Michelle Obama said, in a recent speech, that “For the first time in my adult lifetime, I am really proud of my country” and this started a lot of chins wagging and fingers typing. Columnist Michelle Malkin wrote a response to Mrs. Obama which you can read here: http://michellemalkin.com/2008/02/20/michelle-obamas-america-and-mine/ I was emailed Ms. Malkin’s response by my favorite Conservative, my Dad. I read it and then I responded to it.
Now, I want to hear from you, faithful readers. Are you Proud to be an American, why or why not? What does it mean to you to be “proud to be an American”? What does it mean to you if someone were to say they are not “proud to be an American”?
I am desperate for your responses, my fellow Americans and gentle readers. Don’t let me down.
Filed under: General, Politics | Tagged: america, debate, discuss, gaffe, michelle malkin, michelle obama, Politics, pride, proud, proud to be an american, speech |
Stranger in a Strange Land 
Hey Matty – I read your blog and MM’s and responded back on my blog … take a look: http://littletiger.wordpress.com/2008/03/03/my-country-tis-of-thee/#respond
Proud…kind of a weird term for me seeing as I was born in America and we don’t choose where we are born. It would be like me saying I am proud to be a white male with curly hair and blue eyes. I would say I have been blessed to be born is America and I need to use that blessing to bless others.
I think that this comment from her shows yet another reason why we should run away as far as we can from this idiot’s canidacy. He hates America, and clearly so does his wife on comments she has made since then. They should go live in Kenya for a few years and see how much better it is over there if they are so disgusted.
I am blessed and proud to be an American because people have sacrificed and are sacrificing their lives to protect the rights of even the most idiotic and ungrateful people to be able to speak freely against this great country with no fear of reprocussion
pastorboy –
wow… John Chisham on my blog… I am honored, sir…. please feel free to look around and comment at will…
i am troubled by your statement “He hates America”. Why do you believe this? Do you honestly think Sen. Obama would spend millions of dollars to run for President of a country he hates? That makes no sense!
I also think that Mrs. Obama’s comments have been twisted from the spirit and intention with which they were given. In truth, Michelle’s comment was that she was finally proud of her country. I don’t think this is the same thing as being proud to be an American. America, as a country, has done some pretty reprehensible things. Slavery, mass slaughter of Native Americans, dropping a nuclear weapon on another sovereign nation, invading a sovereign nation because their leader insulted our leader’s father… these are not things to be proud of, by any stretch.
I also caution you, sir, as one who leads other Christians, to refrain from calling some one an “idiot” simply because they happen to belong to a different political party than you. James 3:1 cautions that teachers will be held to a higher standard.
Again, John, welcome to the “Strange Land”. I hope you will read and comment and become an active part of my own personal blogosphere.
SDG,
Matty
~ Pastorboy
An idiot and his wife who hates America? You may not agree with him (or her), but who are you (or I) to make such comments about someone, even if you view that “someone” as an enemy (Jesus would say, “All the more reason to love them”)
“They should go live in Kenya for a few years”…I agree, as we all should. Perhaps when we return we’ll understand a bit more about how we as rich Americans can be a blessing to our neighbors we happen to share this globe with. http://mendingshift.wordpress.com/2007/12/14/living-outside-the-saltshaker-revisited/
I agree…I too am thankful for the many freedoms we have and daily take for granted.
Why do I say that
HusseinBarack Obama hates America? ed note: please have the decency and respect to use the man’s name correctly ~mmHe will not wear a flag on his lapel
He does not salute the flag during the pledge
He does not recite the pledge
His Pastor hates America
His Pastor supports Farahkhan
Farakhan supports Obama
Obama has not distanced himself from the America-hating Farakhan.
Michelle Obama is not running for president, but her lack of pride in her country, a country where a black man and a black woman have come up through circumstances not always easy, are only an election away from rising to the level of chief executive and first lady. I would say that we should be proud of that, and we should not hate the system that allowed them to get there.
From the NewYorker:
“Obama begins with a broad assessment of life in America in 2008, and life is not good: we’re a divided country, we’re a country that is “just downright mean,” we are “guided by fear,” we’re a nation of cynics, sloths, and complacents. “We have become a nation of struggling folks who are barely making it every day,” she said, as heads bobbed in the pews. “Folks are just jammed up, and it’s gotten worse over my lifetime. And, doggone it, I’m young. Forty-four!”
From these bleak generalities, Obama moves into specific complaints. Used to be, she will say, that you could count on a decent education in the neighborhood. But now there are all these charter schools and magnet schools that you have to “finagle” to get into. (Obama herself attended a magnet school, but never mind.) Health care is out of reach (“Let me tell you, don’t get sick in America”), pensions are disappearing, college is too expensive, and even if you can figure out a way to go to college you won’t be able to recoup the cost of the degree in many of the professions for which you needed it in the first place. “You’re looking at a young couple that’s just a few years out of debt,” Obama said. “See, because, we went to those good schools, and we didn’t have trust funds. I’m still waiting for Barack’s trust fund. Especially after I heard that Dick Cheney was s’posed to be a relative or something. Give us something here!”
Michelle Obama does not like America.
pastorboy –
no, no, no! I’m not going to let you get away with that! That’s just Conservative word-bending; that ‘s just more of the “revisionist history” you guys love to complain about!
Michelle Obama is disappointed with America in it’s current state. That is very different from saying she doesn’t like America.
