@TxTom
Nature creates strong men. Strong men create civilization. Civilization creates weak men. Weak men destroy civilization. Nature destroys weak men.
I have heard this before worded slightly differently but I definitely like this one better. One would be hard pressed to dispute any of it.
Agreed with @TheFunCartel
This nation was founded by peoples who "complained". People who were so unhappy where they were that they risked everything to come here. People who tried to make things better for themselves. You can't make anything better without first identifying what you are unhappy with.
And it doesn't end with those that founded this country. Everyone else who left their homeland to come here since then has "complained" loudly, at least to themselves.
You could say that most of us here have problem identification (i.e. complaining) skills in our genes.
The right to free speech is the first amendment for a reason. Every other right we have comes from that one. So I support everyone's right to complain. I oppose everyone who tries to revoke that right.
I think a lot of us go too far though. I think along with the right to free speech, we all have a responsibility to use that right wisely. We should be careful with our words, especially when we are calling out our neighbors. Fewer and fewer people are doing that these days.
I think the question would get a more useful answer if it were phrased differently. Are you proud to live in America? And separately, are you proud of the American government? To me, those are very different questions.
Are you proud to live in America? And separately, are you proud of the American government? To me, those are very different questions.
I cant answer the second question without getting into a political discussion. But the first I can answer.
Yes, absolutely I am proud to live in America. This country took in my family - immigrants on both sides - so that ultimately I could have a better life and far more opportunity than I could ever have had behind the Iron Curtain.
Now, this next statement is for context, not to get "thank you for your service" remarks and the like. I have served in combat, so its possible that I have a slightly heightened sensitivity as to the price tag that has been paid for us to have the rights that are written into the Bill of Rights and the rest of the Constitution. Its also possible that I've earned the right to be proud of the USA.
That is so interesting, Jubal. I think serving in the armed forces often gives you a view and info that is not easy to obtain otherwise. When I look at my genealogy, American history and world history I can't help but think it is a thousand wonders that I get to be a middle-class American.
Just found this on a very most excellent site called thepoke.com, which I recommend to British people and lovers of British humour everywhere. (If you don't live here you will miss the odd reference, but so what.) The article is non-political and non-controversial, and is even safe for work unless your boss sees you reading it and is the kind of boss who'd be upset about something like that.
It just reminds us that for all the negativity and horrible things, there are also lots of things about the US that are great. And not just that it's the leading country for professional cuddlers.
Great list, @CuddleDuncan !
I would also add: we Americans make for the best loud and obnoxious tourists.
There's nothing quite like our wearing dirty, sleeveless shirts emblazoned with "USA" in a fine, European museum...
Or our disinterest in even attempting to speak the local language...
Or our uncanny ability to think that our "smart remarks" pertaining to some local attraction are in any way original, and haven't already been repeated by a thousand American tourists before us.
I had forgotten you have to ask for ice in Europe and even then you might get 2 tiny cubes. Hurray for the ice, ketchup and A/C in the USA!
There is a bunch of things to fix if we want true equality and happiness. If this forum is any indication then people will value their stance more than the power of uplifting humanity as a whole. Since the USA is the youngest and most prosperous super power we have become desensitized to real problems of human rights and find ways to argue about things like how good our golf game is. With that said its a good place to live on this planet, maybe the best. At no time do I believe its a utopia by any means. So the fact that I stay hopeful one day the world can be a better place is my pipe dream that keeps me going. Not a complaint but a fact of living the life I am born into.
Personally, I'm grateful, not proud. I was born here through no actions of my own, and I'm relieved I didn't happen to be born somewhere extremely violent and oppressive.
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If people feel America is broken--then we should work to fix it before complaining
I won't make this political, but just wanted to point out -- these two things are not mutually exclusive. People can work to try and make their country (any country) a better place, while also simultaneously expressing displeasure with the things they don't like. Maybe they've already tried (and failed) to change those things, maybe making that change is out of their control, etc.
The quote above seems a little too close to the "love it or leave it" argument about America. One of the best things about the US (in my opinion) is the guaranteed right to free speech. I reserve that right and will use it often to complain loudly about things I believe America is doing wrong, while also praising what our country gets right. And there is a long list on both sides of that ledger!