Proud to be an American use to mean something in this country. In my every day run of the mill life I come across people who I hear talking in the grocery store, walmart, restaurants and etc. talking about how bad things are, well we can do something about that cant we? I dont hear people talking about standing up for this country and being proud of her. Instead, I hear older folks talking about not wanting to go over seas and hear them telling family and friends, if you do, try not to let them know you are american, you may get shot! I find that so sad. People use to want to come here and live the american dream. No matter what our officials have done I find no reason NOT to be proud of what this country is or should I say what it use to be.Remember your parents saying grow up to be a good person, a good citzen, but more important , be a good American. Where eagle scouts were some one to be proud of, to be in ROTC was a credit to you. I find people ashamed to be known that they are american. We the people need to stand up together and bring this country to what she once was. A great country that honored its citizens. believed in what the Statue of Liberty stood for. So many wonderful things and places in this country.The only thing that has changed in this country is We the people. We have allowed the USA to slip and stumble. We allowed it. Now its time to pick up and stand tall together and make Old Glory mean something again.

I am all for it.
With the life the average family leads,how would they go about it?
How many families do you still know that all sit down together to eat.
The wife works with as many hours as the husband. Some hold down multiple jobs.
The trend seems to be, to own bigger, better & more and so they are further in debt than previous generations.
I recall as a teenager we had weekend family get-togethers. My grandmother held the Sunday dinner at her place and all the aunts uncles and cousins(local)would come. It was a great time.
There hasn't been one of those in thirty years!
I still remember when you could leave your house unlocked and never have to worry.
I just don't know if America can ever be like it once was.

PLEASE DO NOT FLAME ME. I AM NOT TRYING TO OFFEND ANYONE, ONLY GIVING MY PERSONAL OPINION.


I am very proud to be an America, but in doing so I am often called "racist." As an American, I feel that this is MY country. Therefore, I am often displeased by the amount of illegal immigrants pouring into her every day. I do not have a problem with individual races; I have a problem with the way they pollute and exploit our country.

ex: If a non-American woman crosses our border and drops a baby, that child automatically has American citizenship and insurance benefits. My parents, despite all of their faults, have been hard-working people in this country since they were teenagers. Last year my father lost his job, and I, as an American, lost MY insurance. I could no longer receive my medication, and whenever I needed a doctor I would have to tough it out due to the fact that, without insurance, my mother could simply not afford any medical treatment. I find it disgusting that Americans are being put out in the cold for people who aren't even supposed to be here in the first place. They sap our government funding, take over land, steal jobs, and I, for one, feel that it's one of the reasons our country is falling sick to so many problems. Automatic insurance? Several years free of taxes? Affirmative action? NO REQUIREMENT TO SPEAK OUR LANGUAGE IN PUBLIC?! Why can't people who have been here all their lives and WORKED for the country get such benefits? If anything, these people should pay more for coming here.

I hate walking through a public store and hearing foreigners yapping away in their own language. This is America, and in America, we speak English! It's fine if they choose to speak their native tongue in the privacy of their own home (I understand the need to hold onto one's heritage), but amongst REAL Americans, there is no reason to not know, or choose to use, proper English. Do you think these people would accept us moving to THEIR country and walking around speaking in anything other than their language? I highly doubt it. Yes, we're a "free" country, but shouldn't I, as a true American, feel free to not be cut down on funding due to outsiders, or free not to feel insulted by anti-woman religious beliefs held by men of certain origins who insist on pursuing those customs in a FREE country? I cannot tell you how many times a Muslim man has personally paid me insult due to my clothing or outgoing attitude as a woman. :mad:

I could go on and on, but I'll sum it up... Close the book, tighten Border control, change government hand-outs, ship out the illegal immigrants who aren't doing what their supposed to, and we will start seeing some improvement.

For more "anti-immigrant" speeches, please go rent American History X. Although I do not support neo-Nazism in any fashion, some of the things they stand for make a lot of sense. The way these people express their contempt is not appropriate, but the right ideas are there.

