else who believes in freedom.

In fact, right now I'm writing an essay for my philosophy course called "The Arrogance of Bureaucracy." My liberal prof is going to soil herself when I plop this on her desk.