August 17, 2007
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America
This is a free country where anyone can say anything they want. But it feels like we spend an inordinate amount of time being critical of ourselves. We always say what is wrong with the U.S. And yet so many people want to be here.
Is it me, or are we hard on ourselves?
Comments (103)
Who says that many people want to be in the U.S.?
yes.
No, being able to constructively critique ourselves is one of the reasons this country is so great. If all we did was praise ourselves, then we’d really start sliding.
Just wondering, yeah? No offense. Hehe.
I think some people are hard on this country, even when its doing certain things right. Criticism is very important, but so is praise.
i love being in the U.S. so many people say it sucks, but it’s one of the best systems out here. they complain even though they have the best they could ever possibly get.
I don’t think you can be too hard on yourself. America is clearly a flawed country as good as it is to live in it, but since we have so much we don’t know how to appreciate and be greatful, and that has turned our society into a bad one, and it’s not gonna straighten out without criticism.
Dan, do you star your own posts?
You’re not hard enough on yourselves. The United States is ridiculously insecure–they’ve removed (or tried) everything they’ve to be proud of and yet they still want to have the pride. Pride in what? Honestly.
I love this country. I really do. But I think sometimes we all have to take a hard look at ourselves… and a lot of people do that with our country. Are we too hard on ourselves? As a general whole, probably. We’re doing a lot more good than anyone gives us credit for. Then again, there are areas that need a lot of work… a lot of founding principles which most of our country has forgotten.
Yeah, free country all right. Warrantless wiretapping ignored, of course.
It’s not America that’s the problem, it’s the people living here. The ignorance of morality… People who think that being in the majority means they have the right to try and make the minority join them.
I think some people are hard on this country, even when its doing certain things right. Criticism is very important, but so is praise. LightningRichy
I agree. Well said.
As a whole nation, we really do have a tendency to be very critical without putting ourselves in other’s situations before mouthing off. I really love my country, and I count my blessings daily of why I have the freedom to be living in such a posh (notice I say that seriously) nation and yet we can’t meet the ‘middle’ ground and agree to disagree on certain issues. We are blessed to be here, and I wish a lot more people would realize it. If we could get back to the basics of what this country was founded on – God, prayer, family - we wouldn’t be in the shape we’re in today. Just my 2 cents.
It’s you.
I don’t think so. In fact, sometimes I’d say we aren’t hard enough on ourselves.
Eh. In most aspects, America really is a good country.
However. The flaws are KIND OF hard to overlook. When one claims freedom, it should be universal and unquestioned, not “Oh, these people can’t have the same rights as those people. My opinion is superior to yours, and therefore you must listen to me.”
This person’s got it:
“
Yeah, free country all right. Warrantless wiretapping ignored, of course.
It’s not America that’s the problem, it’s the people living here. The ignorance of morality… People who think that being in the majority means they have the right to try and make the minority join them.
<LI class=itemtimestamp>8/17/2007 1:26 PM
<LI class=itemsubmitter>MyJudas “
We often tell people that constructive criticism is something that shouldn’t be withheld, but there must be a balance. If all a person receives is criticism, he or she will conclude that either a) he or she is no good and simply can’t improve so why even try, or b) his or her critic is full of it. Same goes with countries.
Good point – I really think so.
yes! which is good. let’s keep it up.
American nationalism seems to have lost its vogue. It’s like the other nations started complaining about us so we thought it was a good idea to complain about ourselves too. They’ve got their own problems in their own countries that they need to deal with but some how Americans have become the world’s biggest joke. In every country there are conservatives and liberals, religious people and atheists, government problems and scandals- how come ours is under the microscope and no one elses?
