Who
wouldn’t be proud to be an American? I know I feel that way…most of the time.
It is a privilege to born and live in a Republic that values each individual
citizen. It is a privilege to live in a democracy where each person’s vote is
equal to another person’s vote. It is a privilege to live in a country where
you have the ability to succeed; however, you define that term (success) with diligence
and hard work and the help of others. It is a privilege to live in a country
that is a model of democracy for other countries and is a world leader. It is a
privilege to live in a country where one can worship and speak their mind
without reprisal or condemnation. Those things and many more make me proud to
be an American, to be one of those people whose hairs on the back of my neck
stand up when the national anthem is played.
But, you
knew a “but” was coming didn’t you, I am also often embarrassed to be an
American. When traveling with fellow Americans I am often embarrassed by the
way we think are special and intentionally or unintentionally demean those
countries that host us. The “Ugly American” is based upon our actions abroad. I
am embarrassed when it is also obvious that all people are not treated equally
in our country based upon color, race, sexual orientation, gender, economic
status, tattoos, age, etc. Often our actions make a mockery of our stated
beliefs. I’m embarrassed when one group sees themselves as superior or
deserving of special attention. I’m embarrassed that we have allowed free enterprise
degenerate into “I’ll get mine and screw you.” I’m embarrassed that the most
countries while they acknowledge our accomplishments dislike and even hate us
for our bullying type actions. I’m embarrassed by my own Christian religion
that so often has become the new Pharisees; legalistic know it alls who love to
condemn the beliefs of others. I’m embarrassed by legislators who are motivated
by power and seek election by catering to polls rather than standing for their
standards and values and forget they are servants of the people. I’m
embarrassed that over 20% of our country living in poverty while we are one of
the richest countries of the world. I’m embarrassed that every citizen of our
country does not receive basic medical care. I am embarrassed by our military
spending and acting as a international cop and then treat our soldiers
inhumanely. My list of embarrassments could go on but I’m embarrassed to do so.
What I am
attempting to say that as a country we need our citizenry to talk more about
our responsibilities as citizens and our responsibilities and international leaders
rather than self interests. As citizens we need to be much better educated
about our government and use it for the common good rather than a mechanism to
manipulate for the vested interest of a few.
We are
good people who often act badly. We are also self-centered folk who when push
comes to shove can act heroically. I think we should go back to a universal
draft where military service should be one of many choices of service; but each
citizen should give at least two years in service of our country. Perhaps then
we might become more appreciative of our country and its calling.
"The “Ugly American” is based upon our actions abroad."
ReplyDeleteI am proud of our actions abroad, where the US is consistently a beacon of justice and decency.
"I’m embarrassed that the most countries while they acknowledge our accomplishments dislike and even hate us for our bullying type actions."
Those who hate us do so out of ignorance, or because they hate our freedom.
You have some other good points scattered through this, however.
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I hope this comment takes. I've tried to leave several but they get destroyed/lost because of glitches in the "Capcha" and the new Threading thing which makes blogs a lot harder to use.
"I am proud of our actions abroad, where the US is consistently a beacon of justice and decency."
ReplyDeleteConsistency has little to do with it. We have a long history of supporting democracy when it suits us, and despots when it suits us.
"Those who hate us do so out of ignorance, or because they hate our freedom."
Has anyone ever really bought this line? How much mental energy do you really think the average foreigner (even a hostile one) spends obsessing about the average American's political life.
Hate is a highly expedient emotion - and one often born of ignorance - but internationally it results usually because you've allied yourself with someone else's enemy, or you've supported a despot in their unpleasant past, or your getting in their face with your military or some such thing.
National pride is one thing, but a blind belief in your own nation's infallibility is another. That arrogance, the attitude that "we know what's best for everyone else" gets under a lot of people's skin.
Turn the tables: We have plenty of problems in this country too. Often we find ourselves with leaders we dislike. But how receptive would we be to Russia or China marching in and imposing their 'solutions'? I suspect even if they 'solved' the problem, even in a just and benevolent manner, we likely would not be overly grateful because of the mechanism and the source.
Well, maybe the average foreigner does not spent much "mental energy" obsessing about the average America's political life, but the hostile ones sure do. The ones that join terrorist groups, or the ones in Iran who appear before cameras to demand the extermination of 300 million Americans ("Death to America"). This obsession is a way of life for them. Would I call them "average"? Of course not.
DeleteYes indeed those who do hate us do so because they hate our freedoms, or out of outright ignorance.
As for "turn the tables", this is hardly an applicable analogy to actual situations that have happened. In fact, it HAS been very often Russia and China marching in and imposing their "solutions" (in reality, not analogy) and the US intervenes to help the attacked country defend itself.
But to answer the question of your analogy, I would welcome the Canadian mounties riding in to save us if some hostile foreign power imposed a genocidal dictator (a la Allende, Ortega, etc) on us. No question.
"Consistency has little to do with it. We have a long history of supporting democracy when it suits us, and despots when it suits us."
This is the exception rather than the rule. We have a long history of supporting democracy, period. We have a long history of opposing despots; more than we have of supporting them. Supporting them has occured, but this is rare. And we end up going against tyrants that other nations refuse to touch or bother with (Milosevic, Saddam Hussein, etc).
One caveat: I am speaking of modern history, the post WW2 period, where the US has a much more consistent history of supporting freedom and opposing tyranny in our foreign policy. In the period between our nation's founding and WW2, the US has a pretty bad record.
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Another aspect of "proud to be an American" involves matters of our dealings with other nations uninvolved with military matters.
I'm proud our nation gave hundreds of millions to Indonesia Tsunami relief, both from the government and private contributions. I'm proud that the US what the US did under the George W. Bush administration to help Africa. I'm proud of the massive amount we have given for Haiti earthquake relieve (and for the efforts of former Preidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton on this). I'm proud of the Presbyterian Church's $82,000,000 misison budget (knowing that most of this goes to help people, not just stand on street corners in third-world countries and pass out pamphlets)
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