Americans! Have you ever been ashamed to be an American?

Underock1 said:
The United States is a wonderful place, and I do believe, despite all, that it has made the world a better place. It's a mixed bag though. The government certainly doesn't always act in accordance with the will of the people. We should really drop the "We're number one" chant while waving a big finger, because with the exception of the military, we're not.
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I agree Underock.
 

AZ Jim said:
This appears to directly contradict your "no one said" comment. Anyhow, since I was probably here first, since I did an enlistment in our military service, since I have voted every single election since I became eligible, since I have served my community in several ways over the years, and since my only brushes with the law ere speeding tickets, I plan on staying right here. Like it or don't.
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Not to mention... what business does any American have telling another to leave?
 
Misty said:
Do other leaders from other countries, apologize for their country, as our leader does when visiting other countries, or is it just our leader that finds it necessary?
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I believe the first test of a truly great leader is his humility.

John Ruskin
 
QuickSilver said:
Unfortunately most of what you say is a myth which may at one time been true...but no longer is. Among what we consider 1st world countries, we are dead last in the area of upward mobility.. meaning if you are born poor in the USA, you will more than likely remain poor. In fact.. ours is the first generation whose kids will likely not be as well off as we are. It is nearly impossible with the present "deck stacking" for a poor or middleclass individual to move into a higher economic class.

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Also... the notion that people are flocking here in droves is a myth.. In fact the US is now at a net negative immigration rate... ie more people are leaving than coming. and are predicted to continue to decrease.

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As for freedom to worship... that may be very true... however, I would have to ask the current population of Muslim citizens how comfortable they are being made to feel.. OR people who choose to NOT practice a religion... how are they looked at or treated?
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A myth, hardly. The U.S. leads all other countries with immigration (numbers). Regardless of charts and graphs, they still keep coming to the U.S. As for becoming wealthy, well, that's up to the individual. IMO, I think they keep coming to the U.S. in hopes of a better life.
 
oldman said:
A myth, hardly. The U.S. leads all other countries with immigration (numbers). Regardless of charts and graphs, they still keep coming to the U.S. As for becoming wealthy, well, that's up to the individual. IMO, I think they keep coming to the U.S. in hopes of a better life.
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Not hardly..

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oldman said:
A myth, hardly. The U.S. leads all other countries with immigration (numbers). Regardless of charts and graphs, they still keep coming to the U.S. As for becoming wealthy, well, that's up to the individual. IMO, I think they keep coming to the U.S. in hopes of a better life.
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In other words, forget the facts and listen to my opinion? I think I'll stick with the actual statistics.
 
AZ Jim said:
I believe the first test of a truly great leader is his humility.

John Ruskin
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Humility in a politician???? What is that and how will I recognize it if it happens?

Seriously, how many times have we all listened to a politician try to lie his way out of a scrape he's gotten himself into and we've thought to ourselves, "if he or she would just apologize we'd be more likely to forgive" but then they don't and we're still just PO'd. So yes, leadership can be demonstrated by humility and asking forgiveness. After all, asking anyone to forgive you is a hard thing to do by any measure and therefore, the 'man' who asks for forgiveness is a man with strength of character in my book.
 
Debby said:
Humility in a politician???? What is that and how will I recognize it if it happens?

Seriously, how many times have we all listened to a politician try to lie his way out of a scrape he's gotten himself into and we've thought to ourselves, "if he or she would just apologize we'd be more likely to forgive" but then they don't and we're still just PO'd. So yes, leadership can be demonstrated by humility and asking forgiveness. After all, asking anyone to forgive you is a hard thing to do by any measure and therefore, the 'man' who asks for forgiveness is a man with strength of character in my book.
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I don't have to tell you that I absolutely agree Deb, but I will.
 
applecruncher said:
For those who have been/are ashamed to be an American, ask yourselves what steps you took/are taking to alleviate your suffering.
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Voting.. And making phone calls to my Representative and Senators.. Every single time something they are doing upsets me.. IS there something else I should be doing... besides leaving?
 
tnthomas said:
Not ashamed, but embarrassed, mainly because of how the electorate had been so blind, so duped...
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Yes, I did not use the word ashamed in any of my posts, but embarrassed as people tend to paint a whole nation's people by a what a few do.

In 2004 someone insisted I tell her why America (re)elected Bush when he is clearly an idiot. I was expected to know the answer and she did not want to take 'I don't know' for a reply. I finally stopped replying.

