so you live, work and train in the US....

[disneyjunkie]

[edited]

I'm tired of the way American's are made to feel like were supposed to go around loathing ourselves apologizing for our way of life, our successes and every other fault the rest of the world can imagine. Not this American!

Seriously, you think no other nation in the world has National pride? How then do you explain all the people who live here but who fly flags from other countries off their house, as bumper stickers and as tiny flags dangling off their rear view mirrors. THIS country is the exact opposite, THE US is more tolerant of other people than any other place on this planet and that's why people from every corner of the planet manage to come here, sneak in if necessary, and somehow get along without riots in the streets. When I lived in NYC I knew people from every corner of the world and there we all were getting along at the lunch table, like the UN only better. That is a thing of beauty and that can only happen here

The US works precisely because of our tolerance and I'm not even a teensy bit interested in hearing how much I'm supposed to despise myself because I'm ---- fill in the blank ---- and how much I'm supposed to WISH and WANT to be from somewhere else... to explore somewhere else. That's just soooooooo old....

I'm an American, I'm proud to be American, I'm grateful my grandparents floated all 15 of their kids here so I could be raised here and I am 100% absolutely positively rooting for every single American in those Olympic Games.

GO USA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[okeydokey]

[edited]

I'm tired of the way American's are made to feel like were supposed to go around loathing ourselves apologizing for our way of life, our successes and every other fault the rest of the world can imagine.

Hmmm, I've never felt this way.

 

[PeterPan09]

Hmmm, I've never felt this way.

Me either.

I have to wonder about the black/white thinking. If we aren't saying that only the USA is perfect and all other nations are deficient than we "loathe" our country and we are apologizing for our way of life?

anyone ever heard of balance? Bueller???

 

[Tiggernut_jadie]

[edited]



Seriously, you think no other nation in the world has National pride? How then do you explain all the people who live here but who fly flags from other countries off their house, as bumper stickers and as tiny flags dangling off their rear view mirrors. THIS country is the exact opposite, THE US is more tolerant of other people than any other place on this planet and that's why people from every corner of the planet manage to come here, sneak in if necessary, and somehow get along without riots in the streets. When I lived in NYC I knew people from every corner of the world and there we all were getting along at the lunch table, like the UN only better. That is a thing of beauty and that can only happen here

.

Sorry but this is hogwash! The USA is NOT the only 'tolerant' place in the world neither is it the only place where you can get people from all over the world in the same square mile. At my DD's school there are children from every continent in the world. Her very best friends are from Nigeria and Bangladesh! Likewise we don't have riots on the streets and we even 'allow' Americans to live here!

I bolded part of your comment because no it doesn't just happen in America it happens in other countries as well and I too am proud of my country I am British and proud to be British its not just an American thing to be proud of your country.

Spot on Paula!

Nope but it's a distinctly American thing to be told we SHOULDN'T be proud of our country or to be chastised when we are.

Just look at how many posts have been devoted to my personal devotion to my own country. Seriously, don't you think it's a little bit much?

GO USA!

Oh yeah well if we're doing the 'we're more hard done by than you' thing...you want to try being from England! Not only are we expected to be apologetic to any country that used to be part of the British Empire but we also have the reputation for not being able to think for ourselves and be America's 'lap dog'. Add to that the fact that the Welsh, Scots and Irish hate us too so we're even supposed to feel guilty towards our closest neighbours!

But despite all this I'm proud to be English - and will be doubly so if my cousin Shelly Rudman gets another gold medal in the skeleton bob....Come on Shelly!

 

[Planogirl]

I agree that the US is not more tolerant than anywhere else. The Dutch are famous for their tolerance considering it a point of pride and other nations do quite well too.

That is not to say that the US isn't a remarkable country because it is. But let's not go over the top.

 

[declansdad]

None-the-less, look at how many posts here are criticizing me simply because I am all "GO USA!"

The proof is in the pudding so to speak isn't it? BTW, I'm being reactive here, not the other way around. Also, I think I'm being pretty passive about the barbs being tossed my way.

I don't think anyone has criticized you for simply saying "Go USA!" In fact, I think if you step back for a minute, you will see that there have been no barbs at all.

 

[autumnpalm]

Canadian here...

I am extremely proud to be Canadian and I feel blessed to live in the country I do. However, I consider myself a citizen of the world first, and a citizen of my country second. I cheer for every single athlete competing in the Olympics because they all worked their butts off to get there and are going after their dreams with everything they've got. No matter where they come from, I'm going to cheer them on.

Am I happy when Canada wins? Sure! It's great to see that happen. But I'm also happy for every deserving athlete that medals.

