LOL I was just going to say the same thing about McCain -- I am seeing the real McCain and he's the one who's scary.
Having lived on the same side of the street for over 40 years, I can't say that I've always been proud of my country. Having our heroes threatened with assassination for trying to do something noble & honorable is scary. I voted by absentee ballot for concern that I could be anonymously mowed down for simply exercising my right to vote. Now that's probably something no one on here is proud of, I would hope. And it's probably not a concern for many who have posted, but guess what -- it's a real concern for some of us.
To see John McCain and Sarah Palin feed the fears and craziness of people w/o the slightest concern or apology of what a great portion of this country's citizens have lived through and continue to face is really scary, my friends. Really scary. To have people oblivious to it is really scary, too.
I'm not saying who I voted for, for concern of reprisals from either side. (And I bet many of you don't have that concern at all but it is real for some). But I will say that I have been a registered Republican for close to 20 years. It was not easy to make my decision, but I did. It's nobody's business who I voted for. That's one of the many things I can say I'm proud of in this country.
I can tell you many things about my American experiences, however my friends, that I'm not proud of, starting with my segregated childhood; starting with actual grade manipulations, Bill, to keep me from being the first African American valedictiorian of my highschool. A classmate's grade had to be manupulated to give her an "A" in a class (Trig) where I aced a test and she utterly failed it (yes, the teacher discussed our grades in the class). We both wound up being co-valedictorians, with straight A averages. Oh God, talk about a riot in the city if I had attained that podium by myself.
Starting, my friends, with my first job in the 80's, where I was paid a starting salary $3000 less than a counterpart who happened not to be the same ethnicity as myself. We worked for a nationally-recognized and respected company, and I had a specific degree in the field needed for the job, whereas she had a related degree. Yet I was not considered worthy of $3000 more -- I wonder why. I graduated no. 1 from my college. Both of us were straight out of college. I was only trained 2 weeks then put on night shift. She got put on day shift where our supervisor could constantly assist her. Oh well. Just another check in the "not proud of" column.
I can tell you many things, my friends. MANY things, that do not make me proud. But I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. I believe America is the greatest country on earth. Does the fact that the experiences I endured which do not make me proud make me less patriotic than anyone else? I think I'm MORE patriotic because I endured them and still can say I love this country.
But I can't say that I've been proud of every single thing about this country. And if you can say that, then you should try on someone else's shoes for a single day, who has had to fight for every ounce of consideration or simple respect as an "average American" that they could get. Try having to fight an uphill battle just about every single time for things that are considered inaleinable rights and general privileges for most Americans, but are a real battle for some Americans for no valid reason.