I presume that patriotism has waxed and waned over the years, in large measure as reflection of prominent US policies, both domestic and international. I was not “proud” to be an American during the 50’s when it looked like there would never be an end to Jim Crow. I was embarrassed to be an American during the McCarthy era. I was ashamed to be an American during much of the Nixon Vietnam years. In general, I was proud to be an American during Carter’s and Clinton’s presidencies. Are there reliable measures of American Pride or patriotism that have tracked American beliefs over the last 50 years or so? Clearly, the high point in the last half-century would have been the time just after WW II. Today, I imagine it’s at a deep low. How are these public sentiments measured and tracked? xo C.
84 percent in this poll say that they are “very proud” to be an American.
http://www.harrisinteractive.com/harris_poll/index.asp?PID=305
I can’t find a tracking poll on this.
I would say since 1973, when the Vietnam War (and the draft) ended, patriotism has been on a steady increase. (just one example: Think of everyone shouting “USA” when the US Olympic Hockey Team won the Gold Medal in 1980.)
My point being, it is easy to be patriotic when you don’t have to prove it by doing something difficult (fighting for your country, for example). I hear a lot of young people playing “monday morning general” by saying how unpatriotic the anti-Vietnam War protestors were and they caused the ultimate defeat of America in Vietnam. Gee I wonder how fervent their beliefs would have been if they were around in the 1960’s and early 1970’s. Heck, we have 2 presidents that sure as Hell didn’t want to go to Vietnam.
As Thomas Paine said we must beware the “sunshine patriot” and the “summer soldier”.
So I would say at the moment, America is in a very high state of patriotic fervor. Still, when times get tough, I think we might find a scarcity of Natahn Hale’s or Audie Murphy’s among the people who are 150% American.
The response must surely have a lot to do with just how the question is phrased and in particular what tends to make a particular responder proud. The OP is simply rehearsing personal political views. This looks like GD (or possibly IMHO) fodder.
Well, the question really depends. When I see that BAYWATCH is the #1 show in Saudi Arabia (illicitly, but still), I’m none too happy.
But on Tuesday I finished up two long weeks of jury duty. Eleven strangers and I, two white, three black, the rest Hispanic, who’d never met each other, freed two young men who were accused of stabbing two others a couple of years ago. We had a strong feeling that at least one of them was guilty, but we couldn’t prove it with the evidence and testimony given. So we gave them the benefit of the doubt. As we voted, count by count, person by person, I felt very American indeed. And proud that the country trusted us with this duty. I know other countries have it, but considering the size and diversity and number of crimes this one has to contend with, I think we might put the system to its greatest test. I’m proud that we pass it.
Except for, like, the OJ jury and stuff. Sheesh.
It sure doesn’t seem to be at a low now, if Ravenman’s link is to be taken as a factual answer, polling being what it is. And it’s the only reply so far that has tried to take a somewhat factual approach. I’m with the 84%.
The OP is definitely weighting his question, but aside from that does he even know what he’s asking? There’s a distinct difference between “proud to be American” and “being patriotic.”
For example, I could say that I’m ashamed of my country (not ashamed to be an American!) for its refusal to unite the world under our superior constitution. But what could possibly be so bad about anything that anyone does to cause oneself to be ashamed to be an American? I’d have to conjecture that CC’s ashamed of something, but not of being American – he’s gotta have some personal issues that cause shamefulness.
This isn’t to say that you can’t be afraid to be an American. I don’t imagine I’d want to wander in certain parts of Iraq as an obvious American. Hell, I’ve claimed to be Canadian down in Mexico a few times just to avoid silly comments. But this certainly isn’t shame.
Moving on to patriotism, what’s that, exactly? Flying a flag? Love of homeland? Honoring your President? I think you can be patriotic without supporting the current administration. We’re Americans, for God’s sake. Look at our place in the world. Hell, yeah, we should be patriotic, regardless of any day to day political stuff that doesn’t directly affect you anyway.
And no, that’s not meant to be ironic. We’re where we are in the world because we’ve earned it and therefore deserve it. If I make more money than you, then I have more power, and I deserve it. Of course, if you make more than me, then you have more power, and you deserve it. Please don’t go around thinking that as Americans we have to be ashamed to be Americans or ashamed to be patriotic. As soon as you start trying to be liked rather than accepting certain degrees of superiority, then everything that made the USA pride-worthy just gets thrown down the sh-tter.
Here’s another set of polls on whether the direction of the country is good or not.
Fluctuates heavily.
Very heavily.