Very well said Grab Thy hand. Soul Drifter, I agree about the family get togethers, wanting bigger and better. I have noticed sadly that my grandkids have no imagination, are cell phone and computer addicts. They are lazy, mouthy, sloppy, and at times are disrespectful. I remember the words " wait till your father gets home" and I will be dreading to hear my dads footsteps coming down the hall. I knew what was going to happen. Tell that to your kids today and see what they say. We have lost control of our families, our country. ourselves, and our whole meaning as a race all together. In being such an open country to everyone every where, we have given up our rights and needs for what? To be used, abused? Nothing is like when I was a kid , I know progress has to happen , but how much do we give up in order for it? When do we step back, and look up, and say enough is enough? Every thing must have a limit. I hate the thought of a way of life and a real chance at the american dream vanishing away from us. They are taking our rights awy so quick and no one notices. Its time to wake up and see what is happening. Or is it already to late?

Even as a teenager myself, I recognize the truth behind this. I go through school every day watching kids pull out their brand new cell phones they don't need, monthly-updated iPods, and speed off in a nice, new car that mommy and daddy bought for them as soon as they turn 16. What happened to hard work? What happened to being independent? What happened to parents trying to teach their kids about the real world? I'm from a single-parent family that's a little bit below middle class, I have a pay-as-you-go phone that cost a mere $60, a two-year-old mp3 player that barely works, and not even a drivers license yet. Seeing all of these spoiled youths sickens me.

America was built on hard work. We need to return to those values before it's too late.

I fear that there is too few of us and too many (of those youths especially) that do not know what has been lost already, or for whatevr reason, just don't care.
When you think about it. One can not help but wonder what the next few generations will bring.
Maybe the AMISH have the right idea..HUH?

You and a few more teenagers like you are rare these days. Keep your head on straight and I know you are going to go far in this world. But , it's not just kids , adults are the worse. The adults are suppose to set the examples. Boy, we have a done a bang up job haven't we? We have shown our kids how to become so far in debt that you have to have a company help you get out of it, we taught them how to spend above our means, we have taught them how to be greedy, loud mouthed about stuff that is so unimportant, kids in gangs ( not all ) are in them cause they feel they need to belong. That is what home, parents, teachers, our minsters, are for. The teaching begins at home. Whatever mind set is there is because it was seen at home and with other people who are mind like. I am one of the grandparents who cant say NO to my grand kids. They are spoiled to the max.And I also have a ready reason to defend my actions. But at the same time, I teach moderation. kindness, tolerance, manners, and believing in yourself. I have never lied to my grand kids about any thing. They ask a question, they get the truth. I hate preparing them for this world outside of our protective home, but it has to be done. I agree grabThyHand, what did ever happen to hard work and at least if I ( as a kid ) had to at least match my parents offer of help. I was adopted into a very comfortable home, but my parents didnt just hand it my sister and me. We had to earn it. It made me a strong person. I see alot of people looking for a hand out, or think everyone owes them something. Has any one noticed that walmart no longer advertises that they buy American made only? Thats another thing, we are being sold out by this countrys coporations. They move to poor countries so they can get there products made dirt cheap.So sad. So much has changed in this world just since I was a kid. I cant say it leaves me speechless, but it does sadden me to know that this country will probably never be the proud country it once was.

you know those illegal immigrants wouldn't be coming here so rapidly if we had not so brutally exploited their country so thats its gone to shit and just a thought, How do you think the native americans felt when the white man came here?

I'm sure they felt the exact same way, and I could never blame them.

America came to be at the expense of blood & death of many thousands American natives.
I'm part indian myself, I hate what the white man had done to get land from the indians. But who would have stopped HITLER if America was not here?
America is still a great place.
Maybe in time, life will slow up for the average family and the values we once knew, will return.

