I own a light green sweater that I purchased based solely on the fact that its brand was Great American Sweater. It made me feel like I was participating in some grand tradition involving fireworks and stars-n-stripes stove pipe hats. Or campfires and fingers sticky from too many s'mores.
So am I proud to own a Great American Sweater? In other words, what is my attitude toward my country?
Gosh. I don't know.
The things George Bush has done to this place have made it very difficult (or, in the least, weird and sometimes awkward) for Americans to travel to other countries. We are seen first as American citizens (which often translates as ignorant in the minds of foreigners), and second as human beings. I have a friend in Ireland whose brother thinks it's funny to call me "American" as an insult. I know a few Americans who actually have dual citizenship (they married someone from Canada, Australia, or the UK), and when they travel to particular countries they use their other passport rather than their true blue American one, because of the crap they know they'd have to face.
So whose fault exactly is the negative American reputation?
It's a shame that people feel they have to pretend to be citizens of another country, or--if this is not possible--to put on a show of hating their country in the face of foreigners. I did this once myself. It did not feel good. In fact, I felt filthy afterward.
See, I like this country. Its politics aren't always the most desirable, and it certainly has plenty of corruption stinking up the place, but there's something to be said for Thanksgiving. And the 4th of July. And the Grand Canyon. And that open-road feeling that you can't find in every country. And, when it comes down to it, we're really good at pulling together. Think of the support given to aid the tragedy of September 11th and that of Hurrican Katrina. And we have redwood forests, and jazz, and bluegrass, and apple pie, and cowboy hats, and skyscrapers, and the Great Lakes...
I could really keep listing things. I don't mind this country. And I don't know about you, but I'm tired of feeling like I have to be ashamed of it.
I also love my country.
Loving your country doesn't mean you have to agree with everything it's government does; it just means you have pride in your fellow citizens and who they are. I'm proud of Americans because we are (for the most part) hard-working, tough people who have created a country where anyone can make something of themselves. I know this first hand.
Keep up the good blogging!