Blog to America -
American Perspectives

Hi friends around the world,

I am an American, but am I proud? I have been debating this topic in my head in the past months especially leading up to today, 9/11. Have I come up with an answer? No, but many ideas. First of all, it is my dream to live, well, not in the United States. I would love to live all over the world , moving every few years, and finally after discovering as much as I can, settle down. But in the mean time, I am stuck here. As a young child, I was very proud to be American. Now I think that is because of the American "history" we were taught in grade school. To be honest, I feel like I've been lied to. As a high school student, last year I took an U.S history course, and realized what the real American history was about. I've always had this feeling as a kid that America was great and all, and really had good values and freedoms. When I learned about American imperialism and colonization, I was horrified and surprised. America was the nation that fought against all of that for freedom, and yet we did it to others. I can totally understand why people outside of the U.S would not like it. Even though they think we are possibly helping, by coming into your country, why is it America's business. Most of the time it is not. Why do you even want to be like us here? America is filled with shallow and completely stupid people. There are so many people who waste their lives away doing nothing with their lives and not trying to do anything to live nicely and many have all the resources available to them. There are so many people in countries around the world dying to live comfortable lives like we do here.
I am mostly liberal, coming from New Jersey. I probably have a biased view, but I really think that New Jersey, NYC, and parts of California (NOT L.A!) are the only intelligent parts of this country. Of course that is biased, but the majority of people in my school except for maybe a few are not Bush supporters. You go down to Florida or Virginia -and its difficult to convince people he is bad. It is sad and pathetic, that many people do not think for themselves, and many people from Texas love him to death, and believe everything he says and supports everything he does just because he is from their State. I almost wish we were not one united country, but a continent of fifty different ones. Each state or cluster of states has their own personalities, views and beliefs. If New Jersey were its own country, It would be pretty kick ass.

Now, as to 9/11. Seeing the smoke from my house, just killed me. I remember that day, being in the sixth grade, like it was yesterday, and sometimes it still feels like it was only last year. There is nothing worse than having a "i remember exactly what i was doing on the day of____ attacks" day. It could be Pearl Harbor, a president being assassinated, and now in the case of most Americans today, 9 11. And especially those close to where it hit. Like i said, seeing the smoke made it extremely real and petrifying. New Jersey-being the home of very important ports (in Elizabeth-about 10 minutes from me) could have very well been the next target, and when George Bush almost sold them... that would have been just ridiculous. Anyway, the memory of 9/11 will always be with me, and I will always remember that day-not knowing all day of what was happening except that the towers were no longer there-for a reason I did not know at the time. I was 11, the impact of it didn't hit me right away. When my mom picked me up, in tears, i knew something horrible had happened. We came home , and put the news on right away. every single channel. Watching over and over again, the planes hitting, the fires burning, and the people jumping out from the floors like the 80th floor, people jumping, people dying, the towers coming crashing down , the people in the streets screaming and running, and the debris flying and crashing down .wow. the impact of watching it on television was enough. i think i would have just stood there and froze if i was actually seeing it in real life. The footage was played over and over again, deathly. The panic. You just don't understand the impact of war, until it hits home, and this is one of the only times it has in recent history. I feel horrible and embarrassed and ashamed of the fact that America is inflicting this pain on Iraqis. I have read some journals and some of these letters from Iraq and their lives have been turned around. We think they are going from bad to good but for man!
y it has
gone from Fine to horrible. The people live in fear everyday that there will be panic explosion and death. We had to deal with it one day, they have to deal with it everyday.
So, I guess back to the original question, am I patriotic of the United States? I am patriotic of New York City-basically my second home, I am patriotic for the people who fought for their rights such as womens rights and gay and lesbian rights and any other rights fought for especially in the 60s. I am patriotic of the people who come to America or struggle in America and eventually live that so called "American Dream" -if they worked hard, persevered, and really really strived good for them and congratulations. But in no way am I patriotic of the principals we convince people and claim we stand for-They are Great, but if we don't actually follow them, then I am not proud. I am in no way patriotic of the scummy white trash citizens who do Shit, while people are risking their lives from Mexico to come here just to live their lives-maybe in the worst conditions and maybe illegally, but they have more justification and integrity and character and soul than many people living here. let them come here, let them have a chance, send all those scumbags wasting away to mexico in their place. and in no absolute way am i patriotic of president Bush. I am ashamed that I live here sometimes. I am not ashamed of the life I live or what I believe in or what I THOUGHT america was or what it is supposed to stand for. but for what it has become.
I hope to hear some feedback.
Thanks,
Caitlyn


Name: Caitlyn
Age: 17
Country: United States
City: Cranford
State: New Jersey
Gender: Female
Income: Low
Occupation: student
ExperienceWIthUS: Currently Live in the United States
Website: http://caitywrites.livejournal.com/

Labels: 10's, 9/11, american history, female, imperialism, liberal, low income, New Jersey, patriotism, pride, student