Every river, lake, pond, should run red from the blood that was shed to make this country what it is or was. Even more reason to stand up and fight for her today! Or do we let the scarifices of all those before us and those in the future die for nothing? I am very proud to be an american, just deeply saddened by the powers that be dont love this land and only have greed, lust, and power in there hearts.

i wouldn't use pseudo-nazi rhetoric as a good example of anything.

they (illegals) are being let in to provide more wage slaves, and thats ok with the right wing... apparently. can't have it both ways.

this is cause and effect. this is happening because of what has happened in the past. pretty much the same people that were pushed out so long ago are pushing back.

everyone deserves a fair shake. if any of us were from some third world hell hole we would be all big eyed about America too. (or we would hate its guts.) that being said... personally i would make an effort to learn the language before crossing the border.

in all fairness, the language that American's speak ain't exactly the queen's english.

i guess i'm fortunate to have a family that still knows the value of Eagle Scouts & sunday dinner.

Are the eagle scouts the same thing as the boy scouts.. coz incase you didnt realise it the boys scouts are basically at the management level a bunch of homophobic morons who put some kind of imaginary friend and their brand of morality above all esle.. value?.. hummm tell that to every little boy who might question his sexuality and still want to go hiking put up tents sing campfire songs. sunday dinner and eagle scouts bah humbug!
sorry just couldn't let that go unsaid.. have you seen penn and tellers boy scout programme?.. you should.. an eye opener!!!

well. ok. people suck. truth is you're just as likely to run into the same issues at school, church, & home.

i don't have to see it to know what you're getting at. it is unfortunate that not many scout troops are ran properly. not everyone that gets involved is lucky enough to join a troop with good leaders. its not about singing campfire songs.

why the attack drone? what i said relates to comments others have made, or did you just see that and feel the need to lash out?

oh gosh Abadaka, please do not take my comments personally , they really were not intended as such. I mearly wanted to highlight the fact that the boys scouts although they may have some great leaders at local level once the higher archy finds out there is a gay member they will be less than . shall we say accepting or tollerant. i know its not all about camp fire songs. In America its still alot about religion too, I think tho I can not be certain that in the UK being a non church attender or a non believer does not ostricise( spelling might be off there) you from being a part of the group. nor does being homosexual. but hey I am a believer that things can change.. we got rid of slavery in the end and so everyone is equal when it somes to colour.. thats a great start! And we are working on the women having equal rights thing. One day the gay community wil be welcome everywhere too. just like athiests and the disabled! ( * smiles at you..* I just have a bee in my bonnet about every kind of injustice thats all)
I did see the comments of others and figured I shouldn't comment on too much or my impetus will be lost.
America aint all it's cracked up to be. if you can see it from other parts of the world. you are not as democratic or free as you like to think.. lets face it the natives of the land get a very raw deal, How much native americanis taught in schools? it is after all your heritage.... anyways im off to a movie rarely have time inhere but I will poke my head in the door later inthe week I promise and see what your answer is.. (tho if ya gonna slate me do it by pm just incase I dont get back and loose my place here.!.

Then feel free to never use it as an example yourself. I know they do not know the appropriate way to express their opinions, but there is basic logic behind some of what they stand for. I don't care if that makes me "racist" or not; I can look at the facts and the statistics to see that they are right in certain accounts.

And I don't agree with that. I hate that our country uses these people for jobs simply because it will cost less. American's deserve those jobs, not illegal foreigners.

But if the American peoples deserve these jobs why then do they not take them.. is it becuase they tend to be meanial underpaid jobs that noone else wishes to do.? Or in areas where there are no services, the education is poor and fear and hatred rule?... strikes me that you forget somewhat where the non native American peoples stem from... all immigrants , And no doubt many did not have a universal language, but they coped. Then of course the slavery , the beginings of cheap labour..from foreginers.. the illegal aliens just want to make their lives better they do what they can , in a general sense to improve upon what they had. Was that not where this 'great' nation began.. adventerers wanting to explore and improve their lives?.

that would be it exactly.

which pretty much opens up a gaping hole in the job market that plenty of others are willing to fill.

it would seem to a certain demographic it is ok having illegals around so long as the work is cheap and they live in a different neighborhood. they have a place because there are contractors that will hire them despite any legal issues. the current administration has open arms.

i didn't take your comment personally. sounded like some bitterness or resentment towards the BSA... (and family gatherings). thats why i ask. you don't have to preach to me about how effed up the the US is.