Overall, I think people are more happy then not though.
Could you elaborate on this? I’m not sure I understand exactly what you mean… Thanks.
I was pointing out that it’s stupid to be ashamed to be an American over mere policies. In this case, I implied that I was ashamed to be an American because we’re not taking over the world.
I agree – I consider myself a patriot and am proud to be an American, but right now I’m not very proud of my country. I don’t see that there’s much tension between these positions, but they nonetheless try to ask similar questions and, it seems to me, someone trying to get at a level of patriotism in the U.S. could ask any one of these three questions and think they’re all the same.
–Cliffy
I don’t actually know how you can be “proud” to be an American. In most instances it’s kind of an accident of birth. I personally am happy to be an American mainly because of the diversity of landscape, beliefs, education, prior ethinic background etc.
But given the diversity, we are after all kind of the same after the first generation. As an example; the figure skater Kristie Yamaguchi (sp??). She is obviousely ethinically Japanese (who knows what generation), but IMHO anyone who looks at her and hears her speak sees an “American”. I see this a lot in my job. The people I work with all grew up somewhere else and they don’t seem to completely get the “American” thing but their kids are all definately “Americans”.
BTW I am totally annoyed by my younger cousins who insist that they “would have done their duty” during the Vietnam era. I wish I could transport them back to the days of the draft letter, the flunking out of college and being reclassified, the lottory, the body bags 
Overall I’d say most people are proud to be Americans. That includes me, most of the time.
I’d like to point out though, that your perspective may change a bit if you spend much time overseas. I was an exchange student in Australia for a year in college, and spent a lot of time with other exchange students from all over the globe. We Americans were often embarassed by how our country treats the rest of the world. In fact, in many foreign countries it is not uncommon for American backpackers to wear Canadian flags on their backpacks because other countries like Canadians a lot more than they like Americans.
I’d wage a guess that more people are proud to be Chinese…
PictsiePat
I take it you saw my earlier posting about the younger generation’s “monday morning” patriotism about serving in Vietnam.
I can’t say I’m proud of something that came about because of where I was born.
I love being an American. I love America. I’ve travelled the world, and as much as I love many other countries, this is where I want to live.
Proud? I’m proud of my artisitic ability, which I developed (I definitely wasn’t born with it). I’m proud I can play guitar. I’m proud of how hard I worked to advance to my career. I’m proud of so many thing that I did myself–things I worked my ass off for.
But proud of something that was handed to me? Nah.
I’ve never understood how the average American can feel proud or ashamed of his/her country. I mean, I was born here. My parents were born here. I didn’t do anything to become an American except pass from my mother’s birth canal within the USA’s borders, so what’s to be proud of? It’s like being proud of winning the lottery. It makes no sense to me. If I had anything to do with the foundation of this nation, or I had to struggle to become a citizen, or something like that, then I could say I was “proud”.
But certainly I didn’t earn it. For me it’s neither a reward nor a punishment. It’s just dumb luck, be it good or bad. I can be content (or not) with my country. I can feel represented (or not) by my government, and so on. I can have a host of good or bad emotions, but how can pride or shame be among them? I’m not a founder, nor an immigrant. Really, my status as a citizen had nothing to do with me.
So, for something like 99% of us, pride (or the opposite) is kind of a stupid sentiment to have.
I think that there is a great divide as to how people feel about the US as their country, and how they feel about the US government that is in power at any given time. Most Americans love their country and are happy living here. My guess is that at any given time a whole lot of Americans are ashamed of or pissed off about the actions of their government.
I live in a purple state. All my friends love living in America. But half my friends are mad about almost every action Bush has taken. 10 years ago, the other half were eagerly listening to Rush Limbaugh savage Clinton with his “America held Hostage, the Clinton Presidency” series.
But the one thing aout American “pride” that peeves me most is the old saying “America, love it or leave it”. Bah. Drives me crazy. America is an evolving nation. If there is something you don’t love about America, it takes a brave patriot to do everything you can to change it. It takes a coward to leave. Protesting against the Viet Nam War was just as patriotic and done by people who loved their country just as much as those going off to serve. The only non-patriotic thing was to quietly slide out of service.
I kinda agree with the accident of birth thing. I’m proud of my grandparents for getting the hell out of the old country. I’m proud of them having served and been wounded in combat for the country they decided to adopt as home, I’m proud of my dad for going to Vietnam, even if he was forced. I really haven’t done much on that scale, I guess I’m more proud of my family, they are Americans…so in a round about way, sure why not.