Smaller Majority "Extremely Proud" to Be an American

[Purveyor]

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- As Independence Day approaches, most in the U.S. say they are proud to be an American, including a slight majority, 54%, who are "extremely proud." The percentage saying they are "extremely proud" is slightly lower than in recent years and down from peaks at and around 70% between 2002 and 2004, after 9/11.



In addition to the 54% who are extremely proud to be an American, 27% say they are "very proud," 14% say they are "moderately proud," 4% are "only a little proud" and 1% state that they are "not at all proud."

These data are from a June 2-7 poll. Gallup has asked this question regularly since 2001. The highest percentage saying they were "extremely proud" to be an American came in 2003, in the months after the Iraq war began and not long after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, when Americans' patriotism surged. It is likely that the aftermath of 9/11 may have produced an anomaly in the levels of "extreme pride" in patriotism.

Older Americans, Southerners and Republicans Lead in "Extreme Pride"

While most Americans are proud to be an American, certain groups are especially likely to say they are extremely proud. "Extreme pride" rises for each succeeding age group, from a low of 43% among those under 30 to a high of 64% among senior citizens.

Extreme pride also varies regionally, from a high of 61% in the South to a low of 46% in the West.

Sixty-eight percent of Republicans say they are extremely proud to be an American, much higher than the 47% of Democrats who say the same. As usual, independents are in the middle, at 53%.

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http://www.gallup.com/poll/183911/smaller-majority-extremely-proud-american.aspx

[olddots]

1. I would be much prouder of America if the rupukes would move out of America

but since I'm a liberal they call me un American .

[Arugula Latte]

2. The ones born here are proud that their mom went into labor on US soil?

Wow, what an accomplishment for them.

[merrily]

4. I should have read your post before writing mine.

[merrily]

3. We need a different word. I am grateful to be an American.

I had nothing to do with my being an American. My ancestors did. They can be proud that I am an American because they sacrificed and worked hard and behaved bravely to become Americans and to have their descendants be Americans. Me, I just made it out of the birth canal alive in a USA hospital. Didn't even have much to do with that, either. (Thanks, mom and dad).

For similar reasons, I would not think to say I'm proud of my eyes. I'm not ashamed of them, but I have no reason to be proud of them. I didn't make them.

I am certainly not ashamed to be an American and I am very grateful to be an American and not, say, a female in Saudi Arabia. But, for me, being proud would require that this was some kind of accomplishment I achieved. And even then....