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

I have an English friend who travels widely in Europe and beyond. Apparently, among environmentally conscious individuals, we are known as a country run by Eco-terrrorists. This references the Alberta Tar Sands. If the fight in the courts to stop the oil travelling down my coast fails, who knows what we will be called. I will probably be in jail for civil disobedience, should this come to pass. Then too, there is our appalling disregard re the unexplained deaths/disappearances of up to several hundred aboriginal women along our highway of tears. Amnesty International has called for an investigation, Prime Minister Harper refuses. Wonderful, add to that Harper's rabid pro Zionist views, it ain't pretty. We are no longer respected. Sad, but deserved.
 

AZ Jim said:
No need to tell us why or when. I personally believe that we, have at times done things that I am ashamed of. Does that make me a bad citizen or a realist?
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Another realist! Yes I have, but don't tell anyone, they'll make us leave the country. 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. Just answering Jim's question here. I really don't want to get into political discussions.
 
Just to try and stay on track. Jim's question was not are you ashamed to be an American, but " have you ever been.
Heck. I'm ashamed to be me on many occasions.
 
To expand the scope of this thread a bit (sorry Jim), I would also admit a good deal of shame for the human specie for plundering this beautiful planet, for causing the extinction of countless species of our fellow animals and plants and for polluting the air, the water and the very Earth itself.
 
Hey, of course we we have made a few missteps in our effort to make the world safe for democracy, but I refuse to be ashamed for our good intentions. God bless America!
 
applecruncher said:
No, I've never been ashamed to be an American.
Furthermore, anyone who IS ashamed to be an American is and always has been free to move to another country. Good luck with that!

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Excuse me? I was BORN here... I've worked and paid taxes for 46 years... I brought two sons into the world who served in the US military.. One did TWO tours of duty in the Gulf.. SO... I should GET OUT because I see things that are not right... If you own a home and the roof leaks... do you fix the roof? or do you move?...
 
Ralphy1 said:
Hey, of course we we have made a few missteps in our effort to make the world safe for democracy, but I refuse to be ashamed for our good intentions. God bless America!
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You know what they say about "good intentions" don't you?

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Ashamed to be an American? Absolutely not now or ever. That doesn't mean that I have agreed with everything that our leaders have done, but I am a proud American.

This must be a great country. Why else are there so many trying to get in?
 
QuickSilver said:
Excuse me? I was BORN here... I've worked and paid taxes for 46 years... I brought two sons into the world who served in the US military.. One did TWO tours of duty in the Gulf.. SO... I should GET OUT because I see things that are not right... If you own a home and the roof leaks... do you fix the roof? or do you move?...
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Excellent points QS. I always find it strange that some try to shut down criticism by calling into question, the other person's right to live where they are. That's certainly the way to make sure that the government never goes astray isn't it?
 
Shalimar said:
I have an English friend who travels widely in Europe and beyond. Apparently, among environmentally conscious individuals, we are known as a country run by Eco-terrrorists. This references the Alberta Tar Sands. If the fight in the courts to stop the oil travelling down my coast fails, who knows what we will be called. I will probably be in jail for civil disobedience, should this come to pass. Then too, there is our appalling disregard re the unexplained deaths/disappearances of up to several hundred aboriginal women along our highway of tears. Amnesty International has called for an investigation, Prime Minister Harper refuses. Wonderful, add to that Harper's rabid pro Zionist views, it ain't pretty. We are no longer respected. Sad, but deserved.
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All of the above - my sorrow as well. We should be doing better for the environment, First Nations people, and even start picking our friends with more consideration as to how they support the great good rather than what 'our minister is saying on a Sunday morning'!
 
oldman said:
Ashamed to be an American? Absolutely not now or ever. That doesn't mean that I have agreed with everything that our leaders have done, but I am a proud American.

This must be a great country. Why else are there so many trying to get in?
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Poor people are trying to get in because they believe the fairy tale that they'll make lots of money. Professionals move there because of $$$, not because the country is 'great'. The idea that everybody in the world wants to live in the US is simply arrogant propoganda. And you wonder why the rest of the world calls Americans arrogant.
 
Debby said:
Excellent points QS. I always find it strange that some try to shut down criticism by calling into question, the other person's right to live where they are. That's certainly the way to make sure that the government never goes astray isn't it?
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Well, it's certainly the way to make sure that Americans stay polarized and divided while the foxes take over the hen house.. It's how the Billionaire class has succeeded in gaining the power they have.. Make sure the average American is so busy blaming and arguing with other average Americans and they won't notice they have lost their country and their democracy until it's too late. AND I'm afraid that it's already too late.

We are so busy arguing about abortion, gay rights, gun control, healthcare, food stamps that we have hardly noticed that the top 10% of Americans have 75% of the wealth in this country... leaving just a measly 25% for the rest of us to share.. BUT... people keep voting based on the wedge issues with little regard for what is happening to them and to the welfare of future generations. The ruling class has succeeded, and will not be happy until they control ALL the wealth and the rest of us can beg in the streets for their benevolence.
 