The US is a great country and I'm so happy to have you guys as our neighbours to the south! But to say that the US is simply the BEST at everything does sound kind of arrogant. Yes, you have wonderful schools and hospitals and athletes and programs... but so do a LOT of other countries! It's one thing to be proud of the resources you do have, but to state they are the best out there is kind of like knocking those of other countries around the world.

We all live in the same world and I think respect for other countries and recognitions of their achievements, successes and strengths can only benefit us. Saying that yours are better no matter what just because they happen to come from your country just doesn't make sense to me.

 

[bumbershoot]

Oh yeah well if we're doing the 'we're more hard done by than you' thing...you want to try being from England! Not only are we expected to be apologetic to any country that used to be part of the British Empire but we also have the reputation for not being able to think for ourselves and be America's 'lap dog'. Add to that the fact that the Welsh, Scots and Irish hate us too so we're even supposed to feel guilty towards our closest neighbours!

England, what's that behind your back....hand it over.... (paraphrasing Eddie Izzard about the British Empire)

[edited]

I'm tired of the way American's are made to feel like were supposed to go around loathing ourselves apologizing for our way of life, our successes and every other fault the rest of the world can imagine. Not this American!

I don't know who is trying to make YOU feel this way, but no one has ever made ME feel that way. I'm not patriotic at all, but I came by that on my own, by traveling and talking to people, and watching what happens here.

You might not believe it, but the pressure put on a person like me, by people like you, is tremendous, and very scary, when someone is telling you to *leave* just b/c you don't buy everything some random leader is teling you.

....That is a thing of beauty and that can only happen here

Have you traveled AT ALL? Canada...doing the multi-ethnicity thing FAR better than we can even *dream* of doing it. Have been to Vancouver? It is an amazing, beautiful, tolerant, KIND, city. None of that ugly NYC (or is it Chicago?) "if you can make it here you can make it anywhere" stuff, no, I bet that the citizens of Vancouver would *help* you make it, not just throw you to the wolves.

Even Ireland, the west of it at least where I was, seemed more open and accepting of others than many cities I've lived in in the States. And that's a teeny tiny country!

Germany is a country which has much of which to be proud, including sport, the arts, science, etc. But it is also a country which is held as the example of what can happen when patriotism is taken the extreme.

You don't think that we have had more than seven decades of shame? I cannot explain the vast complexity of the current struggle for most Germans here, but it is far more complex than national pride.

There is nothing wrong with pride, but if you take that pride to the extreme then there is a problem.

You say the most brilliant things, bavaria.

In my world they are THE best. No medals necessary to prove it.

How does that make sense? Even if they aren't the best at the Olympics, they are still the best? That...that isn't how it works with athletic competitions.

And THIS to me is the Olympics - people caring about each other. This story is full of 'Olympic spirit' and lacks overt nationalism.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/02/11/bc-indian-olympic-team-vancouver.html

So cool!

They send their kids here to get educated then leave.

And many people here go to England for college. When I was in Ireland, the B&B's owner's oldest son had just earned his Masters degree up at Queens College in Northern Ireland (which is the UK, of course). People go to where the education is, and it goes all ways, depending on your view of education! I'd rather have gone to school in Korea or Taiwan, considering what DH has told me about their schooling, instead of the relatively junky education I got from 1-12, with the exception of a brilliant 4th grade teacher, here in the States.

They come here for medical care then say how bad our way of life is.

I really doubt it's the SAME people who visit here for medical care and then badmouth things. But still, just because osmeone has a practice IN the States doesn't make the States better.

The real thorn in my side are the celebrities who make all their millions here then move away and trash talk us in foreign papers **Remember the America is like a Stupid Puppy** comment yes, I am still holding a grudge for that one.

You let things that celebrities say bug your life that much? And beyond that person being a celebrity, he's also a human, who is allowed to like or not like whatever he wants. He's had certain things happen, he's seen certain things, and has made certain conclusions of how he wants to live his life, and unlike me, he CAN get out of here b/c he married someone not from here. He didn't make millions from the American government...so he owes nothing to the government. He doesn't owe it to *America*. Heck, Bollywood is actually the biggest film industry; he might make MORE money there! A job isn't a country.

All I know is US athletes are the best in the world in my opinion and I'm not the slightest bit apologetic for feeling this way. If someone wants to play for someone else, it's their loss. I won't be cheering them on.

You don't have to be apologetic for your *feeling* that one country has the best athletes, but it kind of weirds me out that you can feel that they are the best even if they aren't the best, ya know?