As to ourselves- since we have rejected absolutes (except that we’ve tried to replace Christianity with evolution) and embraced relativity in our post modern culture, we no longer have any true standard of right and wrong and therefore our nation has been in a tailspin of corruption and violence and degradations of all types- regardless of race, religions or creeds. Christianity used to provide that standard for the entire nation and when it did America was at her zenith. The further we go away from a firm understanding of right and wrong- the worse things will get- one need only look to the news to confirm that one. How many school shootings will there be this year? How many scandals among public figures? How many rapes, abortions and murders? They will keep mounting- mark my words.
I think we’re just obsessed with ourselves…
maybee?
well, there’s always room for improvement, right? I mean, those who don’t complain about stuff, never get anything done because they think they’re the best. I think it’s better that we complain about our country and try to make it different than think we’re the BEST.
Come to think of it, I think that there’s also a fair share of nationalism here too. People who love our country and don’t see anything wrong; and others who want more for our country. Hmm…sounds a tad familiar, eh?
I think America is messed up right now with everything going on. When are the troops comming home?
no not really; but some more so then others.
Nah.
Way to tell it like it is PreciousOnyx!!!
yes
PreciousOnyx, I agree. Sadly, it won’t come back to those Christians values. I think that, mixed with the destruction of our economy is what is going to cause America to fall. I think as long as we turn our backs on the morals and principles which founded this country things will just continue to go downhill. We’re turning more into a democracy and less into a republic every single day. Democracies never work. It saddens me.
pff no. it’s deserved.
this is the greatest country on earth, but, some people will never be happy until they have destroyed it in their quest for what they call freedom. they are the loudmouths who have driven God out of school, taken away our ability to celebrate holidays, and hate the idea that family equals a healthy society. we can see what their criticisms are doing to our nation. that said, in spite of all our problems, we still have tremendous freedoms here that no one else has and for that I am thankful to God. dave out
I think that “being too hard on ourselves” is a reflection of ourselves. We have a lot of issues in America that are not good, and it would be far worse if we didn’t recognize them than if we recognized them too much.
With freedom comes responsibility. With responsibility should come questioning of ourselves, our motives, our goals, our actions, our inactions, our mistakes… We shouldn’t ignore the things that are good about our country, but we shouldn’t be complacent, either.
I think many people are hard on the country (government, people in general, etc.) but rarely hard on themselves personally.
It seems it’s popular to be against “the man” or rebellious or whatever. Plus, people have ideals that conflict with a world of reality.
The minute we start congratulating ourselves, that’s when there will really be something wrong with the country. What’s wrong with constant improvement?
The “Hollywood Fantasy America” is not the real America. While I am happy to have been born here, I see so many things that foreiners think is what America is but I know it isn’t. Thanks to politicians, and others who hold power, rights of the general public aren’t what they use to be. Under the cover of”homeland security” even more rights are in danger of being taken away. Right now, I am proud of all of the soldiers who are fighting to protect the American people, but I’m ashamed of all of the crap that alot of politicians have been playing in this year especially. It’s time for the general American citizen to wake up, and take a hard look at what is going on.
Bitching is what makes our country great.
If it wasn’t for bitching, then I wouldn’t know that coffee is hot, bitching put the “this beverage is hot” label on coffee”
Bitching also made it so the Police have to tell us our rights, but chances are if you don’t know your rights, then you probably aren’t going to use your right to remain silent “I didn’t have THAT much crack in my trunk when I left!”
America is FANTASTIC but we’re sliding down some pretty bad paths. This whole fear issue is making security more important than freedom, and I will not stand for it if America continues to slide into decadence and tyranny. It’s a long shot but it is the current direction. VOTE RON PAUL
-David
If we’re hard on ourselves, it’s what makes the country a great nation. If anything we need to set tougher standards instead of easing up.
“The compromises of one generation are the standards of the next”–Josh McDowell.
It’s you “dan”.
I’m not part of “ourselves” so I can’t comment. However, this is something I observed and it irritates me. A lot of people that I know who wants to come to the states would come here, and then criticize the crap out of it. They absolutely hate, yet they stay here. Why? Plenty of reasons. For their children. Life IS better here. Something that they can show off about. More money. Those are some that I know of.
