Why do americans think their country is so damn precious?

Question

They are so patriotic, yet they haven't experienced war on their soil for 140 years.

For those of you who asked; I am American, born and raised in this country. For those of you who assumed I wasn't, well that is the ignorance that most americans have. I am a world traveler and I don't mean a tourist. I am well educated, but not by my country, by the money that I paid to go to college. grammer school and high school is a joke. There are some good answers here. But alot of them are just shallow ignorant narcissism. If you wondered why I asked this question; it is not because I haven't experienced patriotism, it is because I wanted to confirm my suspicions that most americans are just ignorant when it comes to the world around them. In addition, Pearl Harbor and 9/11 were not wars. They were cheap shots. When you have to hide in your home because of fear of death on the streets, or if you have to harbor militia in your home because they say so, then you can tell me that there has been war on this soil. Otherwise, get down of your damn pedistal.

Answer 1

What used to be idealism they tried to live up to has become illusions that they believe they practice.

Yes, the US is chickenshit. Since independence, it has never won a long war (over 1 year) it started. Either it wins quick and easy or loses the long battles. They don't have the stomach or the balls to "stay the course".

Don't worry, the US is a fading empire on the verge of economic collapse. It's only a matter of time before their dollar plummets and oil ceases to be tied to the dollar and switches to the Euro. In twenty, maybe thirty years, the US won't even have the military will to prevent its war criminals (not just Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice, and Halliburton) from being tried and executed for their crimes.

Answer 2

You don't mention where you are from but have the nerve to ask us why we are so patriotic. Have you ever been to the United States and witnessed first hand knowledge of why we love this country of ours? Have you ever taken the time to read our Constitution and the Rights of Freedom we have? From the sounds of your question you certainly haven't. As a young student in school I made up my mind that I would dedicate part of my life to fight and protect the freedoms given to me by being a natural citizen of the United States based on the principals this country stands for. I gave my country over 20 years of my life in the military to help protect those rights and priviledges, and I am damned proud of it. Am I patriotic? You damned right I am. I love this country and at age 71 today I would not hesitate one minute to pick up arms and defend it today if need be. So my friend, don't knock my country until you live here and enjoy the same freedoms we do or even understand these freedoms. If you are from Europe, I would like to know how many Americans died to protect your country through not one but two world wars then volunteerly helped you to get back on your feet afterwards. That my friend is additional Freedom wanting to help others while also protecting our homeland too. If that isn't patriotic I'd like to know what is. The good book says that God helps those that help themselves. We not only do that but go a bit farther to help others too. Enough said.

Answer 3

You hit the nail on the head.

Being born somewhere else I guess it might be hard to understand what makes Americans proud and what makes America "So damn precious".

Well as an American I can tell you. I am proud to be an American because I believe that what I and what my government that I helped elect and that I help form issues and make laws are doing the right thing.

I am just a regular guy. But i can read and write. Why is that? Well my government sent me to school. I can learn about the world around me. Why is that you may ask. Well i live in a country with freedom of the press and if I want a passport to travel to another land they don't keep my family under guard until I come back. If i feel that my elected officials are doing something wrong I can write them a letter or call them. And at no time do i do any of this from a jail cell.

I can disagree with you and you can disagree with me and we can both disagree with the President. And that is ok. He will not have me shot. And if someone wants to shut you up for voicing your ideas they might as well be telling me to shut up.

I love my country for all it has given me. I love my country for what it has allowed me to make it. I love my country for what it promises for the future if I am brave enough to build it. I love my country for its many voices and its many ideas and people. I love my country for what it was, what it is and what it will be.

But most of all i love the idea of America. It's not just a place but a dream. It means freedom for the oppressed. It means strength for the weak. It means food for the hungry. It means shelter from the storm, any storm.

For more than 140 years the fires of war have not touched our doorsteps for more than a day. Why is that? For all of the things i said above. We will fight; we will die before you can take our freedom. We will not tolerate wars on our soil. We will not take lightly a war on a friend’s soil. We will defend freedom and hunt down all of those who would threaten us.

So I hope that now you see why one American finds his country so damn precious. Maybe if you knew more about us then you wouldn't be so afraid.