Like, if you want The Best, while watching the Summer Olympics, you might want to cheer on the South Koreans for Archery. Because they tend to be the best at that. You can't say that all American athletes are the best, when they are overwhelmingly NOT the best in some sports.

I dunno...I'm watching the Olympics and enjoying seeing how good they ALL are. I don't even care where they're from, and wish that the commentators would stop harping on the "canadian jinx" and such, because everyone just wants to be the best on that day, and the amount of excellent athletics is amazing to see!

I am not a superfan of anything much, so I just can't even relate to the feeling that any one team or country is THE best ALL the time...I want all teams to do their best and have no regrets!

 

[gina2000]

Well, while I'm totally pro-America, the reality is that I'm pro ANY athlete that performs an amazing feat. I stand up and applaud any athlete in any venue regardless of who they are, where they come from, where they train, or whether they are on "my" team or not. Athletes perform amazing feats and I, for one, don't care where they train or whose flag they play under.

The Olympics would have very little competition if athletes could only train in their own country.

I never realized we were so tolerant. I guess I missed the change in gay marriage laws, womens' rights, universal healthcare, etc., etc., etc. I need to speak with some of our recent immigrants to see if the typical ethnic slur is dead in America.

 

[PaulaSB12]

Nope but it's a distinctly American thing to be told we SHOULDN'T be proud of our country or to be chastised when we are.

Just look at how many posts have been devoted to my personal devotion to my own country. Seriously, don't you think it's a little bit much?

GO USA!

We are still getting flack from King Richard and his cruisades beat that one.

 

[RadioNate]

I cannot speak for Bavaria, but I sure as heck do.

Saying that US athletes are THE best, regardless of who wins what medals, is rather extreme.

I agree. It isn't a matter of being proud of your country. It is saying that they are THE BEST only by virtue of where they were born. It is arrogant, to say the least to think that Americans are THE BEST simply because by chance they were born here.

So let me get this straight, saying my country is the best, in my opinion, without saying anything at all in the least bit disparaging about ANY other athletes or the people who support them is now extreme.

I don't quite know what to say to that or even what to think about the people who assert as much.

You do realize though that there are MANY areas in which America, ISN'T the best. You can be patriotic and realize that there are areas in which America excels and just as many area which America is not the best.

Canadian here...

I am extremely proud to be Canadian and I feel blessed to live in the country I do. However, I consider myself a citizen of the world first, and a citizen of my country second. I cheer for every single athlete competing in the Olympics because they all worked their butts off to get there and are going after their dreams with everything they've got. No matter where they come from, I'm going to cheer them on.

Am I happy when Canada wins? Sure! It's great to see that happen. But I'm also happy for every deserving athlete that medals.

The US is a great country and I'm so happy to have you guys as our neighbours to the south! But to say that the US is simply the BEST at everything does sound kind of arrogant. Yes, you have wonderful schools and hospitals and athletes and programs... but so do a LOT of other countries! It's one thing to be proud of the resources you do have, but to state they are the best out there is kind of like knocking those of other countries around the world.

We all live in the same world and I think respect for other countries and recognitions of their achievements, successes and strengths can only benefit us. Saying that yours are better no matter what just because they happen to come from your country just doesn't make sense to me.

Very well said. It doesn't make sense to this American either.

I'm happy to be American. I'm glad I live here but I don't for one second believe that our citizens are THE BEST at whatever simply because they were born on American soil. Just the whole concept is entirely ridiculous.

 

[LuvOrlando]

WOW, well this has been an interesting thread, it hasn't changed anything for me but it has been entertaining so YAY for that. I am a bit confused by all the attention my stance has garnered, I mean the fact people are anti me being pro US is sort of peculiar, but then again we sure do live in a funny world don't we?

Now I am off to go watch some more Olympics with a big fat American smile on my face.

 

[locolala]

When I was 12-14 I lived in Florida during the winters with my trainer (horseback riding), yet kept residency in VA where my parents were. I competed in Zone 3 (MD/VA area) competitions year round, travelling up during the winter for the shows. Under some people's beliefs, I should have competed in Zone 4 competitions during the winter, and 3 during the summer and spring. You compete for the country/zone you claim residency/citizenship, you train where it's best for your sport. The weather is just too nasty to train in VA during the winter, it's just not possible to keep in the condition required when you're limited by the weather. For me, I couldn't do my conditioning runs and my daily 2-3 hours in the saddle when it's 25 degrees outside..

 

[Planogirl]

Some people listen but choose not to hear as they say. Personally I love ALL of the athletes and admire them greatly for their talent and dedication. I see the Olympics as a fun competition and don't get upset if the other guys win.

