Pride in Ameirca.

[Technosoul]

Today I saw a redneck pickup truck with a sticker on the tailgate, it had a American flag and it read "Pride in America".

But I am not sure I hear much of that around here nowadays, especially after President Bush went into his 2nd term in office. And I was wondering if people still take pride in being an American or if that has started to vanish in the mish mash of political events.

Now you could state your personal stand, or give an opinon about the population over all, is American Pride still alive and kicking, no doubt, but as much as before?

[GodBlessAmerica]

I suppose you could always hand an American head over to the terrorists like they requested, but a President who puts defense of America first is needed in these days of Islamic radicalism across the world.

In France their Islamos burn what, up to a 100 a night?

Mexicans are all running here to flee their corrupt government and drug lords.

Unemployment is at 4. something percent which is considered full employment by political standards.

Lots more people have homes, great loans.

Those that want to work can have work.

We are also the most charitable people around with our money going elsewhere. So, we are great people! :-)

Our President actually sleeps with his own wife and doesn't get blow jobs from little girls like the last guy.

The biggest pest to embarrass us is Jimmy Carter who gave Islamics Americans as hostages for over a year which started all this mess.
Then in a brilliant move he removed the Shaw of Iran.
Then he gave us gas lines and we had to create something called a misery index to keep up with Carter.

Stick with Republicans and you will be fine.

[Technosoul]

Quote by: GodBlessAmerica I suppose you could always hand an American head over to the terrorists like they requested, but a President who puts defense of America first is needed in these days of Islamic radicalism across the world. In France their Islamos burn what, up to a 100 a night? Mexicans are all running here to flee their corrupt government and drug lords. Unemployment is at 4. something percent which is considered full employment by political standards. Lots more people have homes, great loans. Those that want to work can have work. We are also the most charitable people around with our money going elsewhere. So, we are great people! :-) Our President actually sleeps with his own wife and doesn't get blow jobs from little girls like the last guy. The biggest pest to embarrass us is Jimmy Carter who gave Islamics Americans as hostages for over a year which started all this mess. Then in a brilliant move he removed the Shaw of Iran. Then he gave us gas lines and we had to create something called a misery index to keep up with Carter. Stick with Republicans and you will be fine.

Yes, our President is standing up to terrorists (from behind his desk). After avoiding going to Nam when it was his chance to "stand up" for America. What a whimp!

France - they have nothing to do with why or why not people take pride in Amreican.

Is that why Mexicans still wave the flags of their own country during that last protest about Bush policy making? And we have no "drug lords" in America, no political coruption? Or do Mexicans come here because unemployment is at "4" and they want to work at our inflated wages. However that is nothing new, they were coming here for ages and ages no matter what political party was in office, so that is the point? None!

Is "Pride in America" a republican thing or for everyone. Are Democrats void of having pride in this country, is that their real "platform"? How did you come up with such an idea?

President Bush sleeps with his own wife... now what has that got to do with people being proud to be an American. I betcha Bin Laden sleeps with one of his wives (if he is not too old to cut the mustard anymore). What is your point relative to this topic?

Me no combrendie your logic.

You are claiming that Pride in America is abundant today because we have a great economy - this I cannot debate because it might be true. But not sure, with only one poster responding to the question.

Are you still proud to be an American during tuff times? Or when a Democrat is in office? Or is your opinon more a less a promotional for the Republican party, Why not just say you are proud to be a Republican instead and forget about the concept of being an American?

Jimmy was a highly educated President as well as an award winning peace maker. He did a fine job of representing Ameirca while in office and continued to do so after leaving office.

[tivodan1116]

Quote by: GodBlessAmerica I suppose you could always hand an American head over to the terrorists like they requested, but a President who puts defense of America first is needed in these days of Islamic radicalism across the world.

Yeah, really needed badly. Too bad we don't have one. This President puts gays who want to have the same rights as the rest of us and trillion-dollar oil companies on the top of his list of priorities. Speaking of Islamic radicals, how's that going? We have Osama Bin Laden in captivity, right? Oh, we don't? Could that maybe be because our military is wasting its time deposing a two-bit dictator who is actually, in terms of his dedication to Islam, one of the LEAST radical leaders in the Middle East?