I did get to feel proud to be American when Obama was elected in 2008 and it was especially sweet since I was living in Uganda at the time and his father was from the country next door. Europe was very impressed with Americans for electing him as well.
 
Ameriscot said:
Yes, I did not use the word ashamed in any of my posts, but embarrassed as people tend to paint a whole nation's people by a what a few do.

In 2004 someone insisted I tell her why America (re)elected Bush when he is clearly an idiot. I was expected to know the answer and she did not want to take 'I don't know' for a reply. I finally stopped replying.



I did get to feel proud to be American when Obama was elected in 2008 and it was especially sweet since I was living in Uganda at the time and his father was from the country next door. Europe was very impressed with Americans for electing him as well.
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Unfortunately, that has been negated by how the man has been treated over the last 6 years... That to me is a national embarassment. To let the world know how truely racist and backward a good portion of our electorate is is mortifying.
 
Ameriscot said:
Yes, I did not use the word ashamed in any of my posts, but embarrassed as people tend to paint a whole nation's people by a what a few do.

In 2004 someone insisted I tell her why America (re)elected Bush when he is clearly an idiot. I was expected to know the answer and she did not want to take 'I don't know' for a reply. I finally stopped replying.

I did get to feel proud to be American when Obama was elected in 2008 and it was especially sweet since I was living in Uganda at the time and his father was from the country next door. Europe was very impressed with Americans for electing him as well.
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"I don't know" is beyond grasping by those who don't know that they don't know. Obama was elected by the younger generation. I have hope for the future.
 
QuickSilver said:
Unfortunately, that has been negated by how the man has been treated over the last 6 years... That to me is a national embarassment. To let the world know how truely racist and backward a good portion of our electorate is is mortifying.
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Yes, it is an embarrassment! And as I see it America is becoming more racist instead of less. And less tolerant of many things.
 
Shalimar said:
Annie, please enlighten this Canadian. Is it my imagination,or is there a lot more anger/polarization among Americans thanthere was a few years ago? I don't understand.
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Well, since I haven't lived there in 15 years I'm not the best one to answer. It's what I hear from those who live there or what I read or hear on the news. But it seems to me that since I've been here (and Bush was 'appointed' prez 8 months after I left) it seems that evangelicals want to run the country and are filled with hate for those not like themselves. There were mass shootings while I was still there but those have become more numerous, and there weren't open carry laws while I lived there either.
 
Shalimar said:
Annie, please enlighten this Canadian. Is it my imagination,or is there a lot more anger/polarization among Americans thanthere was a few years ago? I don't understand.
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Yes... very much so.. and I truly believe that it has been orchestrated under the radar by those wishing to gain control of our government... ie.. the billionaire class and large Corporations. They have used the Evangelical Right and the TeaParty as useful idiots so to speak.. by injecting the social and religious issues into the mix. Abortion, Gay rights, gun regulations, school prayer.. etc, have been thrown out as red meat to those unaware that the people with the REAL power, have very little interest in these issues.. What they DO need is VOTES... and to convince the uninformed that by voting for their hand picked candidates... these issues will be addressed. All the ruling class needs are people who think they are voting for social reform... when in fact they are putting hand picked puppets into power, who will work to do the bidding of the Oligarchs, and eventually destroy them financially. It is all the more obvious when you consider just fourteen Billionaires are throwing millions upon millions into super PACS to buy elections.

So in answer to your question... absolutely YES there is a huge divide between Americans now... and it has been intentional. Pit American against American and they won't notice their way of life is being decimated. Reminds me of that old joke..


A corporate CEO, a public union member, and a teabagger sit around a table. In the center of the table is a plate holding 12 cookies. The CEO takes 11 cookies starts eating them. The teabagger appears puzzled. The CEO leans over and whispers in his ear, “look out for that union guy, he wants part of your cookie…”

The teabagger pulls out his gun and shoots the union member. “Damned socialist,” he states proudly. “The CEO worked hard for those cookies.”
 
Shalimar said:
Annie, please enlighten this Canadian. Is it my imagination,or is there a lot more anger/polarization among Americans thanthere was a few years ago? I don't understand.
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The polarzation and anger are so pronounced that there is virtually no common ground between the left and the right. If Obama supports something, even if it was originally a Republican idea as in the case of the ACA, the right wing opposes it automatically. Their motive is to not give Obama anything that might be considered a victory.
 
Again, well-stated QS. If you run for office, let me know. I'll vote for you.
 

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