QuickSilver said:
Excuse me? I was BORN here... I've worked and paid taxes for 46 years... I brought two sons into the world who served in the US military.. One did TWO tours of duty in the Gulf.. SO... I should GET OUT because I see things that are not right... If you own a home and the roof leaks... do you fix the roof? or do you move?...
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It's that 'America, love it or leave it crap' that drives me and others nuts. I was born in the US and paid taxes and I get US pensions that I earned. I moved elsewhere for my own reasons, not because I hated the US. But with everything that has been going on there since I moved away I'd be tempted to leave if I hadn't already. Guns, racism, anti-gay, wingnuts who will do anything to make Obama look bad, fundamentalists. Seems to me America is going backwards, not forward. And I find that sad as I'd like to be proud to be an American again.

My oldest son did two tours in the Gulf as well.

As for Americans abroad pretending to be Canadians, I've seen many, many younger tourists with Canadian flags on their backpacks, some are Canadian, some are Americans pretending to be.
 
Ameriscot said:
It's that 'America, love it or leave it crap' that drives me and others nuts. I was born in the US and paid taxes and I get US pensions that I earned. I moved elsewhere for my own reasons, not because I hated the US. But with everything that has been going on there since I moved away I'd be tempted to leave if I hadn't already. Guns, racism, anti-gay, wingnuts who will do anything to make Obama look bad, fundamentalists. Seems to me America is going backwards, not forward. And I find that sad as I'd like to be proud to be an American again.

My oldest son did two tours in the Gulf as well.

As for Americans abroad pretending to be Canadians, I've seen many, many younger tourists with Canadian flags on their backpacks, some are Canadian, some are Americans pretending to be.
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yeah... the more I think about the comment... the more insulted I become. I would like to see an apology... but we know THAT won't happen.
 
Ameriscot said:
Poor people are trying to get in because they believe the fairy tale that they'll make lots of money. Professionals move there because of $$$, not because the country is 'great'. The idea that everybody in the world wants to live in the US is simply arrogant propoganda. And you wonder why the rest of the world calls Americans arrogant.
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No, I don't wonder about it and I don't consider myself arrogant, but do think that I am fortunate to be living in a country where I can say and do what I like and worship the way I please.

I do know that the U.S. is the most immigrated country in the world with no close second. Regardless of why they come here, the fact remains that people from other countries do want to come. America is still the land of opportunity and most people have the opportunity to live out their dreams here in America, if they are willing to do whatever is necessary to accomplish their goal. True, not everyone is going to become a millionaire and if that is everyone's expectations, they may wish to re-evaluate their goals.
 
oldman said:
No, I don't wonder about it and I don't consider myself arrogant, but do think that I am fortunate to be living in a country where I can say and do what I like and worship the way I please.

I do know that the U.S. is the most immigrated country in the world with no close second. Regardless of why they come here, the fact remains that people from other countries do want to come. America is still the land of opportunity and most people have the opportunity to live out their dreams here in America, if they are willing to do whatever is necessary to accomplish their goal. True, not everyone is going to become a millionaire and if that is everyone's expectations, they may wish to re-evaluate their goals.
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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?
 
So many great post on this thread....Yes, there are times I'm ashamed to be an American, even though I love this country, I think there are too many people that refuse to be a realist and it is adding to the demise of this country, just one example of many is the fact that these people will believe the propaganda of the Republican/Tea party over scientist on Climate Change.....there are so many more, many have already been well stated. They just refuse to acknowledge the truth, no matter all the facts brought forth or the damage it causes.
 
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?
 
Jackie22 said:
So many great post on this thread....Yes, there are times I'm ashamed to be an American, even though I love this country, I think there are too many people that refuse to be a realist and it is adding to the demise of this country, just one example of many is the fact that these people will believe the propaganda of the Republican/Tea party over scientist on Climate Change.....there are so many more, many have already been well stated. They just refuse to acknowledge the truth, no matter all the facts brought forth or the damage it causes.
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There is only one question to ask when buying into this propaganda... "Who is set to PROFIT from this". Most if not all of the anti-climate change rhetoric is bought and paid for by the fossil fuel industry. OF COURSE they don't want consumption of fossil fuel to decline.. it wouldn't make the shareholders happy. Of COURSE industry does not want regulation of greenhouse gasses... to install equipment that would clean up their waste would cut into profit margins. Better yet to apply junk science or pay some high priced "expert" to spout nonsense to the gullible who prefer to see the protection of our environment as some sort of liberal socialist plot. Very sad..
 
Look at the title of this thread.

“Americans have you ever been ashamed to be an American?”

No one said that anyone has to love/agree with everything this country has ever done. No one said you have to love it or leave it. No one said that anyone has to love this president or any past president. No one said that everyone has to agree with this congress or any past congress. No one said that anyone has to like taxes or guns, or drugs or crime or racism or injustice or poverty. No one said anything about this being a perfect country.

And no one said anything about a leaky roof. That straw man analogy is silly. But if you want to go down that road……..

If you live in a place and the landlord won’t make repairs, the quality of the neighborhood has declined, it’s noisy, dirty, unsafe, and the rent keeps increasing, do you just keep whining while continuing to suffer and pay to live there? Well, maybe – if you’re stupid. But anyone with an ounce of sense would find a better place to live and be happy. Pack and move – GET OUT.

Again: the question is:
“Americans have you ever been ashamed to be an American?”
If you are ashamed to live in America, you owe it to yourself to find a better country and move there. And as I said before, good luck with that.
 
applecruncher said:
No, I've never been ashamed to be an American.
Furthermore, anyone who IS ashamed to be an American is and always has been free to move to another country. Good luck with that!

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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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