Overall, 39% of U.S. adults say they are “extremely proud” to be American in the most recent poll.
Meanwhile, only 18% of those aged 18-34 said the same, compared to 40% of those aged 35-54 and 50% of those 55 and over.
18% is still too high. As Obama’s pastor said, God damn America! Americans have very little to be proud of at this point.
Good be proud of things you do, not how you were born.
There’s a lot I love about America: the natural beauty, some of the people, access to a lot that most of the rest of the world doesn’t have similar access to, but I’ve never bought into the “Proud to be an American” schtick. Our gov’t can get fucked, regardless of who the President is. There’s corruption that goes way beyond that office.
What do you have access to that most of the rest of the world doesn’t? Certainly not free health care?
Doesn’t have similar access to. Words create context. Having lived in Cambodia and traveled in several other countries, we have far more access to things we take for granted that are luxuries in a vast portion of the world. Air conditioning, ovens, next day delivery for many things, a separate shower unit, the list goes on.
Guns.
High fructose corn syrup
Young people are no longer majority whit e so that probably helps.
I’m grateful for having been born here, but I can’t find it within myself to be prideful over something that I had no control over such as the circumstances of my birth. I have a different concept of pride. I’m prideful for things that I’ve done such as reaching milestones, accomplishing goals, etc. I don’t hate this country, but I definitely don’t believe we’re the best, but I definitely don’t believe we’re the worst. For what it’s worth, it’s my home and I plan on staying.
What is there to be proud of?
Abolishing slavery, ending Jim Crow, giving women the vote, becoming one of the first dozen countries on the planet to legalize gay marriage, helping win WW2, helping support Ukraine, donating more to foreign aid than any other country on the planet, the Marshall Plan, everything about NASA, best national parks on the planet, entertainment capital of the world, first country to land a man on the moon, the whole “nation of immigrants” things making us one of the most diverse countries on the planet.
And of course, none of that excuses the dark parts of our history, the slavery, genocide, imperialism in Latin America, among many, many others. But that brings me to the thing I love most about American: with the exception of the loud Republican minority, we’re a country that actually reckons with the dark parts of our past and tries to make up for them instead of sweeping them under the rug. And then we get to work fixing them.
We’ve made so much progress even in my relatively brief lifetime-- in agonizing two-steps-forward, one-step-back fashion, for sure, but that doesn’t make it not count. I’m so excited to see where we go in the future.
Based on that logic, you could be as proud of any past human achievements anywhere in the world. focusing on just the country you live in is arbitrary and illogical.
we’re a country that actually reckons with the dark parts of our past and tries to make up for them instead of sweeping them under the rug.
Almost every non-white American: lolwut?
Abolishing slavery, ending Jim Crow, giving women the vote, becoming one of the first dozen countries on the planet to legalize gay marriage, helping win WW2, helping support Ukraine, donating more to foreign aid than any other country on the planet, the Marshall Plan, everything about NASA, best national parks on the planet, entertainment capital of the world, first country to land a man on the moon, the whole “nation of immigrants” things making us one of the most diverse countries on the planet.
- Slavery isn’t abolished; it can still, per the constitution, be used as punishment.
- Jim Crow may be ended, but the racism that enables it has always been alive and well
- Gave women the right to vote way later than it should have
- Same as above
- Only after being directly attacked
- Only because we spend so obscenely much on war. A billionaire that gives $1000 is not as generous as someone making min-wage that give $10.
- Self-serving imperialism: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marshall_Plan#Modern_criticism
- like defunding it to where we have to privatize space flight now? Elon Musk approves!
- I… guess? Arguably has nothing to do with being an American. Lots of countries were throwing money at this-- we just randomly got there first.
- We’re openly and emphatically racist, as a country. We simultaneously reject immigration while requiring immigrants to be used as borderline slave labor to ensure our produce doesn’t get too expensive.
We’ve never been the shining city on the hill, but we sure want to pretend we are.
