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Dear Americans, are you proud to be Americans? Do you pride yourself as being a citizens of the USA or do you feel otherwise? Please comment if you have something to say about this topic.
FYI I am American
| Yes | 37 | |
| No | 40 | |
| Sometimes (Please comment exactly when) | 22 | |
| Indifferent | 19 |
Sorry if I'm being overly contrarian tonight, but I never really understood patriotism. It may be because I'm biracial, but I always thought it was weird to have such a strong allegiance with where you were born.
But if by pride you're asking how I would feel in other countries as an American... I think there's a lot to be ashamed of. We have a reputation of being dull-witted, loudmouthed hotheads, and not for no reason. Take a look at our political climate or our "news" media. I think the very thing that built the US into the powerhouse it's been is what's starting to kill it now - individualism. We just don't listen to each other. Even our colloquial speech indicates it - "fuck the haters", "just be yourself", "don't change for anyone", etc. These aren't bad thoughts, it's just that we've taken them to the extreme. We need a little more humility, a little more compassion.
I like the entertainment system. Movies, music, and that sort.
But I hate more about America than I like. Healthcare for one. I'm a college graduate, first generation, and have yet to have health insurance. Most other countries provide free healthcare to anyone with a degree.
Open door policy. Unfortunately I'm trapped in a state that feels the official language of the USA is Spanish. I feel strongly about this; I wouldn't go to France to speak German, or go to the Netherlands to speak Mandarin. I feel they need to drastically do something about the people who force us to speak one language. (I can't even get employment down here without being bilingual. All interviews I've been on asked if I could speak Spanish.)I don't care if you come here for work, just learn our language, and laws.
The Government censors much, or more like corporate greed censors much. This is broad and can cover anything from not growing pot, to posession of lolicon, to big brother watching what you do online. Its supposedly a free country. I should be allowed to do whatever I want behind closed doors. As long as it doesn't harm (physically/mentally) someone else. But alas, it isn't so.
Also tied into that is the notion of medicine. Companies like Pfizer care more about profit, than making people feel better. But because they have their hand in the pockets of so many officials, there isn't much we (the consumer) can do about it.
The absolute most important jobs in the country are: teachers, firefighters, police, and doctors. Without these jobs, we wouldn't have a country. I cannot stand that the CEO of a bank can make $23 million a year, but a new teacher makes roughly $18,000. Or a firefighter makes $23,000. You know, because banks are worth more than education or a place to live. Heroes should be paid as such.
America has many many problems. The educational system isn't equipped to really encourage solutions either. (Polite way of saying most people are ignorant to whats going on in the country, because they believe whatever the last person that talked to them told them.) I was born here in the states, I still live in the states, and I've lived in multiple parts of the country. It is pretty much the same wherever one goes here. The really sad thing is, there isn't a country in the world that doesn't have some problems. Of all the evils, America isn't that bad though. I guess I'm just stuck here with no where else to go.
"I wouldn't go to France to speak German, or go to the Netherlands to speak Mandarin. I feel they need to drastically do something about the people who force us to speak one language. (I can't even get employment down here without being bilingual. All interviews I've been on asked if I could speak Spanish.)I don't care if you come here for work, just learn our language, and laws."
Actually, a lot of Germans speak French and vice versa. I'm not sure if the Dutch speak much Mandarin but I guarantee you they know how to speak multiple languages. People in Europe often know multiple languages (I would say about average of three languages) because they know its the only way to secure a job. I also think its practical to learn more than one language, especially the languages of your neighboring countries. The American education system should might as well mandate a second language like Spanish because there really is a limited opportunity for people who only speak one language. Knowing how to communicate with different languages really opens up a great deal of opportunities. I'm really glad my parents forced me to learn a second language, it truly is like a second college degree for me.
I agree America has its problem, no doubt about that. I really believe greed is taking over America like a mental disease. America is turning superficial and artificial, sometimes I don't know what to think about my country. But there are definitely good qualities in America. I grew up in the USA and had many wonderful memories there. I've always had food to eat and place to stay, something I've always taken for granted but now I realize how luxurious that was.