No, we are not too hard on ourselves. This country is horrible, and distorted.
And by saying that, I am probably a terrorist.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P682rGIhZwI
Why aren’t we extremely pissed off?
we should be hard on ourselves. It’s how we improve and stay free…
I don’t think we’re hard on ourselves, but as a nation we are constantly taking a look at ourselves and asking tough questions. We do a lot of self-examination at a nation. Yes, we have problems, but I don’t think I’d want to live in any other country but the U.S.
Maybe not hard enough.
Some of us are.
I have problems with people talking about our freedom of speech because there is a lot that we cannot say and there is even more that we will soon not be able to say if a few lobbyists have their ways.
I say to those who dont like it here, they can leave. In many countries you cant even complain about the government without fear of being killed.
human nature.
I’m not hard enough on you.
PreciousOnyx is an idiot, it’s the Jews who’ve made this country strong.
b/c of the patriot act i am afraid to give a genuine response.
No, being able to constructively critique ourselves is one of the reasons this country is so great. If all we did was praise ourselves, then we’d really start sliding.
<LI class=itemtimestamp>8/17/2007 1:23 PM
<LI class=itemsubmitter>squeakysoul (message)
I agree, but most of the time, it’s not constructive, it’s just breeding hate towards America.
You fagy-ass liberal hate breeders!! I hope you get diabetes.
We have freedoms that we don’t want to give up.. Other countires have positives and negatives but so does America. Being critical doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a bad thing because it could mean that we want to “better” our lifestyle. What do you mean… Are we being too hard on ourselves? If we are, we deserve it.
If everyone ate a little chocolate everyday america would be such a happy place. I think I will now follow my own advice and get some chocolate ice cream.
Some people live to complain. I think the government should start givin’ out happy pills, then everyone woiuld be happy.
America is the second greatest nation ever. More people need to realize that.
^what is the first?
tee hee. you said ‘hard on’.
I think that we should just move it along, give up all our civil liberties, lose our personal national identity and become a nuetral ground for all the world ruled by the United Nations. Oh that is not really what you were asking though was it? Maybe we just complain too much about everything.
isn’t there a saying ” We are our own worst critics?” I believe so.
PeAce Love Soul
We are a nation of little bitches it seems, always basing our worth on being better than someone else.
Get Buddhist of DIE.
Hummmmm…
Correction – OR Die.
Sigh, failure failure failure, everything I do is doomed and destined for failure.
It seems that the people with the most tend to complain the most, and don’t realize how blessed they are. Then there are people who have everything in the world they could complain about (cancer, loss of loved ones, disasters, poverty) who are content and have a quiet faith in God. In the world as we know it, there will always be good and bad, until Christ comes. Many people, never-the-less, have a natural tendency to complain, and not appreciate the good. They can have 200 things good in their lives, but they will complain about the one or two little things that really bug them. Except for those souls who have realized what the apostle Paul wrote in the book of Phillipians (“I have learned in all things to be content”).
On the other hand, there is a certain realization among some americans that everything is not right with our country. We are supposed to be the most mixed, yet stereo types and racial bias still exists in many places. We are supposed to have the strongest economy, but many americans today have to have two or three jobs just to make ends meet. We are supposed to be a democracy, but there are so many cases of the wealthy lobbyists and corporations buying political influence. The rights of the individual are supposed to be protected, but the threat of terrorism has opened up the threat of secret tribunals and military courts and CIA prisons on foreign lands. Many are wondering, “Where is our country heading?” and “What can be done to make things better?”
Yes
P.S. – The US is still the greatest nation, with the most opportunity to those who will work hard, and the most freedom of anywhere in the world. Lets make it a better place, and give government of the people, by the people, and for the people, back to the people!