Self-serving imperialism: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marshall_Plan#Modern_criticism
Something benefiting you doesn’t make it wrong? The US compared to the other powers of the time extracted much less wealth to its conquered territories, and genuinely benefited them in a lot of ways. Compare the US to what the USSR did to Mongolia, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia. Or, compare the US to what France, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Portugal did trying to hang on to their colonies and extract as much wealth from them as possible. Not to mention how many citizens of those countries are proud of that! The US obviously did engage in disgusting acts at the time, particularly in Vietnam, in support of the KMT, and genuine imperialism in Latin America. But- the Marshall Plan is not anywhere near on those levels.
We’re openly and emphatically racist, as a country. We simultaneously reject immigration while requiring immigrants to be used as borderline slave labor to ensure our produce doesn’t get too expensive.
I see you’re speaking for yourself.
From the wikipedia article you didn’t read:
The Marshall Plan’s role in the rapid recovery of Western Europe has been debated. Most reject the idea that it alone miraculously revived Europe since the evidence shows that a general recovery was already underway. The Marshall Plan grants were provided at a rate that was not much higher in terms of flow than the previous UNRRA aid and represented less than 3% of the combined national income of the recipient countries between 1948 and 1951,[110] which would mean an increase in GDP growth of only 0.3%.[7] In addition, there is no correlation between the amount of aid received and the speed of recovery: both France and the United Kingdom received more aid, but West Germany recovered significantly faster.[7]
Criticism of the Marshall Plan became prominent among historians of the revisionist school, such as Walter LaFeber, during the 1960s and 1970s. They argued that the plan was American economic imperialism and that it was an attempt to gain control over Western Europe just as the Soviets controlled Eastern Europe economically through the Comecon. In a review of West Germany’s economy from 1945 to 1951, German analyst Werner Abelshauser concluded that “foreign aid was not crucial in starting the recovery or in keeping it going”. The economic recoveries of France, Italy, and Belgium, Cowen argues, began a few months before the flow of US money. Belgium, the country that relied earliest and most heavily on free-market economic policies after its liberation in 1944, experienced swift recovery and avoided the severe housing and food shortages seen in the rest of continental Europe.[132]
Former US Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank Alan Greenspan gives most credit to German Chancellor Ludwig Erhard for Europe’s economic recovery. Greenspan writes in his memoir The Age of Turbulence that Erhard’s economic policies were the most important aspect of postwar Western European recovery, even outweighing the contributions of the Marshall Plan. He states that it was Erhard’s reductions in economic regulations that permitted Germany’s miraculous recovery, and that these policies also contributed to the recoveries of many other European countries. Its recovery is attributed to traditional economic stimuli, such as increases in investment, fueled by a high savings rate and low taxes. Japan saw a large infusion of US investment during the Korean War.[133]
compare the US to what France, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Portugal did trying to hang on to their colonies and extract as much wealth from them as possible. Not to mention how many citizens of those countries are proud of that!
I was not suggesting the people can’t be proud of the not-good things their country does-- only that they shouldn’t. Also: whataboutism never defends any given position or stance; don’t rely on it too much, if at all.
I see you’re speaking for yourself.
I don’t know what you mean. Are you saying that the United States isn’t generally pretty racist and that I’m just projecting? Or was this just a halfhearted attempt at an ad hominem attack? Elaborate please.
From the wikipedia article you didn’t read:
I did? (For the ad hominem accusation later this seems like an ad hominem too) I don’t see how that changes what I said. The Marshall plan was giving aid to countries to buy loyalty. It was still giving aid. The Soviets orchestrated coups in countries and seized their wealth to distribute throughout the USSR.
I was not suggesting the people can’t be proud of the not-good things their country does-- only that they shouldn’t.
I wasn’t suggesting they were right in being proud of it. I was arguing that compared to other powers of the era(and now) the Marshall plan was lacking harm.
I don’t know what you mean. Are you saying that the United States isn’t generally pretty racist and that I’m just projecting? Or was this just a halfhearted attempt at an ad hominem attack? Elaborate please.
I’m criticizing you collectivizing Americans in a “we”. Giving collective responsibility, actions, and desires where there are none. If you say “we did x” you are taking responsibility for x- but I didn’t do x and I will not take responsibility for it. So, I said I see you are speaking for yourself when you say “we did x”
I did?
I assumed you didn’t read it because the criticism is also that it didn’t actually help. That is to say, countries that got the money didn’t recover faster than those that didn’t. So what would you call something that benefits just yourself?
