Do you ever feel guilty to be American?

[SunDrop23]

Guilty may not be the right word, but it is the only one I can think of at the moment. What prompted the question was a conversation between my wife and I this morning. As we sipped our coffee and flipped through the holiday sales papers, she noted a "hooded sweatshirt wired for sound."

That just doesn't seem right. In so many countries children have nothing and by virtue of where we were born, we have enough to purchase a hooded sweatshirt with or without sound.

We have three computers in our home on a wireless LAN with broadband access, while many governments do not have equipment as nice as ours.

Sure, we work hard for what we have, but I think people in other countries work just as hard, if not harder because they do not have the creature comforts we have.

Just thinking out loud here...

[GrumpyGreg]

1. Never---why should I? I did nothing wrong.

[Xipe Totec]

2. Guilty? no. Responsible? Yes

Noblesse oblige.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

3. No.

I feel fortunate, but never guilty. I do ponder on my fortune, however, sometimes. But I don't know that guilt is the word I would use. To me, guilt implies I did something to cause it.

Now, sometimes when I hear the scripture about giving up all my material goods and following Christ, I feel a bit "convicted" and selfish.

Heavy thoughts for Sunday afternoon.

[ohio_liberal]

4. I feel embarrassed to be an American

Guilt sometimes too.

[kliljedahl]

8. Embarassed, ashamed, but not guilty

Keith’s Barbeque Central

[Lengsel]

11. why?

Why?

In all honesty, if we didn't plunder the earth of its resources and take advantage of less fortunate in sweatshops then someone else would do so. We should work against these injustices, not feel embarrassed by them. As of the moment, we have virtually no control over how things are run. We must fight against these forces and bring a grinding halt to the wheels of injustice.

[Greyhound]

19. That's just what I'm talking about.

"if we didn't plunder the earth of its resources and take advantage of less fortunate in sweatshops then someone else would" is not a justification, nor an excuse. This is the attitude that lets us do these kinds of things (overthrowing duly elected governments, assasinations, etc.) with no remorse.

[Kailassa]

22. Exactly. My freeper friends all use the same excuse.

Not all countries wipe their feet on their neighbours.

[MountainLaurel]

5. Guilty -- and scared

Guilty when I see that once again the U.S. will be skipping meetings on global climate change despite being the number one contributor to greenhouse gases, when I see our government deciding that torture is OK, when I read about yet another Iraqi family blown to bits by our esteemed soldiers or an Afghan hospital that hasn't had antibiotics in a year, when I see advertisements for the latest toy all the kids are supposed to want when lack of potable water (in some cases, caused by the privatization of water supplies due to WTO rules) kills thousands of children every day.

Scared when I read that the military is ramping up its domestic surveillance efforts, when I read stories about pharmacists being able to refuse to serve a person in need, when I hear that once again Congress is tightening work rules for families receiving public aid, when I hear of families who will be living in tents for the winter because our government refuses to care for people in need.

[Midwest_Doc]

6. Frequently n/t

[Lengsel]

7. No

We shouldn't feel guilty but we shouldn't look down on others either. We should strive to bring peace and more happiness as well as food and education to others less fortunate. Though we have many technological advantages and whatnot, we still suffer from the same emotional trauma that others around the world do. There is still murder, death of the innocent, poverty, abuse of various sorts and other problems that are constant to the human animal. We should use our prosperity to help others.

[kineneb]

9. no, not guilty, but ashamed, on occasion

Even though by any measure, we would be considered on the edge of poverty($13K/year from disability), we still have 'way too many material things. I have been trying to lighten my burden of possessions to those which I actually use.

I am ashamed of the inequality here and of the way we have treated the least among us: the indigenous peoples, the descendents of slaves, the poor, the elderly, the young, and the sick. I am ashamed of the ignorance, bigotry, and general meanness which pervades our current society.

Guilty, no, because I personally have tried to help, not hurt. Ashamed, yes, because enough is not being done by all of us collectively.

[GrumpyGreg]

13. I'm elderly. Just curious---how do you think that this country

treats it's elderly in a bad way?

[kineneb]

The elderly poor,

many of them women, that I see in my county have little to cheer about. They still need food handouts to make ends meet, and have difficulty heating their homes in winter. Social Security is all that stands between them and starvation.

