July 2nd, 2009, 05:55 AM
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#1
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What is most important to you?
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Scottsdale
Posts: 14,603
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"Uniquely American"
So, here we are the day before the celebration of the birth of our great country. And as best as I can tell, the union is as fragile and polarized as at any other point in my 45 year recollection...
I can recall times when standing up and proclaiming your American nationality was a claim that brought about immense pride, reverance and respect.
I can recall times when, differences of opinion notwithstanding, Americans knew what it meant to be American, and that at the end of the day we are all Americans.
Today, it seems that simply using the term "American" has to be done with your head held low and your voice retreating...
Today, it seems that nobody knows what being American means... what it stands for... the pride and respect are gone... American nationality has lost it's definition...
For you - how do you feel about being an American?
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"Dying for something is easy because it is associated with glory. Living for something is the hard thing. Living for something extends beyond fashion, glory, or recognition. We live for what we believe."
— Donald Miller
Last edited by 82CardsGrad; July 2nd, 2009 at 05:57 AM.
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July 2nd, 2009, 06:02 AM
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#2
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Pretty Prince of Parties
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Reno, NV
Posts: 5,853
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I'm proud to be an American. Just becuase our leaders have done some stupid things lately it still doesn't change the fact that we the people have the power to throw them out every election cycle if we don't agree with them. Plus we still have the largest economy and most badass fighting force on the planet.
The one thing I don't like is the "Mexican-American", "African-American" , "Italian-American", PC crap that this country throws around. If you're a citizen then you are an American. Quit being a douche.
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"Nonsolis Radios Sediouis Fulmina Mitto."
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July 2nd, 2009, 06:04 AM
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#3
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Witness for the Prosecution!!
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Northwest Gotham
Posts: 31,503
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What business is it of yours? 
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July 2nd, 2009, 06:05 AM
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#4
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Registered
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Little Rock, AR
Posts: 5,956
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I just wanna shoot fireworks 
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Constantly making conclusive and hyperbolic claims doesn't make you a dissident, it makes you an easily used tool.
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July 2nd, 2009, 06:33 AM
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 16,212
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The 8 years of the Bush administration has made me come as close as I ever thought possible about hating my own country. The fact that we were so weak as a people to let many of the things happen occur and to do so with little or no voice.
The days of the 60's revolution, or shall I say the ability to get together and voice an opinion as one, to say "This is wrong", is gone.
The new administration is not moving as quickly as I had hope but there are a few very importnant items that needed immediate fixing that look like they may happen. (ie close Guantanamo, out of Iraq etc). but many things were left off the agenda that should be high priority (Close most if not all foreign bases, lower property taxes, Reform the SEC and fire those responsible, Give LESS power etc)
Bad news is it will only get worse. It is the sytem itself that is broken now and no individual can fix it.
__________________
"Only after the last tree has been cut down... Only after the last river has been poisoned… Only after the last fish has been caught, only then will you find that money cannot be eaten." - Cree Indian prophecy
www.Mingledhearts.com
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July 2nd, 2009, 07:25 AM
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#6
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Hit me with your best shot
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Phoenix, AZ.
Posts: 29,332
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Quote:
Originally Posted by swd1974
The 8 years of the Bush administration has made me come as close as I ever thought possible about hating my own country. The fact that we were so weak as a people to let many of the things happen occur and to do so with little or no voice.
The days of the 60's revolution, or shall I say the ability to get together and voice an opinion as one, to say "This is wrong", is gone.
The new administration is not moving as quickly as I had hope but there are a few very importnant items that needed immediate fixing that look like they may happen. (ie close Guantanamo, out of Iraq etc). but many things were left off the agenda that should be high priority (Close most if not all foreign bases, lower property taxes, Reform the SEC and fire those responsible, Give LESS power etc)
Bad news is it will only get worse. It is the sytem itself that is broken now and no individual can fix it.
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How quickly we forget about the amount of time the Democrats controlled Congress while Bush was president and how little power the president really has if the Congress decides to buck him.
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July 2nd, 2009, 07:26 AM
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#7
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Hit me with your best shot
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Phoenix, AZ.
Posts: 29,332
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Proud to be an American. Always have been, always will be.