I was arguing that compared to other powers of the era(and now) the Marshall plan was lacking harm.
Is “lacking harm” something to be proud of?
If you say “we did x” you are taking responsibility for x- but I didn’t do x and I will not take responsibility for it.
I try not to take an aggressive stance, but this is 100% Grade-A bullshit. Where is this stance of yours when it comes to the Marshall Plan? The entire topic is about taking pride in the collective actions of the country. If “we” did things to be proud of, then “we” did things you should be ashamed of. You have to pick one mode of thought-- you can’t claim pride in just the good things while refusing responsibility for the bad.
That is to say, countries that got the money didn’t recover faster than those that didn’t. So what would you call something that benefits just yourself?
I never argued the aid guaranteed faster recovery on national level. I argued aid helped people who had their lives destroyed by a massive war. There are billions of factors that influence GDP growth, of course its not guaranteed aid can create it.
Is “lacking harm” something to be proud of?
For a major geopolitical action from a superpower- honestly yeah.
If “we” did things to be proud of, then “we” did things you should be ashamed of. You have to pick one mode of thought-- you can’t claim pride in just the good things while refusing responsibility for the bad.
We didn’t do things. I am not proud of the Marshall Plan, I am not proud of any actions by any government or any country at any point. I disagree with the person saying that you should be proud to be American- just as you do. But, I also disagree with your criticism of the Marshall Plan as harmful imperialism. I can disagree with two things at once. I said here you shouldn’t be proud of your country in another thread before even seeing your comment
A lot of that is just a list of problems America had that were solved by people fighting against the American government lol
Yes, which is the single biggest reason I’m proud to be American: because our people’s willingness to stand up for one another and keep fighting for a better tomorrow, even against the most powerful opponents, even at risk to their own lives.
This strongly implies this is something special about American people that isn’t shared by the rest of humanity.
Be proud to be human because our heritage is international. Splitting us up into national identities is ridiculous and only holding us back.
I can be proud to be American and a human at the same time. Saying “I love my family” doesn’t mean I don’t love other people too, and it doesn’t mean I think my family is somehow better than other human beings, it just means I love my family. Same logic applies here.
And what of the many atrocities committed by America?
And what of the many atrocities committed by humanity?
I actually agree, there are many many things to hate America for, and I agree with them, and I will always vocally oppose those elements of this country and encourage others to do so, but, there’s also some great things we’ve done as a country and a people that I very much am proud to have been a part of personally. I won’t make pretense to the contrary simply because there are elements for which we ought to, and do, criticize
I lost the last bit of patriotism I had left after the Sandy Hook massacres & all our elected officials did jack shit. Murica is only #1 in white collar crime these days. Our politicians are paid off shills. Wall St is run by the absolute worst scum of the earth bc they know we do nothing to them no matter how many laws they break. SCOTUS is fucking worthless & the country is comprised of about ~35% of the world’s stupidest people.
We need a revolution. That is the ONLY solution at this point but because of all the stupid, we’d much rather fight amongst ourselves than get off our lazy butts and fight the real evils in this world. It’s sad times but I do hope I live long enough to watch it all burn down.
I am very proud to say that I’m not proud to be an American. Being proud of your country is a path toward genocide.
America is a continent lol
You can have pride in your country without being stupid about it.
I’m proud to be an American. I’m not proud of everything America does.
I’m proud that we were the first to land on the moon. I’m proud that we (eventually) helped win WWII over the Nazis. I’m proud of parts of our art and culture, Asimov, (early) Game of Thrones, most of the best games in the world.
I also protested the Iraq war. I think our ultra-capitalist, corporate worshipping ways have been a negative influence on the world.
I’m proud of Al Gore’s call to action on climate change. I’m not proud we haven’t done much about it.
I’m proud we have the potential to get off planet, self-sustaining colonies going. I wish we’d push harder for it.
You can find reasons to be proud of your country without endorsing everything they do.
Half of that shit happened before you were born and none of it was done with your help. I’m not American and my argument is not targeted towards Americans. No person should be proud of the coincidence of geography.
Exactly 1 thing this person said happened before I was born. We aren’t all 21.