In France their Islamos burn what, up to a 100 a night?

The French are douchebags and a complete non-factor on the world stage. What does that have to do with us?

Mexicans are all running here to flee their corrupt government and drug lords.

Yes, meaning this is still a great country that represents opportunity. Too bad a lot of people here that can't see that and hit the lottery as far as where in the world they happened to be born want to put an end to all that. Most of them engage in the same autoerotic flag-waving as people like you.

Unemployment is at 4. something percent which is considered full employment by political standards.

This is not because of the President, or the government, or anything else. A good economy happens when government gets the hell out of the way.

Lots more people have homes, great loans.

Speaking as someone who works with clients who are the victims of predatory lending, you have no idea how ridiculous that statement is. Most Americans are up to their eyeballs in debt with no help of clearing it. Credit and lending companies use this to put them in more debt. Then, they lobby Congress (successfully) to change the laws so that if something horrible happens and hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical expenses come up (the most common reason for seeking bankruptcy), they STILL can't get rid of their debt, never mind that the average person who files bankruptcy has paid between 2 and 3 times the dollar amount of their original purchases in interest and fees by the point they decide to file for bankruptcy.

We are also the most charitable people around with our money going elsewhere. So, we are great people! :-)

Are we? We allow our government to selectively choose where and how our help gets sent, instead of reducing the size of government, keeping more of our own money, and deciding for ourselves who gets it.

Our President actually sleeps with his own wife and doesn't get blow jobs from little girls like the last guy.

And? Who gives a shit? What does that have to do with this being a great country?

The biggest pest to embarrass us is Jimmy Carter who gave Islamics Americans as hostages for over a year which started all this mess.

"All this mess" started thousands of years ago, before you or me or the USA.

Then in a brilliant move he removed the Shaw of Iran.

Okay, first, it's "Shah" of Iran. Second of all, Carter did not "remove" him. Then again, it's no surprise you can't be bothered to look up facts, most people who support Bush can't read so you're at least ahead of them. (and before you start, most Democrats are morons too. I am neither)

Stick with Republicans and you will be fine.

Will we? Because let's see what happened, we can do a comparison:
Bush: Nation at war. Carter: Nation at peace
Bush: Deficit in the hundreds of billions Carter: deficit in the $60 billion range
Bush: Oil $75 a barrel Carter: oil $15-$30 a barrel
Bush: "Bring it on", i've never made any mistakes, damn the torpedos full speed ahead. Carter: Admits we have problems, admitted his mistakes.

Yep, stick with Republicans.

[RickSp]

I felt sincere pride in America and Americans in the days and months after 9/11 when I saw people from all walks of life working together to help each.

Then again when I see loud-mouthed-flag-waving yahoos glorfying imperialist militarism, a war criminal in the White House trashing the Constitution, and civilians murdered in America's name, I feel more disgust than pride.

[tinybear]

Whatever they may say about America, millions flock to her shores, hoping to make her their home. Enough said, I think.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ttDU...neil%20diamond

Is American Pride still alive, you ask? You bet it is!!!

[Zhavric]

Pride

Sloth

Gluttony

Lust

Envy

Wrath

Vanity

Americans are afflicted with all 7 deadly sins. Worse, most Americans have memetically conditioned themselves to be prideful of their sins. It's really sickening.

Quote by: GodBlessAmerica Our President actually sleeps with his own wife and doesn't get blow jobs from little girls like the last guy.

Someone once complained to Abraham Lincoln that General Grant drank too much. Lincoln replied by commenting that if he knew what it was that Grant drank, he'd get him a bottle of it.

Point being there was a time in America when we could care less about the character of a man so long as he got the job done... or in the case of the president didn't run up trillions of dollars in debt, imbrue us in an unwinnable war, allow the murderer of 10,000+ Americans to enjoy years of continued freedom, and ineptly invade countries which we were once allied to.

