for Americans... do you ever feel embarrassed?

Question

being American? I have friends from the UK that pick on the way things are here constantly. Sometimes I don't even want to say that I'm American when I'm out of the country... it's literally an invitation to be picked on and asked 100 questions. I can't stand this anymore.

I feel like the kid in high school that was in band but didn't want any one to know.

Let me clarify... I'm not ashamed of my heritage at all, I'm basically venting on how I feel when I'm assaulted with questions and snooty attitudes from people when they ask me where I'm from or I open my mouth and they can hear where I'm from. I hate that feeling of always having to defend myself. I was asking if anyone else has felt this way - attacked from people that have this pre-conceived opinion of you just because of the country you're from

I suppose "embarrassed" wasn't the correct word to use. I should say harassed.

Answer 1

I studied in abroad for three months ( won't point fingers by saying where), and often when people knew I was American they would start asking 100 questions like you said. However, after seeing their country and living there, I was more proud than ever to be American. (It was a first world country and everything, very comparable to America)

Answer 2

No, I'm not embarassed to say I'm from the U.S.A. Some of the things that happen here are ugly, true. Many things I don't agree with. But I still choose to live here rather than in other countries. I am VERY happy here, and I won't ever leave. We are sometimes divided, but forever STRONG.

No matter what country you live in, you're going to find something that you don't like, leaders you disagree with, rules you hate, etc. It just so happens that the USA is very high profile right now, so it's easy for people in other countries to criticize.

It's up to you whether you deny that you're from the USA, or not even mention it. I know it's hard to deal with, and hard to support the President's actions and words. We're in an ugly war right now. War is never pretty, and this one is no exception. We went into it with high hopes and it has turned into a horrible blood bath. I pray, pray, pray that it gets better really soon.

I wish you well. Good Luck, & God Bless.

Answer 3

NO, I am NOT embarrassed -- and for me ... being a US Military Retiree ... even when on Active Duty and stationed overseas I was NEVER embarrassed by being AMERICAN and my service ...

What bothers me, though, when travelling, is the really idiotic questions brought on by a very biased media -- and that includes those nutty celebrities and the embarrassing things that some public figures do (hey, we ALL were embarrassed by the Clintons).

There is nothing anyone can do about that -- except to change the newscasters and reporters and REQUIRE them to adhere to the VALUES that Reporting was originally based upon -- which was to be OBJECTIVE (which most are not), to not interject personal bias (Which every newscaster and reporter does), and to be educated enough to be able to sort through the biases of the reporters and newscasters, then to research yourself for the TRUTH (Which is not what is presented through the bias of the media source).

THAT is why America is presented so poorly -- as soon as the media loses the BIAS -- then the TRUTH will come out ... and America will be shown to be the POSITIVE Place that it always has been and is -- the place that MY Own Grandparents were willing to endure indentured servitude for legal passage/entry into America so that their children and us (the Grandchildren) can enjoy the blessings of freedom -- the ability to GAIN an EDUCATION, to OWN your own HOME, to be able to work where you want (and choose your own career), to be FREE to make your choices of whom to marry or start a family with, freedom to worship as you determine, and yes, freedom to MOVE AROUND and VOTE too. THAT is what is good about AMERICA -- and its willingness to give and give and volunteer (which is NEVER, EVER Publicized -- and its Military is one source of the LARGEST pool of VOLUNTEERING and Public Service that there is!).

Answer 4

no, I am not embarassed. I am embarassed for the idiots who assume all Americans are war mongering, oil drinking red necks.

If they want to be children laugh at them, because they're only hurting themselves. I used to think that I hated being American because everyone else didnt like us, well **** them! I have found out that more european people preach understanding and all that good stuff but couldnt follow it to save thier life.

Be proud of who you are, and remember there are bad people from every corner of the world. It doesnt mean you're one, but it does mean you might see a ton of them when you travel.


Next time you're home and you see someone from another country, give them some American hospitality to show them our true colors, so when they go home they can tell everyone how nice we really are in this country!

Answer 5

When criticized by Europeans, I generally mention the beaches of Normandy, and the battlefields of World War Two. For a group of people to criticize America when they owe their very freedom to us is the essence of hypocrisy. European backbone in standing up to tyranny is non existent. They need to walk to the cemeteries where dead American soldiers are resting in peace and THANK them! I'm proud to be an American citizen, and I thank God for him allowing me to be born in this country. There is nothing for Europe to say to us except "Thank you". Stop being ashamed of your heritage. There is PLENTY to make you proud to be American. European soil was soaked with American blood fighting for their freedom. They need to get their own house in order.

Answer 6

I can find tons of things about the UK that suck too. No country is perfect. They need to mind there's and leave our country alone. If they don't like the US they never have to come over here.

Answer 7

No, I'm not embarrassed to be an American. And people of other countries are very ignorant if they believe the majority of us think like our current Administration.

Answer 8

I'm not American ( actually i lived there for bout 14 years) but no i still love the US
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Answer 9

The best (or worst) thing about ANY country is its people and how they treat others. Need I say more?

Answer 10

Hell no I love being an American and proud of where I live