Alright, touche. I still feel that this kind of nationalist pride is a very slippery slope.
How dare you come here with nuance
The American Dream. You can keep it.
In the words of George Carlin (I think) “you know why they call it the American dream? Because you’ve got to be asleep to believe it.”
Carlin was a beast. That quote too.
Yeah, I can’t say I’m proud at this point, though I’m not devastated or embarrassed, either. I think I could be proud again, but we’d have to halt our military-industrial-complex and political elites from continuing to engage us in proxy wars, to start.
I second that and I’m 54. America has given us precious little to be proud of and the “American Exceptionalism” folks seem willfully ignorant.
I consider myself an Oregonian first and foremost.
As a non-American, I think the country still gives the world something. People may bitch and moan the military industrial complex, but I am glad American taxpayers sacrifice their own money to keep Chinese imperialism from devouring my country.
I also think the American tech sector brings a lot to the table.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s a cesspool of a nation, but it still produces useful goods and services.
but I am glad American taxpayers sacrifice their own money to keep Chinese imperialism from devouring my country.
You are from Taiwan by any Chance? I’m tempted to agree with you in that region, but I am not sold that the US is an overall net-positive if we also look into places like the middle-east and Latin America.
Obligatory this was true over a decade ago and news flash: things haven’t improved.
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I wonder why, could it have to do with these last few years that were batshit insane, with a leader that fits in terms of batshit insane?
I think a lot of people are confusing “proud” with “glad”. I’m in the 35-54 range and I don’t think there’s much to be proud of anymore. And frankly I’m closer to embarrassed than indifferent on the subject given the progress we’ve lost in the last decade or so. But am I glad to be an American?
Sure, I’m glad I wasn’t born in Russia only to be a bullet sponge in an unjustifiable war.
I’m glad I wasn’t born in Afghanistan with the Taliban oppression.
I’m glad I wasn’t born in Syria during one of the longest and bloodiest conflicts in modern history.
I’m glad I wasn’t born to sift through cancerous e-waste or mine diamonds for a warlord in Africa.
I’m glad I wasn’t born into North Korea (self explanatory)
So, while I’m glad I wasn’t born under worse circumstances, I’m not proud that we’re directly and indirectly responsible for many of those circumstances.
But, I also don’t think it’s an unsolvable problem. We could make America a place to be proud to be from, but that’s a very long road from where we are right now and I fear that there’s also a lot of potential to get worse if the tinderbox is mishandled.And I’m glad to be an American
Where it’s not as bad as it could be
Where I’ll probably die from apple-pie-
Induced Type 2 Di’betes
And I’ll gladly sit down, my ankles hurt
Libruls are owned today
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sure you dont
I’m 65 now. When I was a kid, I was relatively patriotic. Civil rights, moon landing, all that stuff. Now? Not so much. The US is still much better than many other countries but it’s not the world leader that used to be.
Nationalism is nothing to be proud of.
I’m not young and I’m really not proud. It’s honestly embarrassing. Trump was a disgrace and ruined any sense of pride I had.
Honestly: For all his many, many, many faults, he was still a massive improvement over Bush junior. His insurrection and the way he handled Covid was terrible, but the Iraq-war was worse and unforgivable.
I’ll have to disagree on that one. Bush sucked but he was better. The left and right weren’t at war with each other, we could have conversations and discussions. Now you cannot.
I agree with you.
I had a discussion with a coworker just before a company meeting during W’s 2nd campaign and I expressed how terrible I thought he was and even said I couldn’t understand how or why anyone would vote for him… My coworker told me that he voted for him, thought he’d been doing a great job, and planned to vote for him again… And that was all there was to it… No animosity, judgement, or hard feelings between us … We just never discussed it again.
No, they both sucked but in very different ways.
Bush weakened many of our institutions and lead us into two forever wars. And a huge recession in which he did diddly squat to get us out of it.
Trump is a traitor and embraced a Russian psyops campaign against the American public while getting his face full of shit.
Yeah, if we keep having this tendency to say someone wasn’t too bad once someone worse comes around, we’ll just end up thinking Trump was great by comparison to whatever crappy politician we have as president in 20 years.
