Comments on: Question:

By: Manders

Manders — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 01:45:52 +0000

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.

By: whipple

whipple — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 04:10:18 +0000

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.

By: TonyL

TonyL — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 17:18:28 +0000

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.

By: Stephen

Stephen — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 20:56:35 +0000

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.

By: Cassandra

Cassandra — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 12:42:26 +0000

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.

By: Dusty

Dusty — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 03:53:55 +0000

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.

By: Charity

Charity — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 01:06:13 +0000

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.

By: Adrian

Adrian — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 01:05:17 +0000

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”

By: Bill B

Bill B — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 00:39:55 +0000

What Elijah said.

By: elijah

elijah — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 22:16:41 +0000

Sometimes. More often than not.