Best of luck on your education.

Answer 4

Because the system cultivated by our founding fathers is the most just on the planet. Our people are free to pursue whatever goals they see fit. This Country's not perfect but it goes further than any other to try and achieve that perfection. Do you suggest that Rwanda, or Bosnia, or Somalia are great countries because they have experienced wars "on their soil"?
In the last 140 years, rivers of American blood has been spillled overseas to free oppressed people and defend American interest. I feel deeply sorry for you if you are an American and you don't know the answer to your question.

Answer 5

Because we have shed so much damn precious blood all over the earth to bring freedom to others. Five years ago, quite a lot of blood was spilt on US soil in a war of terror. The US was founded on the principal that all men/women - even you - were endowed by their creator - your creator - with unalienable rights. These include the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We believe this principal applies to everyone, including you. Why do French-Canadians and the old Europeans think there is something wrong with Americans spilling blood to protect the world economy? You'd be speaking German or Japanese if hostory had turned out differently.

The nice part about this place is you can believe the sh*t you believe and you are still welcome to come here and be part of this great place if you are willing to work and live out your dream. You can even criticize our president and speak out in public against Americans. I doubt Sadaam, Stalin, Mao, or Pol Pot would have given you such a deal. Why don't you criticize those guys for a while?

Answer 6

Eh, I also am a widely travelled person. Having seen other countries, I have a frame of reference to say, that "Yes, my country is damned precious." This has nothing to do with whether or not there's been war on our soil. I don't know where this comes in as criteria for one's country being precious. I'd say that NOT having war on our soil for 140 years is an argument FOR america being great. Yes, some people do have to hide in their home for fear of violence, but they're in the vast minority. I've seen countries where people hide in fear of violence from their own government, rather than degenerates. Most of the people in these countries are in fear of violence; not a minor fraction, MOST people. Fact is, the U.S. gives out more in (state funded) foreign aid than many countries have in their entire GNP. The american people in general, are among the most giving of any nationality on earth. We're made up of nationality's from all over the world.
America's got it's problems, sure. Every place does. But here, there's no death squads roaming to "disappear" any dissenters.

Answer 7

We value America because of the ideals that it stands for - democracy and freedom. We may not always succeed at living up to every ideal but we do a very good job at it. Patriotism is not related to experiencing war on your own soil (although you are wrong - Pearl Harbor). We had a vested enough interest in freedom to stop tyranny and oppression during during WWI and WWII. The fact that we got involved before it needed to primarily be fought on US soil is foresight not flaw. Today America still stands for freedom. You may not appreciate all that our country has to offer but there are millions who do and millions of others that want to come here for the opportunities it provides. America is precious, damn precious.

Answer 8

Why didn't you tell us what wonderful country you are from? Since I have lived under kings, dictators, quasi democracies and traveled just one hell of a lot of the world. I would just love to debate The United States of America vs just any damn place you would like. Incidentally idiot, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Urguray, Paprguay, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Venezuela, Columbia, Panama, Costa Rica, Belize, El Salvador, Nicugrau, The United States and more are all American. Now just what country are you talking about? How much does your religion enter into your short sightedness? Yea! I have also lived under muslim rule/law also.

Answer 9

Some of the things that are precious about the country are:
We enjoy more freedoms than any other country on the face of the earth has ever had.
We have greater prosperity than any country has ever had on the face of the earth.
We can travel freely anywhere in the country without a passport, without restriction.
We have free enterprise.
We can succeed with just energy and effort at anything we care to try.
We can speak our mind about anything and everything without fear of being imprisioned, tortured, killed, or otherwise threatened.
We have freedom of religion.
We can participate in education at any level.
We have incredible sights to see.
The list goes on and on, but we enjoy more prosperity than any other country. And American men and women have sacrificed their lives for years for this opportunity, and that makes it damn precious.

Answer 10

They claim to be patriotic, but when the metal hits the road, they are more interested in their wallet!

They think they are precious because they have nuke subs running around with a lot of missles that have multiple warheads and a pretty big Airforce!

We keep acting the way we are and it won't be another 140!!