i'm not proud, but i'm thankful. being prideful about it is one way of saying that being american is better than being something else, and that's not how i feel. i am thankful to have been born in america, but not proud.
I'm thankful that I'm an American. Living overseas in a third world country opened my eyes to how privileged I am as an American woman. I also saw for the first time how the rest of the world views us (not so great).
I am forever grateful for those who have given their lives for my freedom, but the freedom I cherish most is my freedom in Christ.
My wife and I just started watching the mini-series "John Adams" and there is no doubt that it has stirred up some emotions of late.
I am eternally thankful to live in America. Yet, I also think it's OK to say that I'm proud of those who have come before me so that I might live in such a nation as this. Not that I'm proud of myself for just coincidentally being born here, but I'm proud of an association I have with those who were and are much greater patriots than myself.
So to answer Andy's questions - I am thankful to be an American, proud to be associated with the great patriots of our nations History, and I think we all should be thankful for being born in such a place. To not be thankful [to God] for such a thing is foolish. Yet being proud or prideful of essentially just being lucky enough to be born here is probably a bit arrogant.
What kind of question is this? It feels like a very loaded question.
I am tremendously thankful to The Lord for all the blessings that come with being an American. I also have a general nationalistic "pride" of where I come from. But that "pride" shouldn't be compared with ego or a sense of entitlement or even necessarily love. I think nationalistic pride can be healthy...but for exceedingly too many is taken way too far. The U.S. is not the "New Israel". We are not exclusively God's people.
But to answer the question clearly, "yes", I am proud to be an American.
In the context of the people that make up America, yes, I am. I'm not arrogant about it, but I am proud. We get a lot of things wrong, but we get a lot right too. I am grateful for that.
It might depend on your definition of "pride." I checked Merriam-Webster online and found these three possible choices:
a: inordinate self-esteem : conceit b: a reasonable or justifiable self-respect c: delight or elation arising from some act, possession, or relationship
In Christian circles, we definitely focus on definition "a." Considering the other choices, I would say that I am delighted/elated that I am an American. I will also say that I struggle at times with prideful conceit for my country. Can you say "Olympics"?
I think we like to boast (be proud) about the wrong things.
This is what the LORD says: "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom, or the strong man boast of his strength, or the rich man boast of his riches, [or the American man boast of his America,] but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the LORD. -- Jeremiah 9:23-24 (NIV, my obtuse remarks in brackets)
Nobody tells you when you get born here How much you'll come to love it And how you'll never belong here So I call you my country And I'll be lonely for my home And I wish that I could take you there with me
Props to the Rich Mullins quote, Chris. I think that song (Land of My Sojourn if you don't know) is a great picture of what an American Christian should feel. It contains all the nostalgic Americana references I often feel, but it reminds me my home is in heaven. That being said, this has been an issue I've really questioned recently. Having grown up in a very "conservative" patriotic home, I have recently felt that I have been given an incorrect view of what an American Christian should look like. Namely that we are Christians first and Americans way second. When we come to the point that we elevate a political leader and celebrate his election in our church services (which I have seen), we are pledging allegiance to the wrong land. Or, as another familiar song writer said: "My first allegiance is not to a flag, a country or a man/ It's to a king and a kingdom"
While I must say that I am grateful that I have been brought up in a country with so many privileges, I am ashamed by the way we have achieved our freedoms. I also think these same freedoms are killing us as a country. So no, I claim no pride as an American. I am humbled and realize that, were I to live in a war-torn, impoverished country, I would probably with and long for the freedoms that seems to come with the American title. I hope, however, that I can rise above the money-driven easy life that has been my heritage and truly live as Christ calls. And my husband Adrian stole the Derek Webb quote that I was going to add.
I'm proud of the political philosophy that America was founded on (that it is the governments job to protect its citizens rights to life, liberty, and possession of property, and leave them alone in other matters), and that for about 100 years we made that system of government work. However, I'm not proud of the fact that we have let it drift so far from those principles. I'm proud to be the political descendants of men like Jefferson, who were so well founded in the political philosophy of Locke, Rousseau, Smith, etc. and the values they envisioned as being the basis of the government. But, ever since Lincoln the Constitution and their thoughts have been disregarded, though there have been a few good years where the Constitution has meant something. All that to say if someone like Ron Paul or Chuck Baldwin would become president, or some good Libertarians could get voted into the house or senate, or even if Mike Munger could win the race for NC governor, then I'd be proud to be an American, but that will likely not happen anytime soon, or at least this term.
I live in a developing country, and often get asked about my homeland. A part of me always hesitates when I say "America," mostly because of its reputation over the years and because they immediately ask about Hollywood, Iraq, or the sexually free lifestyle of Americans. The good thing is I'm able to represent America, and while I screw up a whole lot, I can still help enlighten some people's ideas about our country and its citizens.