[Cleita]

26. Back at the beginning of the homeless era in our country,

a free lunch was put out in front of the Santa Monica city hall for the poor elderly of that city. Even back then with increasing rents, the elderly often didn't have enough money left to eat with, so various charities provided this free feed. When the homeless era began, the new homeless found the free buffet attracting many other homeless to the city of Santa Monica. Eventually, the more affluent residents complained loudly enough to stop the free lunch.

So poor and malnourished elderly even predate the advent of institutionalized homelessness in our country. I don't think we do enough for our elderly either as well as our other underprivileged citizens.

[GrumpyGreg]

38. Where the hell are their families? I'm elderly,not rich,but get by.

I also know that my family would never let me go homeless or hungry.

[Cleita]

39. I see you know little about homelessness.

Families can't always bear the burden of all their less fortunate relatives, some of them are barely getting by themselves. Many of the homeless used to be institutionalized before funding for the programs they were on was taken away.

Many are veterans of previous wars with severe injuries and mental problems that keep them from functioning in mainstream society. The Gulf war and this present day fiasco have added to their ranks because of veterans programs that have been cut since WWII days.

And many families, who can, do take care of their own, or our homeless numbers would even be greater. Finally, half of the homeless have jobs. They can't afford to rent on their wages and end up living in shelters or in thier cars.

I forgot to add that I am amongst the elderly poor who do live with the only family I've got. If it weren't for them I would be in the street because there is no more family to take care of me.

[sandrakae]

10. Never. I didn't vote for George Bush.

[onehandle]

15. Ditto. nt

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

12. Guilty, no. Ashamed, YES.

This is NOT the nation I was born into.

[peace frog]

20. Ditto

I don't know this country anymore... we're foreigners living in a place hostile to our values and beliefs.

[bvar22]

14. Collective Social guilt, AND personal guilt.

Today in Iraq, a child will be killed with a bullet I helped to buy.
Sure, I attend protests, write and call my congresscritters, post to DU, support AntiWar Representatives. But, obviously, that has not been enough to prevent the murder of that child today.
If we all had the commitment of Cindy Sheehan, this war would be over......
So, I haven't done enough.
I have also not been willing to risk jail by refusing to pay taxes.

On a daily basis, I choose to spend money on pure luxury and comfort while children and adults die from starvation and unnecessary sickness (in my own country and state!).

[karlrschneider]

16. I don't feel guilty just as I don't particularly feel "proud." I find it

somewhat arrogant to be proud of an accident of birth.

[Midnight Rambler]

17. I feel guilty just being a human being

We're terrible animals. The most advanced creature to ever walk the planet, and by far the most destructive. We have the potential to save the world, instead we're content on further ruin.

[Greyhound]

18. Guilty no, embarrassed definitely.

And not just because of the current cabal. We as a nation have behaved despicably for at least 40 years, exporting untold misery to millions of people all over the world.

[nancyr]

21. Guilty Americans?

I feel ashamed, but not guilty.

[Initech]

23. Guilty? No. Embarrassed? Most definately.

I'm sick of all the crass commercialization (like what happened at Wal-Mart on 11/26). I'm sick of the fact that you cant walk five feet without seeing an ad for some stupid shit you dont need. I'm sick of all the fat, lazy people who dont care that our country is going down the shitter at an alarming pace. And more importantly - I'm sick of the Jesus freaks who are constantly trying to shove religion down our throats (while simulataneously blaming the "gay lifestyle" and other scapegoats for it). That's why I'm embarrassed to be American.

[marew]

