38% of U.S adults are ‘extremely proud’ to be American, which increases to 65% when including very proud. From 2002-2004, U.S. adults were ~70% extremely proud and 90% extremely/very proud. Pride in who Americans are is decreasing. Happy Independence Day?
Now, that increases to 87% when including 22% of moderately proud folks. So, I’m going to introduce my own 1-5 scale and say 87% of folks are 3 or higher on the U.S. pride scale. Great, fabulous, and be glad of who you are. But the trends are declining following patriotic years after 2001.
And I’m surprised it’s that high. There’s tension between that American confidence we’re the best and that we’re a dumpster-fire of a nation.
People are mad online about the U.S. Supreme Court, politicians, and legal system. And it’s one petition after another.
But do our challenges detract from who we are?
I traveled around Europe on the 4th of July a few years ago, and my buddy and I were the only Americans in a group of Australians, Europeans, and others. That day, we bounced around Budapest, a formerly communist stronghold rich in culture. After learning we were American, our comrades started USA! chants throughout the night. That’s how Americans celebrate, right?
It’s a chant that spreads easily, and though they were doing it partially in jest, it was a fun way to celebrate. But when is the last time you’ve heard a USA chant? I can’t remember – college?
How can we celebrate – the U.S. is facing problems. Turn on your news channel for a rundown. But does having more to do mean we cannot be proud of who we are?
I struggle with perfectionism. Not the perfectionism of job interview answers and spending excessive time on a project, but the perfectionism of trying to be perfect. This ideal that I should do everything right and well, and be the best at everything. But spoiler, I am not perfect. And neither is our country. So should I be 3 of 5 proud of myself?
But I’m proud of who I am, faults and all. So what about you, America, are you okay if the country doesn’t have all the answers?
Pride comes before the fall, but it also comes before the rise. I’m not talking about the unfounded confidence of hubris, though the U.S. is pretty good at that. Instead, I’m saying be proud of who we are, which can fuel us to be better.
To that point, I finished Tom Brokaw’s book, The Greatest Generation, about the folks who weathered the Great Depression and then gave years of their life, and often more, to World War II. That generation lived duty, honor, and courage, and they are proud of the lives they built. America, and the world, is built on their blood, tears, and sweat.
So what are we going to do, pack it in and say we’re disgusted with ourselves?
Pride in being an America is lower because it seems like things are getting worse. But it’s the best time to be born, and the U.S. is one of the best places to be. Yet we’re pessimistic about the future and what’s happening.
I am American, and it’s part of who I am. I could move somewhere else, but the U.S. shaped my identity. And my family has worked hard and been proud of where they’re from. They served in the military, worked on the political landscape, and were active for their communities. And I’ve enjoyed the results of their labors.
But that doesn’t prohibit me from doing my part. Instead, it requires me to step in and carry the banner. There’s work to do because we aren’t a perfect country. And that imperfection should fuel us, not stop us.
But NPR decided we didn’t deserve to hear the Declaration of Independence read this July 4th. We hadn’t earned it as a country. But the tenets upon which we declared our independence – Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness – are as valuable as they were in 1776.
I’m proud that is at the heart of the nation.
My point is, the U.S. is imperfect. Our Constitution set out to make a more perfect union, and our duty is to continue that battle. But if our morale falters, if our hearts and souls aren’t in it, it’s a lot tougher to do what’s right.
So be proud of where we are and all it has taken to get here. So many people have given their lives to make this possible.
It’s the American way to stand and fight. Complaining about our problems doesn’t solve them. So focus that energy into being proud of who we are, and we may find that we’re better because of it.