With that said, even with all the misconceptions and problems, I am proud and thankful to be an American. Even though America has many problems, in comparison to the rest of the world, she's doing pretty well. There's atrocities all over the world...most countries just hide their dirty laundry better than others.
Perhaps the best answer I heard to this question came from Rich Mullin's song "Land of My Sojurn":
Nobody tells you, when you get born here How much you'll come to love it, And how you'll never belong here, So I'll call you my country, But I'll be longing for my home, And I wish that I could take you there with me.
When God created men, he created culture as well, and one day we will see men and women from every tribe and toungue worshipping Him. In some way, their culture will still be with them...and God will be glorified by that. So I think there is definately a sense in which we can be proud of our country, while still living humbly, appreciating the culture of others, and being willing to learn from them.
I can honestly say that after 19.5 years serving in the military I am proud that you are all able to voice your feelings openly about our country. That makes me feel honored, priviledged and blessed to be an American.
There's a Wendell Berry quote from The Mad Farmer: Liberation Front that I really like.
He says (among other things),
"And so, friends, every day, do something that won't compute....Denounce the government and embrace the flag. Hope to live in that free republic for which it stands."
I can't truly say that I'm a very responsible citizen. I don't write to my senators and representatives, either state or federal, although I should. They are here to represent us in the system we live with, so I'm glad for that. The vast majority of peoples that I'm aware of don't have this sort of success with the democratically weighted system.
I can't really say that I'm proud to live under that system though. I am proud to have been born in the place where I was, and proud to have come from the families that I've come from. I don't know if that can be considered boastful though, since I had no control over either thing. If I were Israeli, I would certainly be proud of that. I am proud to be American in that I am an American, and nothing I do will change that. It is the stock that runs in my bones more deeply than I realize, and I am glad for it.
Here's my story: I became an American citizen when I was three years old. I'm an immigrant--granted, I moved here when I was six months old, an adopted daughter of fourth-generation Americans. But I could've lived somewhere else, and that somewhere else is a good country, too. God engineered my life that I didn't. And that's always in the back of my mind.
I love America, and always will, despite her faults. I am grateful, and, yes, proud of the good in her. But never at the expense of recognizing the goodness and dignity in other countries, and never at the expense of exercising my responsibility to criticize when necessary. And, most importantly, never at the expense of recognizing that my true citizenship is in heaven.
Monday, October 13, 2008 at 01:31PM
Reader Comments (23)
i'm not proud, but i'm thankful. being prideful about it is one way of saying that being american is better than being something else, and that's not how i feel. i am thankful to have been born in america, but not proud.
I'm thankful that I'm an American. Living overseas in a third world country opened my eyes to how privileged I am as an American woman. I also saw for the first time how the rest of the world views us (not so great).
I am forever grateful for those who have given their lives for my freedom, but the freedom I cherish most is my freedom in Christ.
Well said Ryan.
My wife and I just started watching the mini-series "John Adams" and there is no doubt that it has stirred up some emotions of late.
I am eternally thankful to live in America. Yet, I also think it's OK to say that I'm proud of those who have come before me so that I might live in such a nation as this. Not that I'm proud of myself for just coincidentally being born here, but I'm proud of an association I have with those who were and are much greater patriots than myself.
So to answer Andy's questions - I am thankful to be an American, proud to be associated with the great patriots of our nations History, and I think we all should be thankful for being born in such a place. To not be thankful [to God] for such a thing is foolish. Yet being proud or prideful of essentially just being lucky enough to be born here is probably a bit arrogant.
What kind of question is this? It feels like a very loaded question.
I am tremendously thankful to The Lord for all the blessings that come with being an American. I also have a general nationalistic "pride" of where I come from. But that "pride" shouldn't be compared with ego or a sense of entitlement or even necessarily love. I think nationalistic pride can be healthy...but for exceedingly too many is taken way too far. The U.S. is not the "New Israel". We are not exclusively God's people.
But to answer the question clearly, "yes", I am proud to be an American.
Where at least I know I'm free?
In the context of the people that make up America, yes, I am. I'm not arrogant about it, but I am proud. We get a lot of things wrong, but we get a lot right too. I am grateful for that.
It might depend on your definition of "pride." I checked Merriam-Webster online and found these three possible choices:
a: inordinate self-esteem : conceit
b: a reasonable or justifiable self-respect
c: delight or elation arising from some act, possession, or relationship
In Christian circles, we definitely focus on definition "a." Considering the other choices, I would say that I am delighted/elated that I am an American. I will also say that I struggle at times with prideful conceit for my country. Can you say "Olympics"?
I think we like to boast (be proud) about the wrong things.
This is what the LORD says: "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom, or the strong man boast of his strength, or the rich man boast of his riches, [or the American man boast of his America,] but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the LORD. -- Jeremiah 9:23-24 (NIV, my obtuse remarks in brackets)
I wonder if the Native Americans are proud to be "American?"