I, too, am disappointed with America. We have the potential to be so much more! The things she mentions are true for many people. Perhaps not for you. Thank God for that! But do not assume that your middle-class, white American experience in the upper Midwest is the same as anyone else’s, ok, John?
Is she exaggerating to make a point? Maybe. Hyperbole is to be expected in political speeches. That is certainly not relegated to the left.
Come on, John. You can do better than this!
pastorboy –
He will not wear a flag on his lapel
He does not salute the flag during the pledge
He does not recite the pledge
His Pastor hates America
His Pastor supports Farahkhan
Farakhan supports Obama
Obama has not distanced himself from the America-hating Farakhan.
I don’t wear a flag lapel pin. Do you wear a flag lapel pin everyday?
What do you mean by “salute the flag”?
I don’t say the Pledge of Allegiance either. My allegiance is to the Kingdom of God, not a Flag. This does not make me un-American, anti-American, or less proud to be an American; I choose not to say the pledge.
Why do you think his Pastor hates America? Why do you think Farrakhan hates America? Why do you insist that in order for someone to not “hate America” they have to agree with you? Is it possible for someone to disagree with you and still love America?
Are you proud that America allowed legalized slavery? Are you proud that America sat back and let Adolf Hitler invade countries all across Europe? Are you proud that America continues to witness the suffering and genocide in Darfur and yet does nothing?
I am not proud of these things. I am deeply embarrassed by these things. I am embarrassed that America is seen as the playground bully of the world. I believe very strongly we need to work to repair our image around the world. We should be the nation other nations wish to emulate and, for a long time, we were. Not now. Now we are despised so much that people wish to do us harm.
Now, let me clarify. I do not excuse the 9/11 attacks like some do. I do not say, “well, we had it coming” like some do. But I do acknowledge the fact that we, as a country, have not treated the rest of the world with a whole lot of respect, particularly the 2/3 world, the developing world, the “poor” world.
Proud to be an American? Yes. Always proud of America. No.
SDG,
Matty
bravo Matty – thank you for your reply!!! I agree wholeheartedly with what you have written here! Thank you again for providing this forum for us … oh and by the way – none of the candidates are wearing the flag lapel pins – including McCain! And I’ve seen footage of Obama leading the entire Congress in the Pledge!
The NewYorker conservative?
Now THATS funny…..
Oh, and Mr. Editor, Hussein is his name.
Barak Hussein Obama.
pastorboy –
I know his middle name is Hussein… however, to use it instead of his first name is simply inflammatory…
also, I wasn’t calling “The New Yorker” conservative…. Yours was the “conservative word-bending” I was referring to. When you deduce that “Michelle Obama doesn’t like America” based on her speech, that is word-bending. She is disappointed with America. She is sad that America isn’t living up to it’s potential. SO AM I!! That doesn’t mean I hate America. She never said the words, “I hate America”. Neither has her husband, by the way.
I’m not willing to say “America is the greatest nation in the world.” Does that mean I hate America, too?
Matty
Rob-
The question of a Pledge?
The question of Honor?
The question of America?
No matter who is campaigning for president,The simple
act of honoring the Pledge of Allegiance goes to the very
core of what is truly American………America!.
The United States of America
Substance vs.Change
or
Change vs.Substance
America is a freedom to be proud of,and no matter who is
elected or placed in the position of president it is clear
that Substance has Changed.
100 Million+ Viewers!
Buy my Politician!……..
That’s Key!………
A light bulb Moment!………
We are not picking the next American Idol!
This is the United States Presidency!
Three words:
PLEDGE!
HONOR!
AMERICA!
Which one will you not chose?
IT IS A GREAT BLESSING TO BE AN AMERICAN. IT IS THE LAND OF MILK AND HONEY.
JESUS IS LORD OVER THIS LAND AND NO ONE CAN CHANGE THIS. THERE IS NO WAY OBAMA FITS IN, IF HE IS ANTI-CHRIST, HE IS ANTI-AMERICAN. IT IS A TERRIBLE THING TO HAVE THE LORD AGAINST YOU.
WHAT SHOCKS ME IS THAT AMERICANS COULD EVEN CONSIDER SUCH A PERSON FOR OUR PRESIDENT. THE ONLY CHANGE HE COULD BRING TO AMERICA IS DESTRUCTION. I FIND THIS MAN TO BE A LIAR AND A FAKE. HIS PASTOR GIVES ME A CHILL AND SO DOES OBAMA.
[…] and there were comments and people said some interesting things and you can read all about it here and […]
Proud? yes
disgusted? yes.
Yes i am proud to be an american but im also ashamed.People all over the U.S. are doing nothing but taking everything for granted..buch of little kids running around trying to be a gang banger.kids going on rampages during school.Having little emo kids runnin around doing druds, slitting there wrists.they think there life is so hard.yea ok?!?What the hell is wrong with these people.adults your not helping at all either.letting them get away with the stuff they do.instead of complaining about it do something…
Am i proud to be an american…Yes and no…
Think about it!
-Tru B.A.M.F.
Matty needs to read history books
dar~
welcome to the Strange Land and to this debate. I would ask that you leave a more detailed comment next time… to simply suggest that I don’t know history is kind of strange. what are you really suggesting? how would my views be different if I “read history books”? I know history quite well. What are you really trying to say?
Or could it be possible that this 6-word comment is more akin to a recent commentor who wrote “you are dumb” and left it at that. do you have more to say?
SDG,
Matty