I don’t think we’re hard enough on ourselves. We used to do nothing but praise ourselves and teach our children that America was the greatest country. But look at our schools and our literacy and the state of our morals here. We’ve been way to easy on ourselves.
I think we ought to hold ourselves to a higher standard, but that’s different than being self-loathing. I think there’s too much self-loathing in our country b/c people dont appreciate how great we’ve got it.
We’re the most powerful nation in the world and that breeds jealousy and contempt from the rest of the nations. People who think America isn’t absolutly wonderful are living in a fog of self-delusion. Are we perfect? Of course not. But are we free? Yes, with the obvious limitation for safety and security. Are we generous? The most generous country in the world — as indivudual citizens we gave TONS of money to victims of 9/11, Katrina, and the tsunami.
We are to hard in areas that don’t really matter, and not near hard enough in the areas that do.
no. if anything we do not expect enough. so far it has been only talk; if we really expected enough of ourselves and our fellow countrymen and women, we would be in the streets and the courtrooms fighting for change!
besides, I would rather people be hard on the country than have a hardon for their country.
I’ve seen high school musical 2 already troy and gabriella (or whatever) break up and troy almost goes out with sharpay. and sharpay’s brother doesnt do whatever she says
gabriella quits her job near the middle of the story and at the end troy and gabriella kiss 3 times in a row withing 40 seconds
I got it 2 days before today so yah just wanted to spoil it for everyone
I’ve seen high school musical 2 already troy and gabriella (or whatever) break up and troy almost goes out with sharpay. and sharpay’s brother doesnt do whatever she says
gabriella quits her job near the middle of the story and at the end troy and gabriella kiss 3 times in a row withing 40 seconds
I got it 2 days before today so yah just wanted to spoil it for everyone
I’ve seen high school musical 2 already troy and gabriella (or whatever) break up and troy almost goes out with sharpay. and sharpay’s brother doesnt do whatever she says
gabriella quits her job near the middle of the story and at the end troy and gabriella kiss 3 times in a row withing 40 seconds
I got it 2 days before today so yah just wanted to spoil it for everyone
I’ve seen high school musical 2 already troy and gabriella (or whatever) break up and troy almost goes out with sharpay. and sharpay’s brother doesnt do whatever she says
gabriella quits her job near the middle of the story and at the end troy and gabriella kiss 3 times in a row withing 40 seconds
I got it 2 days before today so yah just wanted to spoil it for everyone
I’ve seen high school musical 2 already troy and gabriella (or whatever) break up and troy almost goes out with sharpay. and sharpay’s brother doesnt do whatever she says
gabriella quits her job near the middle of the story and at the end troy and gabriella kiss 3 times in a row withing 40 seconds
I got it 2 days before today so yah just wanted to spoil it for everyone
I’ve seen high school musical 2 already troy and gabriella (or whatever) break up and troy almost goes out with sharpay. and sharpay’s brother doesnt do whatever she says
gabriella quits her job near the middle of the story and at the end troy and gabriella kiss 3 times in a row withing 40 seconds
I got it 2 days before today so yah just wanted to spoil it for everyone
I think we’re way too easy on ourselves.
There’s nothing wrong with thoughtful criticism of one’s own country. There’s always room for improvement.
So many people want to be here because it has a nice balance of standard of living and cheap goods. By no means is this the best country–most powerful, yes, but even that is starting to become arguable.
And I think people want to come here because it is better than where they were from.
yes but for good reason.
Not hard enough. America prides itself in being the melting pot, and yet lets banish millions of those aliens cause they do the dirty work that no self-righteous American would ever even think of doing.
everyone wants to be here because everywhere else pretty much sucks… here we have the perfect mixture of climate, government, and marketing stuff…
people take way to much for granted and its pretty rediculas… u have just as much of a chance of being born in etheopia as the usa. so really. we are all lucky we won the wars we won, o yea this lil tid bit too… we are the only nation under God. does any one elses money have in God we trust on it?
the US is just an old dream that wants to be alive that isnt
and this isnt america….it is the United states of America, there are lots of other americas
interestingly enough, by criticizing our criticizing, aren’t you doing what you criticize?