I feel a thread coming on.

[bishop]

i love my country but hate what we do domestically and internationally...

the stench of corruption, bigotry and bloodlust seems to grow greater every passing day - as do our enormous financial debts used (in part) to enlarge our empire.

i always thought we were a republic, not an empire.. and definitely not an empire that goes to war because its leader wants to, nor an empire that engages in torture, mass murder of civilians, etc..


rick.. i felt the same way after 9/11.. it's really depressing to see the contrast against what happened in new orleans. they definitely bit the shit end of the stick.

[brien]

Quote by: Technosoul Today I saw a redneck pickup truck with a sticker on the tailgate, it had a American flag and it read "Pride in America". But I am not sure I hear much of that around here nowadays, especially after President Bush went into his 2nd term in office. And I was wondering if people still take pride in being an American or if that has started to vanish in the mish mash of political events. Now you could state your personal stand, or give an opinon about the population over all, is American Pride still alive and kicking, no doubt, but as much as before?

One needs to separate America from the American government. I have great pride in some Americans and some American History. But the United States government has proved itself to be somewhat shameful at times in the last 217 years. The government has also proved itself to be courageous in its history as well.

The US government seems to be in a swell of imperialist mistakes over the last 60 years and this will certainly take its toll upon American self perception. Redneck bumper stickers not withstanding, perhaps American pride is best found in the family unit, be it formed as it may, through its work ethics, family values and moral lifestyle.

[bishop]

imo, you cannot separate the government from the public - especially since the public votes the government into power. the government is a product of the public, and therefore becomes an example of our nation.

focusing on good/bad people isn't enough because at the end of the day, there are good and bad people in EVERY country.

[brien]

Quote by: bishop imo, you cannot separate the government from the public - especially since the public votes the government into power. the government is a product of the public, and therefore becomes an example of our nation. .

However, that said, not all people are enfranchised. So can it be said that the government represents all citizens? I think it is important to separate, we the people, from those in government who pretend to represent us. We have Senators and Congressmen/women who vote their conscience or their allegiance to a lobby, and not their constituency. Therefore, I do not consider them to represent me. This is one reason why I vote the Libertarian ticket.

[Zhavric]

Years ago, I pointed out that the very people who had spent nearly a decade bashing Clinton wanted to make it a stoning offense to speak against Bu$h and his illegal war.

[grandpa]

Quote by: Zhavric Years ago, I pointed out that the very people who had spent nearly a decade bashing Clinton wanted to make it a stoning offense to speak against Bu$h and his illegal war.

Hell, a lot of these so-called "Clinton-bashers" built their careers on it.

Grandpa h.

[bishop]

Quote by: brien However, that said, not all people are enfranchised. So can it be said that the government represents all citizens? I think it is important to separate, we the people, from those in government who pretend to represent us. We have Senators and Congressmen/women who vote their conscience or their allegiance to a lobby, and not their constituency. Therefore, I do not consider them to represent me. This is one reason why I vote the Libertarian ticket.

the same could be said for any citizen of any country though.. while i understand your point, it doesn't serve to differentiate americans from the french, british, etc..

[Technosoul]

Confusion in the barnyard? Perhaps not ......

It seems most posters take pride in being an American but feel that one political party or the other is putting mud on the face of that image we once took pride in. Perhaps under all the mud there is something still shinning, although it might be a bloody cross instead of a illuminated torch ( RE: another posting).

Pride, it comes before the fall. According to the good book. Leading us on a downhill pathway - and down those poltical slippery slopes. Skid Row.

Once upon a time you could vacation at places around the world and when they saw you were an American you got the red carpet treatment, some respect, and the welcome signs were everywhere. Nowadays so many resent us for that "big bully" image that we somehow got, that we are lucky to make it back home safe and sound.

But then someone on vacation and someone else on a greedy business trip - two different birds.

I am sure that bashing France can make us more popular world wide .... and bashing the Islamic religion while boasting "God Bless America" will also make us more popular world-wide. And for our President to diss the United Nations and all the leaders of other countries - standing up for Amreica to do it "his way". Hmmm?