 

[crashbb]

I just watched a repeat of the "How I met your mother" episode where Robin considers becoming an American. Barney reminded me of this thread.

 

[okeydokey]

WOW, well this has been an interesting thread, it hasn't changed anything for me but it has been entertaining so YAY for that. I am a bit confused by all the attention my stance has garnered, I mean the fact people are anti me being pro US is sort of peculiar, but then again we sure do live in a funny world don't we?

Now I am off to go watch some more Olympics with a big fat American smile on my face.

It's funny how people color things in their own minds. Nobody is anti you because you are pro USA. People take exception to your posts because you refuse to see that the love others have for their own homelands is just as valid as the love you have for yours. When you say we are always the best in absolutely everything, you make this an us against them situation and that is unfortunate. You don't need to be so defensive.

 

[PeterPan09]

It's funny how people color things in their own minds. Nobody is anti you because you are pro USA. People take exception to your posts because you refuse to see that the love others have for their own homelands is just as valid as the love you have for yours. When you say we are always the best in absolutely everything, you make this an us against them situation and that is unfortunate. You don't need to be so defensive.

Thank you for explaining it so clearly.

As for me, I LOVED watching the medal ceremony last night when the Canadian skier received his gold medal. Listening to that HUGE crowd sing their national anthem was a beautiful moment. It didn't take away one bit of my love for my own country, didn't make me ashamed of my country or apologetic for my country. I just enjoyed watching a moment that meant so much to my neighbors.

 

[LuvOrlando]

It's funny how people color things in their own minds. Nobody is anti you because you are pro USA. People take exception to your posts because you refuse to see that the love others have for their own homelands is just as valid as the love you have for yours. When you say we are always the best in absolutely everything, you make this an us against them situation and that is unfortunate. You don't need to be so defensive.

Uhhh, when exactly did I say I expect people to feel differently for their own than I do for mine?

Now who is coloring things?

I do think we are the best in absolutely everything, and I'm pretty sure the rest of the world feels the same about their own country of origin. But it's an opinion, no more and no less. Sort of how I feel about my kids. To say I believe the rest of the world would ever or should ever agree crosses the line into delusional, which I am not. I fully expect others to feel the same about wherever they come from and that neither irritates me nor concerns me. So answer me this, why shouldn't I be allowed to feel this way about the US? I find it infinitely intriguing why my opinion seems to be so provocative. I mean why does anyone care at all?

BTW, the games were great last night.

GO US!

 

[PeterPan09]

Uhhh, when exactly did I say I expect people to feel differently for their own than I do for mine?

Now who is coloring things?

I do think we are the best in absolutely everything, and I'm pretty sure the rest of the world feels the same about their own country of origin. But it's an opinion, no more and no less. Sort of how I feel about my kids. To say I believe the rest of the world would ever or should ever agree crosses the line into delusional, which I am not. I fully expect others to feel the same about wherever they come from and that neither irritates me nor concerns me. So answer me this, why shouldn't I be allowed to feel this way about the US? I find it infinitely intriguing why my opinion seems to be so provocative. I mean why does anyone care at all?

BTW, the games were great last night.

GO US!

Nobody said that you can't feel that way, just that it isn't accurate. The US is NOT the best at everything (nor is any other single country) and saying that over and over only makes it seem like you're missing reality a bit. It doesn't matter that you cover it by saying "in my opinion". Even an opinion should be grounded in some sense of reality or it looks delusional.

I can boldly say that in my opinion, pigs can fly but that certainly isn't going to change the reality that the little porkers have no aerodynamic ability.

 

[Aristomommy]

None-the-less, look at how many posts here are criticizing me simply because I am all "GO USA!"

The proof is in the pudding so to speak isn't it? BTW, I'm being reactive here, not the other way around. Also, I think I'm being pretty passive about the barbs being tossed my way.

Your OP didn't hit a nerve with me because a "Go USA" statement. It was the attitude that came across as putting other athletes down in an ethnocentric way that is so opposite of what the Olympics represent.

How many stories are featured over the Olympics about athletes who will not have a chance at a medal but are there to achieve personal triumphs? Stories that highlight athletes from ALL nations, not just USA?

The way I grew up was to be proud of my heritage but the fact that a grew up in a wonderful nation didn't make me better than another person. I realized I was incredibly fortunate to have food, clothing and shelter which so many children in this world do without. This humility and appreciation runs deeper than any boasting or insensitive remark another person can make.

I am grateful that my parents taught me to see good in other people and nations instead of just focusing on myself. In this global world it is a valuable skill that I wish more Americans shared.