We just like to blame other people for our problems. American’s are easy to blame, cause they live right around the corner.
Actually, I think too many LAZY PEOPLE criticize this country. If you’re so discontent with the way things are here, then try to change it! Vote, support charities, campaign for a cause–get involved! Not enough Americans are involved in things like this, yet they bitch and moan and complain because things don’t change. Try to do something about it. Otherwise you’ve got no right to complain. Don’t listen to John Mayer and just wait for the world to change. It’s up to you to change it!
…sorry. That rant has been building in my head for a loooong time.
You can’t say what you want here anymore.
yes, but that’s a good thing.
Sad to say; I think Americans are spoiled brats. We have a lot to be happy about but too many of us want more and live in drama island.
Hard on ourselves…..well we are critical of ourselves,our family,friends why not the usa? I just figure if you don’t like it here move,stop complaining…life is too short for that! most people who complain have never been to a truly poor country. People actually living on the streets,there are no soup kitchens or shelters, no goverment assistance unless a church or private citizen group decides to help.Children fending for themselves…no parents, no food…selling what ever they can get..begging on the streets. Im talking no resources, no where to go…very sad.
also, what exactly is America?
we always speak of America as if it’s this individual entity..
but we have so many diverging viewpoints that i doubt that all Americans see an issue the same way…
we’re made up of millions of folk w/ millions of different feelings…
it’s hard to generalize…
i wouldn’t say SO MANY people want to live here; in fact, America is becoming less and less reviled overseas
So no, we’re not hard on ourself, we need to fix stuff
I think that we believe that if we overanalyze then good will come out of it; that we will have epiphanies about things that must change. I think we are extreme perfectionists in every sense of the word. We are never satisfied with how talented, intelligent, or beautiful we are. We always want to be the best, and in that way we do great things but in that sense in damages the very gifts that God has given us. If we cannot be satisfied with ourselves and stop picking at who we are, we will neevr be able to focus our attention on better things.
mm, I think, personally, when we were little we thought the USA was like our parents…perfect (or should be). & when we figured out it wasn’t, we couldn’t forgive it.
too many of our people have never been outside of the US for any extended period of time & they don’t recognize how free & good America is comparatively. sure, it’s not perfect, but comparatively, it is pretty good. the news & media don’t tell us that…they tell us all about how bad we are, and we believe them.
I think liberals are hard on us.
i think the whole freedom of thought thing translates to freedom on opinion, some of which are misguided opinions or closed opinions. but people will be people, and for the most part, the more defeating that someone feels they are of themselves, the more defeating they will feel of other people and in translation the country. it’s a vicious type of circle, but oh well.
Not at all. We, as a country should always be looking at ways to improve. We are one of the richest nations in the world, yet my son can’t get insurance coverage for his autism, he can’t get SSI, he can’t get an adequate education. Our elderly can’t afford their medications. How is it that we have money for war and destruction and not LIFE? We find millions and billions to give other countries but we can’t help ourselves. We should be hard on ourselves as a nation. How can we improve if we stick our heads in the sand and refuse to see our own flaws and who the heck are we to point fingers at other nations if we won’t point at ourselves?
I think healthy criticism will help us improve. I think we are at the right amount of criticism.
agree.. shouldn’t we feel thankful for what we have here?? we have soo many freedoms.
oh man, give me a break!! america’s good place to live? with all those guns shot at educational institutes?? with a war-addict president ruling this country?? with those greedy ceo stealing billions of hard-working employees’ pensions?? i dont think so!!
i rather die to live in this god-not-bless-anymore country. sorry if you got offended!!
oh yeah, i forgot you guys have freedom to kill the others!!
When a nation begins to concentrate on its “own” rights; it’s the beginning of the end for that nation.