Chris Hubbs with the best answer. Ding! Ding! Ding!
yes and sure.
this is a great country with all sorts of contradictions just like any other country.
I like pretty much everyone else's answers. That could be a cop-out, maybe, but....
Sometimes. More often than not.
What Elijah said.
Props to the Rich Mullins quote, Chris. I think that song (Land of My Sojourn if you don't know) is a great picture of what an American Christian should feel. It contains all the nostalgic Americana references I often feel, but it reminds me my home is in heaven. That being said, this has been an issue I've really questioned recently. Having grown up in a very "conservative" patriotic home, I have recently felt that I have been given an incorrect view of what an American Christian should look like. Namely that we are Christians first and Americans way second. When we come to the point that we elevate a political leader and celebrate his election in our church services (which I have seen), we are pledging allegiance to the wrong land. Or, as another familiar song writer said:
"My first allegiance is not to a flag, a country or a man/ It's to a king and a kingdom"
While I must say that I am grateful that I have been brought up in a country with so many privileges, I am ashamed by the way we have achieved our freedoms. I also think these same freedoms are killing us as a country. So no, I claim no pride as an American. I am humbled and realize that, were I to live in a war-torn, impoverished country, I would probably with and long for the freedoms that seems to come with the American title. I hope, however, that I can rise above the money-driven easy life that has been my heritage and truly live as Christ calls. And my husband Adrian stole the Derek Webb quote that I was going to add.
I'm proud of the political philosophy that America was founded on (that it is the governments job to protect its citizens rights to life, liberty, and possession of property, and leave them alone in other matters), and that for about 100 years we made that system of government work. However, I'm not proud of the fact that we have let it drift so far from those principles. I'm proud to be the political descendants of men like Jefferson, who were so well founded in the political philosophy of Locke, Rousseau, Smith, etc. and the values they envisioned as being the basis of the government. But, ever since Lincoln the Constitution and their thoughts have been disregarded, though there have been a few good years where the Constitution has meant something. All that to say if someone like Ron Paul or Chuck Baldwin would become president, or some good Libertarians could get voted into the house or senate, or even if Mike Munger could win the race for NC governor, then I'd be proud to be an American, but that will likely not happen anytime soon, or at least this term.
I live in a developing country, and often get asked about my homeland. A part of me always hesitates when I say "America," mostly because of its reputation over the years and because they immediately ask about Hollywood, Iraq, or the sexually free lifestyle of Americans. The good thing is I'm able to represent America, and while I screw up a whole lot, I can still help enlighten some people's ideas about our country and its citizens.
With that said, even with all the misconceptions and problems, I am proud and thankful to be an American. Even though America has many problems, in comparison to the rest of the world, she's doing pretty well. There's atrocities all over the world...most countries just hide their dirty laundry better than others.
Perhaps the best answer I heard to this question came from Rich Mullin's song "Land of My Sojurn":
Nobody tells you, when you get born here
How much you'll come to love it,
And how you'll never belong here,
So I'll call you my country,
But I'll be longing for my home,
And I wish that I could take you there with me.
When God created men, he created culture as well, and one day we will see men and women from every tribe and toungue worshipping Him. In some way, their culture will still be with them...and God will be glorified by that. So I think there is definately a sense in which we can be proud of our country, while still living humbly, appreciating the culture of others, and being willing to learn from them.
I can honestly say that after 19.5 years serving in the military I am proud that you are all able to voice your feelings openly about our country. That makes me feel honored, priviledged and blessed to be an American.
There's a Wendell Berry quote from The Mad Farmer: Liberation Front that I really like.
He says (among other things),
"And so, friends, every day, do something that won't compute....Denounce the government and embrace the flag. Hope to live in that free republic for which it stands."
I can't truly say that I'm a very responsible citizen. I don't write to my senators and representatives, either state or federal, although I should. They are here to represent us in the system we live with, so I'm glad for that. The vast majority of peoples that I'm aware of don't have this sort of success with the democratically weighted system.
I can't really say that I'm proud to live under that system though. I am proud to have been born in the place where I was, and proud to have come from the families that I've come from. I don't know if that can be considered boastful though, since I had no control over either thing. If I were Israeli, I would certainly be proud of that. I am proud to be American in that I am an American, and nothing I do will change that. It is the stock that runs in my bones more deeply than I realize, and I am glad for it.
Here's my story: I became an American citizen when I was three years old. I'm an immigrant--granted, I moved here when I was six months old, an adopted daughter of fourth-generation Americans. But I could've lived somewhere else, and that somewhere else is a good country, too. God engineered my life that I didn't. And that's always in the back of my mind.
I love America, and always will, despite her faults. I am grateful, and, yes, proud of the good in her. But never at the expense of recognizing the goodness and dignity in other countries, and never at the expense of exercising my responsibility to criticize when necessary. And, most importantly, never at the expense of recognizing that my true citizenship is in heaven.