Perhaps I should question if we still have America instead of if we still have pride in it. Where forth art thou oh Adam? "I'm in bed with my wife Eve trying to do all the wrong things right, Sir".

Sounds like a party to me, a Hillbilly party.

Behind every great President stands a trustworthy Intern. Clearly a happy President made for a productive country that had money to spare. Rather then one who is sexually bored to death, and especially when everyone in the country knows that your wife is smarter then you, and that she had to save you from your drug and booze addictions.

But we could feel more pride if we bash some spanish speaking people in Mexico and through out the rest of the Americas. (south America - etc.) ... that would be a real plus for the Republican Image that we are told we must take pride in - love it or leave it you peace freaks. At least that is how I hear them talking. (not my perspective to be sure).

Mama don't bake no more Apple Pie. She is at the office trying to earn enough to pay for that new car from Japan, and for gasoline to get her to work, and for those prescription drugs that now cost ten times more then they used to cost. But she is look forward to retirement when she can relax on that $600 bucks a month Soc. Security check. Instead of apple pie she brings home some fast food hamburgers, as they chop down more of the Rainforest to raise more cows for those bugers, and then we sit around the TV set (when we can afford to pay the electric bills) and we watch West Wing - which make us proud to be an American. Proud to be one of the "4" who got that job, although she is up all night worried because they are thinking about outsorcing her job to India.

Hmm, guess that is enough to debate about for right now (doing my duty here at Volconvo).

[bishop]

Quote by: technosoul Perhaps I should question if we still have America instead of if we still have pride in it.

define america...

if a country can only be united during times of danger/attack (re. 9/11), that doesn't speak much for the state of the nation.. if an entire city can be demolished by a hurricane and be largely abandoned by the nation, what does that say for the state of the nation - especially when hundreds of billions are spent on a war whose necessity is highly questionable?

[nm420]

"Proud" to be an American? I've never felt pride for something that was handed to me, as I had absolutely nothing to do with becoming an American. I was born into it. Why not be proud about something you can actually have control over? Like taking pride in your work, or your studies, or your devotion to whatever entity you choose to hold devotion to. To take pride in something generally implies you've had to surmount some great challenges and emerged victorious. Hence, most people would probably not take pride in getting a "C" for a class as it is not quite so challenging as some other activities. How many "Americans" have to overcome humongous hurdles to achieve that status? Hardly any, and the ones who do I imagine the proverbial redneck would revile calling American.

[abub]

Quote by: bishop imo, you cannot separate the government from the public - especially since the public votes the government into power. the government is a product of the public, and therefore becomes an example of our nation.

a lot of people actually make that distinction between the people and the government. i spent a good amount of time in germany and england earlier this year. the people were extremely welcoming to americans but had a whole lot of negative things to say about the american government (much like people here in the homeland). anyways, seeing as bush won the past election by getting 51% of the vote, that doesn't say much about the general public's approval of him being in office, let alone his policy.

[abub]

i'm proud to be an american every time i walk out my door and see what we have here. overall, i think americans are sincere, hardworking, level-headed people who are willing to lend a helping hand if a fellow american is in need. our foreign policy doesn't have much effect on my pride seeing as that it is practically out of the average person's control.

[bishop]

Quote by: abub a lot of people actually make that distinction between the people and the government. i spent a good amount of time in germany and england earlier this year. the people were extremely welcoming to americans but had a whole lot of negative things to say about the american government (much like people here in the homeland). anyways, seeing as bush won the past election by getting 51% of the vote, that doesn't say much about the general public's approval of him being in office, let alone his policy.

over 50% of the people in my master's program are international students.. i welcome all of them, probably no different than you were treated nicely in germany and england.. i also work with a lot of off-the-boat indians (i'm an IT consultant) and treat all them just the same..

like i said, no matter where you go, there are good and bad, nice and rude people.. that in and of itself does not differentiate one nation/country from another. generosity, work-ethic and other traits are hardly american traits... they exist all over the world. the only true differentiator that i can see IS our government.