24. I agree.

I live in a small house with a big yard that is almost paid for in a safe, peaceful neighborhood, I have a 4 year old vehicle that is paid for, I have all of my needs and most of my wants met. I am certainly not wealthy, but, In a few years, I should have a comfortable retirement. Yes, I worked hard but so do a lot of people and they never achieve what I have been lucky enough to do. I am sure that in may parts of the world, my modest little house would be considered a palace. I give monthly to Mercy Corps, which I think is so much better than Red Cross, and contribute to animal groups also. On Weds, I volunteer at a local soup kitchen. I know I don't do enough.
I am very upset that my government caters to the rich and powerful and ignores the poor, the needy, and the handicapped. I am upset that my government is so self-righteous while at the same time being so corrupt and insists on forcing our standards and values on the rest of the world, especially when oil is involved. I am upset there is no universal healthcare and that our government has made us slaves to the pharmaceutical companies by making us pay many times over for medicine what is paid in other countries. I am upset that a bunch of religious crazies can get so far in trying to make me live by their narrow minded, self-righteous values while allowing, no promoting, the wholesale slaughter of tens of thousands of innocent people.
As someone said earlier, I am upset that I don't live in the same country I was born into.
I am upset that we, as a nation, are returning to the middle ages in our belief system. Torture is okay again and the world is only 5,000 years old. Scientific evidence be damned.
I am upset that the two highest politicians in this country are gutless wonders who think nothing of sending our young people to die and be maimed without even the slightest concern. I am upset that our president surrounds himself only with like minded people and is unwilling to consider any view that does not originate in his pathetic, little, disturbed brain. I am upset that his incredibly self-absorbed and callous mother doesn't want to let the thought of all the young people coming home in body bags cross her 'beautiful mind."
I am ashamed of myself. We should all be in the streets, demanding more, demanding better. But I'm not there. Why, I don't know. Maybe I've got it just too damn good.

[cliss]

25. Upset.

UPSET that my hard-earned taxes are being used to fight this illegal war in Iraq & Afghanistan.

ASHAMED that Bush and Cheney are part of the human race. How did that happen? Can I honestly claim to share the same DNA strands as these men?

[Talismom]

27. No, but I feel a very heavy burden of responsibilty to work to improve

the leadership of this country, so to be able to live up to the ideals that most of us hold and thereby improve the lot for the rest of the peoples on this planet.

[Clutch Cargo]

28. I'm neither guilty, ashamed, forlorn, etc., etc.

The principles on which this country were founded have not changed, although some in power have not upheld them. Nonetheless, I support those principles and am proud of what they stand for. In my opinion, this is the greatest country on earth.

[Chovexani]

29. Embarassed like hell

But not guilty. Why should I feel guilty for living? I mind my own business. :shrug:

[triguy46]

30. Yep, me too.

[Clark2008]

31. I don't feel guilty, but I don't want to visit many places, either.

My fiance and I were talking about our honeymoon and we were throwing out ideas. He said that maybe we could go to Ireland or travel the American countryside. I ix-neighed the traveling the American countryside because I'm really so very tired of our McCulture.

[Ladyhawk]

32. Yes. I feel guilty, ashamed and responsible.

I want to make things right with the world, but I don't know how. Probably I shouldn't take on so much personal responsibility because there are reasons why it took me so long to realize what was happening.

I am not sure what to do with the way I feel.

[Obamanaut]

33. No, neither guilty nor embarrassed to be an American, BUT, I do

feel embarrassed from time to time by the behavior of SOME Americans.

[Beausoir]

34. Never. I love my country.

I am ashamed of the stupidity of anyone who voted for the retarded monkey who currently squats in my White House, but I love my country deeply.

[tlsmith1963]

35. Deeply Ashamed

Because we seem to be spitting on everything America is supposed to stand for. I have never seen it this bad. I never used to feel this way. I would get angry about something we had done that I didn't agree with, but it never lead to the shame & disillusionment I am feeling these days. I don't know if people in government or in the media really realize just how much America has been hurt by what Bush & the others have done. I think they may have done the impossible: they have destroyed American optimism.

Tammy

[Just Me]

36. I feel fucking disgusted at those who are destroying our country,...

,...and have been exploiting other nations for decades. We have greedy, corrupt, lyin' sons-a-bitches exploiting ALL resources, including the human variety,...and it makes me SICK!!!

These gluttonous pricks violate every ideal, every value and so many moral and ethical and legal limits, which USED to be the framework of the USA that, they shame the whole nation and her people!!

I am fucking disgusted at those who are destroying our country and our world.

[H2O Man]

37. Nope.

I am aware of the rights and responsibilities that could be easy to take for granted. And I know that this country is far from perfect. But I'm proud to be an American, and I try to make the country better, and to make it where America helps other people make their lives better.

[Deja Q]

40. I feel guilty for being human.

But the inhumanity of those in power will render them with more sound-enabled sweatshirts with the rest of us foodless.

I am mindful of many scenarios.

But it's all relative; each of us has our own unique struggles and our secret pains.