GTH, i agree there are too many illegal immigrants. immigration is perfectly legal in the US so long as its done by the book, so to speak. immigrants, i think even illegals, are naturalized if they manage to stay under the radar for seven years. until the laws change or enough natural citizens step up those jobs will be occupied by the lowest bid. right now there isn't much incentive for employers to do otherwise.

Well..Im going to throw my un-popular two cents in.

"Proud to be an American"...yes..it used to mean something more than it does today. But I think that to a large degree it doesnt mean what it once did because America itself has turned its back on what people used to be proud of.

America built up a huge cache of trust, respect, goodwill and friendship from its inception onwards, particularly in the first half of the 20th century, up until roughly the 1980s.

Now a part of it was a change in information access in the world. The US did "bad things" before then, but they werent as widely known or those things we understood and forgiven in the contemporary morals of the day.

America since then has squandored a good portion of the respect, friendship and even envy the world felt by betraying its own ideals.

While America rails against other nations justice systems, it has the highest prison population in the world, far in excess of totalitarian China with its 1.3 billion people.

While still proclaiming itself leader of the free world, the US people have continually chose security over freedom in election after election, in policy endorsement after endorsement. From the ironically named Patriot Act to National Gaurdmen at airports overseeing the photographing of every foreigner arriving on its shores, the US people have overseen the partial dismantling of its open society.

In past days the US was careful to be as good a neighbor as possible to the world at large, whereas now it complains on one hand of having to be the policeman of the world while on the other hand acting completely unilaterally on issues that effect the world. Compare Cuba 1962 to Iraq 2003. In 1962 Cuba was found to have nuclear tipped rockets on its soil. The US reaction? It presented the world with INCONTRAVERTABLE proof, in the way of spy photographs. It sought, and got UNANIMOUS approval from the Organization of American States (which we never even hear of anymore) for a blockade on Cuba. The US went before the world and openly debated the USSR in the UN, knowing it was important to win world support for any eventualities that might occur.

In 2003 the US claimed Iraq had WMDs.. never presented solid honest evidence, went against the US, never consulted Iraqs neighbors.. and al but unilaterally invaded.

I am not making the point whether it was justified or not. I am making the point that the ATTITUDE of the US has changed, as with it, the worlds attitude towards the US, and really, the feeling of the US people towards themselves.

In the 1960s the US created the Peace Corps, with a stated goal of helping the world develop. Today, it is under funded and politicians rush to agree with the people that the US is "giving" away too much foreign aid.

Post WWI the US president outlined the concept of self determination of peoples. Today the US bends over backwards to appease China, who crushes this ideal in respect to several countries and peoples.

And the examples go on and on.

The people inevitably sense the change. If there is a loss in being proud of America, it is because the American people sense in themselves that they are not the America they were.

Instead of creating loopholes to allow torture, instead of having politicians trip overthemselves in their eagerness to show how quickly they would use torture, the America everyone was proud of was the America that took the high ground..that refused to torture EVEN IF it meant that on occasion there was a price to be paid for its morals.

Today Americans have so lost their way that the people asking people to be more America even are asking for the wrong things. "Speak English!" Hello? Your own ancestors didnt speak English when they arrived most likely. And if they did, your friends ancestors didnt. America has always been a land of immigrants and its not until the second generation or later that they learn the language of the land. Its that FREEDOM of not having to learn, of valuing people by their contributions not their language that kept America open immigrants from all over and contributed to its greatness.

It is the immigrants, legal and illegal that keep America a growing and young nation. All over Europe and in Japan, rich countries face an aging population crisis. Rich countries tend to have a very low birthrate and it is only immigrants that alleviate this problem in the US. In time, they will learn English. Of course they will, because they want to be successful and if they stick with only Mandarin or Spanish, the limit their opportunities. First generation will be restaurant workers, gardeners, etc..but their children will want more and will learn English. And if they dont? So what. No society is static. Societies change. Values can survive a translation to another language if taught properly. Rather than hate hearing Spanish, and having that negativitiy show up.. embrance these people, show them the greatness and confidence you have in your culture and create the desire in them to adapt.

If you want Americans to be proud of their country, make a country worth being proud of.

:applause: :applause: