Things that made me proud of - in this country - in my adult life

[robbedvoter]

In light of Michelle Obama's remarks - that basically everything sucked before her husband ran for POTUS
"“For the first time in my adult life, I am proud of my country,”
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=4646957&mesg_id=4646957

I recalled when I felt like this (minus the narcissism). When Charlie Rose asked Gore Vidal if there's anything he admires in the history of this country he simply replied : "NO" After finishing my "Fuck him" I asked myself the same question.
I answered myself with people's struggles for the right things - such as those "excesses" of the 60's and 70's BO is not all that invested in. Th civil rights, anti-war fights going on during my adult life - made me proud.The heroes of the 60's and 70s
In recent times - Bush years people like Joseph Wilson, Paul Krugman - risking themselves for the sake of truth. And all those people that marched with me against the war, for counting the votes...
I wasn't going to start a thread, until a similar post in a thread attracted me the label of "nationalist"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=4646957&mesg_id=4647891
So, I might as well end with a qote I loved from Bill Clinton:
"There's nothing as wrong in this country that cannot be righted with what is good in this country"

[zabet]

1. Michelle must have only come into

adult-hood since her husband
started campaigning if she cannot
find anything to be proud of other
than the fact that HER husband is
running for President.

[robbedvoter]

3. Even the day he started running, plenty of good people were doing great things

One just needs to look beyond the boundaries of one's senatorial mansion

[grantcart]

2. it was hyperbole but one thing that makes me proud is Michelle Obama

[robbedvoter]

4. Some hyperbole indeed - and quite a sad life you must have had up to that point

here's some food for thought: Florida 14 in 2000 - challenging the electoral votes of Florida
Barbara Boxer in 2004 - contesting the electoral votes
progressive caucus in the House introducing resolution to stop the war...
DK's impeachment resolutions - for Bush & Cheney
Several great people - some on DU working hard for clean elections

[grantcart]

6. When you are in a campaign and you are being quoted hundreds of times a day

it happens. The other day Bill inadvertently said "vote for me".


If you were not such a narccistic ass you would have correctly read my comment which I now quote back to you:

but one thing that makes me proud is Michelle Obama

Repeat one of the things that makes me proud. There was no comment about the lack or absence of other things that made me proud. But I will give you another

From 1978 to 1985 I was Chief of Operations in the resettlement of regugees from Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Afghanistan. While I was unhappy about the war that started it I woke up every day proud of the United States and the other 40 resettlement countries that received the 450,000 refugees that I was fortunate to assist in their trip to a new homeland. After you have spent a few years living in refugee camps cleaning up mistakes made by arrogant actions made by the government, like the IWR, I will be most interested in listening to your informed comments about pride in the country. I would be happy to send you the address for the ICRC in Jordan where you can start your journey.

[robbedvoter]

7. If you read my OP, you'll see that I am hardly not aware of what's going on around me

Mostly, I am proud of people refusing to taking those things without a fight.
GOP-ers usually run for government positions on a platform of "I hate the government"
I don't think "you all sucked - until we came around to save your ass is such a great platform either.

[grantcart]

8. What exactly are your words

quote

and quite a sad life you must have had up to that point

unquote

supposed to mean and how are they in anyway relevent to my original post?

[robbedvoter]

9. You seemed to see very little good in this country - besides a politician's wife/ surrogate

campaigning for him - with mixed results. I think there are far more solid, relevant things going on - good ones too, besides ANYONE's campaign for anything.

[grantcart]

11. obviously you are having problems with reading comprehension

maybe you should stay with Mad magazine. regardless of what gibberish you post I will not respond any further because I don't bump trash

[mtnsnake]

25. robbedvoter, I love how you think and what you stand for

Mostly, I am proud of people refusing to taking those things without a fight

Amen, my friend. I am so happy that you and I are on the same side.

[robbedvoter]

37. Same here!

:hi:

[Fermezlabush]

5. I was proud of the campaigns of DK, Gravel and Edwards - and those people who

supported them.
And everyone who called and wrote about every important legislative act - wiretaping, torture, war - every action of every single person for the right thing - more prideworthy that some middle of the road guy personal ambition trip endorsed by the Bush media.

[jillan]

10. The fact that a woman and an African-American man are the two top contenders for the nom

should tell her alot about the great things this country has done, and how far we have came over the years.

Is she from another country like Obama is? I just can't get over the fact that she said that.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

12. Hawaii is another country?

Wow, I had no idea.

[Lucinda]

14. What does Hawaii have to do with Michelle Obama? n/t

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

16. Nothing, it's where Barack is from.

So when people say Barack isn't from America, it makes me wonder what they think about Hawaii.

[jillan]

15. haha - you are so funny.

Not Hawaii - but Indonesia.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

17. Barack's not from Indonesia.

He's also not muslim, in case you hadn't heard.

[jillan]

18. He LIVED in Indonesia - you do know that, right?

Born to a black Kenyan father and a white American mother, he spent most of his childhood in Honolulu, Hawaii. From ages six to ten, he lived in Jakarta with his mother and Indonesian stepfather.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

19. I once went to Canada.

Unfortunately that doesn't make me Canadian.

[jillan]

20. Are you high?

I asked if Michelle was from another country since she has not been proud of America and you have taken the conversation from that to a trip you made to Canada.

(I love Canada btw. Esp the Canadian Rockies.)

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

21. You accused Obama of not being from America.

You haven't got much ground to stand on by accusing others of being out of touch with reality.

[jillan]

22. I give up on you!

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

13. You know what I'm not proud of?

Jingoistic McCarthyists who accuse others of being unamerican.

[rodeodance]

29. we are surrouded by them---but they do not recognize themselves as such.

[noiretextatique]

23. i believe michelle obama disagrees with you

she's entitled to her opinion.

[tishaLA]

24. her adult life is not the same as your adult life

she wasn't an adult in the 60s and 70s. And it is somewhat different to be proud of people who fight against the dominant narrative trajectory of the nation--people like Wilson, Scott Ritter, anti-war protesters, etc.--and being proud of the country as such.

[goodgd_yall]

30. Yes. n/t

[robbedvoter]

36. People who protested the Iraq war can be proud of some leaders of the movement

if this means something to those people...
People who care about the environment can be proud of Al Gore...
And so on.
I am proud of my guy too - no, he isn't running for anything - he is just one of the few honest men I know. But, I can see past the immediate circle of family and friends.
Sweeping statements like these are offensive and revealing.

[tishaLA]

38. again, individual counternarrative actors do not signify

"America." The dominant narrative trajectory of America during Ms Obama's adult lifetime, and during mine, is not something that makes one swell with pride.

[mtnsnake]

26. Glad to recommend this one

As I mentioned up thread, it's easy to see we're thinking along such similar lines. Some of the same awe-inspiring moments have touched me in the same way as they did you, such as Kucinich's impeachment resolutions, God bless that man.

:thumbsup:

[rodeodance]

27. "There's nothing as wrong in this country that cannot be righted with what is good in this country"

thanks for your post----bill is so right.

[Moochy]

28. Toby Keith is that you?

[Straight Shooter]

31. I am proud of a country where someone like Oprah can become fabulously wealthy and famous.

She is a phenomenon, and although I quit watching her touchy-feely show years ago, I am impressed that she has achieved something that would not have been possible if she had been born 10 years earlier. All that energy, intelligence, and determination would have encountered too many closed doors. She would have been a force in her community, but I don't believe she would have reached such a pinnacle of success in a forum that formerly was available only to white men, the talk show format.

I am proud of this country for having technologically-savvy people who got the Internet to where it is today, reaching out to millions of people across the globe.

I am proud of this country for our medical advances in the last 20 years, especially for diabetics, for our determination to find a cure for AIDS, and for our advances in understanding autism.

I am proud of this country because more and more people are standing up for the rights of animals. Remember when dolphins were slaughtered in the hunt for tuna, with no one giving a second thought? That has changed now, and we look upon the creatures of the sea, the sky, and the land as sentient beings, not disposable commodities. I'm very proud that attitudes toward animals are changing for the better.

I am proud of this country for those who tirelessly promote the rights of all, the Human Rights Campaign. 20 years ago, they would barely dare to address their needs, and now they march, they are politically involved, they are being heard, and more importantly, they are being listened to. Long ways to go, but equal rights for all is coming, wait and see.

I do not agree with our government, but I must say I don't think there's anywhere on earth where I would agree with the government. They all are run by powerful people with giant egos and selfish agendas.

But I am proud of this country because its citizens keep striving forward and onward. We never give up.

(Now if we can just stop being the bullies of the world ......)

[Hoof Hearted]

32. I am proud of this country for the hundreds of volunteers I have met in my life

whom I have seen do everything from donate surgical services to handing out coffee to their fellows of humanity.

I am proud of this country for the innovative spirit that has led to such worthy enterprises as Second Harvest.

I am proud of this country when I see people lined up at the polls, waiting to cast their vote and I consider that it is no small miracle that we do so.

I am proud of this country when I see the amazing diversity of our artists of all kinds, knowing that that this country alone on the face of the earth creates and provides for such a brilliant spectrum of fusion and individuality.

These are just a few of the things that come to mind.

Really, what was she thinking?

[Raine]

33. You misquoted her...she said "REALLY proud"

she didn't say there wasn't things she was proud of but THIS makes her REALLY proud. Her husband is running for president, I would think that would make any spouse "REALLY proud".

[robbedvoter]

35. "for the first time in adult my life"? Sorry, that "really" doesn't REALLY change much

I guess we're back to W.O.R.M
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=4194873

[Raine]

40. Then there is the definition of

"what is is" ... a game played by many politicians.

[Straight Shooter]

34. I am still proud of those who wear a uniform and serve this country.

Whatever their motive, it's a horrible job, but they do it. And I'm guessing a lot of them are motivated by love for their country and pride in their country, still believing they can right the wrongs.

[sandnsea]

39. I agree with her

It's been a pretty long nightmare in my estimation, since 1980 when I turned 23. Michelle was still in college at the time. With our international militarism explosing and the quality of life for working people imploding, I haven't been REALLY proud of this country in my entire adult life. I understand exactly what she's talking about and it's got nothing to do with the 60's or 70's, she was a kid then.