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July 2nd, 2009, 07:36 AM
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Cave Creek
Posts: 8,446
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Proud. Even when we embarrass ourselves, as all peoples and nations do now and then, I've traveled enough to know there is nowhere else I'd want to live, or be 'from.' I have faith in us, although many times that faith gets shaken.
The best way I've heard it put was when Obama was elected, a European journalist said, "Americans have done it again. They have surprised the world with a democratic act impossible anywhere else. Everytime we start to give up on them, they surprise us."
But for me, I am going to lift my first Fourth of July glass to the Iranian people, for smacking us upside the head with what freedom means, and what it costs, and what it really requires to secure it.
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"The power of the State looks real different when you're on the other side of the bayonet." Chris Hayes
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July 2nd, 2009, 07:47 AM
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#9
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Hit me with your best shot
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Phoenix, AZ.
Posts: 29,332
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AZZenny
Proud. Even when we embarrass ourselves, as all peoples and nations do now and then, I've traveled enough to know there is nowhere else I'd want to live, or be 'from.' I have faith in us, although many times that faith gets shaken.
The best way I've heard it put was when Obama was elected, a European journalist said, "Americans have done it again. They have surprised the world with a democratic act impossible anywhere else. Everytime we start to give up on them, they surprise us."
But for me, I am going to lift my first Fourth of July glass to the Iranian people, for smacking us upside the head with what freedom means, and what it costs, and what it really requires to secure it.
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PROSIT!!!!
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July 2nd, 2009, 08:46 AM
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#10
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Agent Provocateur
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: via pacis
Posts: 22,006
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Other.
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"Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities."
--Voltaire
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July 2nd, 2009, 09:03 AM
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 16,212
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 40yearfan
How quickly we forget about the amount of time the Democrats controlled Congress while Bush was president and how little power the president really has if the Congress decides to buck him.
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It was the 4 years they had full power that 99% of the crap came out. Even Republican Representatives said Bush would sign a leaf if it blew in the window. You really think W had the brain power to even read what came through?
__________________
"Only after the last tree has been cut down... Only after the last river has been poisoned… Only after the last fish has been caught, only then will you find that money cannot be eaten." - Cree Indian prophecy
www.Mingledhearts.com
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July 2nd, 2009, 10:31 AM
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#12
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Take a ticket, take a seat
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Is everything
Posts: 10,983
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wallyburger
Other.
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X2
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Question Authority
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July 2nd, 2009, 12:30 PM
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#13
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aka Gaddabout
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Mesa
Posts: 10,983
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Just blow some stuff up already.
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"The most difficult lie I have ever contended with is this: life is a story about me." — Donald Miller
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July 2nd, 2009, 02:16 PM
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#14
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Darksider Level - BLACK!
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Vegas, baby, yeah!
Posts: 5,072
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Quote:
Originally Posted by swd1974
The 8 years of the Bush administration has made me come as close as I ever thought possible about hating my own country. The fact that we were so weak as a people to let many of the things happen occur and to do so with little or no voice.
The days of the 60's revolution, or shall I say the ability to get together and voice an opinion as one, to say "This is wrong", is gone.
The new administration is not moving as quickly as I had hope but there are a few very importnant items that needed immediate fixing that look like they may happen. (ie close Guantanamo, out of Iraq etc). but many things were left off the agenda that should be high priority (Close most if not all foreign bases, lower property taxes, Reform the SEC and fire those responsible, Give LESS power etc)
Bad news is it will only get worse. It is the sytem itself that is broken now and no individual can fix it.
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De Tocqueville: “The greatness of America lies not in being more enlightened than any other nation, but rather in her ability to repair her faults.”
Oh, and proud to be American. 
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RISE UP DARK SIDE
WE'RE DOOMED!
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July 2nd, 2009, 03:23 PM
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#15
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Agent Provocateur
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: via pacis
Posts: 22,006
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LVG
De Tocqueville: “The greatness of America lies not in being more enlightened than any other nation, but rather in her ability to repair her faults.”
Oh, and proud to be American. 
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and...
Quote:
As one digs deeper into the national character of the Americans, one sees that they have sought the value of everything in this world only in the answer to this single question: how much money will it bring in?
Alexis de Tocqueville
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__________________
"Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities."
--Voltaire
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