I guess I'm doing my best to stay happy in one place because if I can't be happy here, I'll probably won't be happy anywhere else in the world.
There is no official language of the US....and if heroes were paid as such, they wouldn't be heroes.
No? What would they be? I don't see the CEO of Citi teaching your children American history. And I sure as hell don't see the president of Waste Management putting out a fire or patrolling the streets.
But by your logic these people are heroes because they make millions?
I'm actually interested to find out the differences of opinion between the person that gave me a thumbs up, and the one that gave me a thumbs down.
Indeed, no official language. Maybe they'll change that soon. But it shouldn't be expected of me to speak Spanish to carry out my daily activity. I'm saving a rant, because this is one of the 3 taboo subjects one shouldn't speak of.
Better healthcare, better pay for the above mentioned "hero" jobs, and less govt. interference in personal life. There is the gist. How anyone can thumbs down that is beyond my comprehension.
You're clueless and I'm not going to waste my time replying to you. Sorry.
So instead of bailing out of a subject, or feeling that I am a waste of your time, why not pick up the reigns and teach me? If I really am clueless, then why not take it upon yourself to clue me in? I never said I wasn't open to suggestion. Part of having my own opinion is knowing that I can change it.
@taciturn That is a well made point. Although ~ 250 years of English would make me biased towards it. I wouldn't mind at all if we as a country came together to make Cherokee or Tecumseh, or any other tribe the official language. Quite honestly it would equal the playing field for everyone.
I think wigsplitz' point was that these people are heroes precisely because they do so much for so little. I disagree, as I still think they deserve better pay, but I think you misunderstood her point.
I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on an official language, as I vehemently disagree. Why shouldn't it be expected of you to speak Spanish? Cultures shift and languages shift with them - sometimes gradually and sometimes quite quickly (remember that by your logic we should be speaking an array of native American languages).
No...
I used to be proud, but that was when I was younger. A child, naive to the corruption and moral injustices and this flawed country...
I wish I wasn't born here. I feel like I was meant to be born in England....
I'm going away to canada soon, so hopefully I'll be able to stay. That or more to England or Paris. Either way, I'll most likely give up my citizenship. I doubt seriously, that america will ever be a good place. A righteous place. America is seriously behind the rest of the world....
This country makes me sick, the only exception is NYC.
I think America has its problems, but so does any place, and if I was asked if I wanted to live anywhere else, I would definitely say no. We have utter freedom, we elect our own government officials, and all races and genders are equal.
I'm not proud, exactly, but I'm glad that I'm an American. I wouldn't have been born anywhere else given the chance.
I just hate our justice system. A murder can get out in not even twenty years or hell, even ten years yet a person who sells or does marijuana runs the risk of going to prison for the rest of their life. I don't know how it is for other countries, but that's fucked up no matter where you are.
I don't understand why people are so proud of being born on a certain landmass.
I do love our legal system and our landscape. I love our entertainment. There's things I don't like about Americans, but not America itself. I wouldn't really want to live anywhere else.
It seems like if you lived anywhere else, you'd give up more than you'd gain, all told.
love the legal system??
Four words: Casey Anthony and OJ Simpson.................
Yes, I love the legal system. Maybe you don't understand the legal system? Criminal defense lawyers uphold thier clients' rights under the law. They're not Matlock, they're not out there finding clues and shit, they're reviewing the evidence against their client, seeing if it was gathered properly, upholding their clients' rights in court, etc.
I'll give an example I have first-hand knowledge of, as I didn't follow either of those cases. My dad. He got pulled over for a DWI (his 6th or 7th one). He was guilty, he was intoxicated and he was driving. The police did everything right, they had an excellent case. He would've been convicted BUT he was refused his right to a speedy trial. The judge on the case was absent for over 6 months due to his own legal issues. It's a Constitutional right to have a speedy trial. If we ignore that just because a person is "obviously" guilty of a crime, then the Constitution doesn't mean shit, does it?
We enjoy our rights, but in order to keep our rights we must USE our rights. Where are they most commonly flexed? In criminal courts. So, yes, people who may appear to be guilty get off, and that's good because it upholds the Constitution. The government, police and the courts can't have absolute power, that was the whole point of the Constitution.