Dear Global Community,

The future of the United Sates should include efforts to more Cooperatively interact with the UN. With the UN's approval of action against circumstances of hostile, aggressive behavior of other countries, it will be easier to change the world for the better and protect the assaulted People/ nations. The goal of the United States international Interactions needs to be: 1) To make a better life for its own people needing help, and 2) To keep, create, and offer peace. The first step to help out humanity, without using force (a way for the U.S. to gain the worlds Trust again), is to, with the UN's support oversee and provide Assistance in the homelands of those who show up at our borders, because of disease, poverty, and hunger. The United States will have more success in the actions we take, if we work through international organizations. Hopefully, by strengthening the UN, unstable/ semi-unpredictable Countries like China and Russia, can be controlled, and even steered towards favoring the United States' and The UN's wisdom. We, the people of this earth, are stronger united than apart. We each have something to Offer each other. We believe the same is true for countries. If we take these cooperative actions, the world will respect all that the UN has to offer, and will become a more peaceful, cooperative place.

We could be begin by withdrawing our troops, not all at once because we have created a level of dependence, and that could easily cause a collapse and then, more unrest. Starting, post-haste, span it out over several months, and take back in our troops a few thousand at a time. We have no idea what the effect will or could be, but no one will probably worse off, and hopefully, it will slowly inspire independence. If we give them time, to sort themselves out, even if it has to come to a civil war, let them create their balance. We could, grouped with other powers under some UN sanctified task force, return later and offer monetary assistance or help them stabilize themselves in the world economy. We should continue using oil from the middle east, it forces a certain amount of trust and would keep some sort of communication open between us, and that is a good thing, we all need good foreign relations because no nation can live in isolation. We could offer work programs to economic migrants and then send them back with a good, or more advanced education, so as to help better their own communities. Now though, we need to back off, give them their space, and quit lording over them. We may be a world power, but we shouldn't be arrogant. Yeah.

Jessie Theby, Riley Deel


About the Author

Name: Riley
Age: 17
Country: USA
City: St. Louis
State: MO
Gender: Female
Occupation: Student

Labels: 10's, female, foreign policy, iraq war, missouri, student

Dear Global Community,

The United States needs to back off. Right now we are pressure people too much, and we are not making them happy. We are making some enemies, which is not good. We need to calm down and give other nations a chance instead of stepping in right away and interfering. Some nations might need a push in the right direction, but we don't have to force it so much. We need to stop focusing on the on everyone else, and start focusing on the citizens of our own nation. I understand that we can't pull out of things too fast, like Iraq, because that can cause trouble. We should just slowly start pulling out, especially if it's somewhere where we are not welcome. If we do not have the support from other people of what we are doing we should get the idea that maybe it's not the best thing. We should listen to other nations, instead of ignoring them. If we were to pull out of Iraq it may cause trouble, but maybe trouble is needed. Iraq should work out their own problems. If civil war were to break out, then maybe it is necessary. If a war broke out and got too bad, we could always come back, but I think we need to give them a chance and see what happens if we were not there. It would be nice if we could set up a working government in Iraq before we leave, but the reality is, that could take way too long.


About the Author

Name: Shannon
Age: 17
State: Missouri
Gender: Female

Labels: 10's, female, foreign policy, iraq war, missouri

Dear Global Community,

While the United States tries to promote democracy in the rest of the world, our own country is lacking care. The United States has many flaws, but instead we are trying to make the world "flawless" by our standards. Democracy is a concept the United States is trying to promote hoping the reduction of terrorism and other problems. If the United States pulls back and supports our own country's research developments in fields such as alternative fuels, cancer, and other areas can be made. Also strides in our nations economy to help factors such as construction, agriculture, and education, things that make America who we are. When one says protection in the homeland that doesn't mean line up the military and conform every country that has ever hurt us. Protect means to keep the image that we once had, the country that broke away from cruel treatment and succeeded on our own. The United States needs to know the high pedestal we claim to be on does not give us the power to change every country to be just like us. The country that claims diversity is the key is being a hypocrite by trying to stick their noses in every problem that arises.

I feel Iraq is the same problem, but since we are already in Iraq i feel we should pull our troops our little by little. If we pull all our troops out at once then this will cause a problem. Since we have been in Iraq if we leave all of a sudden then Iraq will go back to fighting. So if we pull out a few troops at a time then we can have troops helping the Iraqi people while troops return.


About the Author:

Name: Kirthi Tata
Age: 16
Country: United States
City: Saint Louis
State: Missouri
Gender: Female
Occupation: Student

Labels: 10's, democracy, female, foreign policy, government, iraq war, missouri, student

Dear Global Community,

I have your answers : why Americans do nothing about their government:

The reasons why Americans are not doing anything is because they are complacent. They need a real tragedy to directly create change in their lives. They need to be physically hurt or their families before any action will be taken.

To be in-convenienced for a long period of time.

Things first need to become inconvenient, Americans thrive on convenience. If for a longer period of time their personal lives, daily commute to work, gas prices, prices of beef go up and become problematic then they will start being inquisitive and seek guidance.

Until then Americans will do nothing. There is no real risk for them, their lives won't change dramatically, the corporations protect their gas prices making sure that they remain complacent about global warming by making their beloved SUV's still affordable enough to drive around in. SUV's make Americans feel big protected and important and powerful. Also buying American trucks makes them feel patriotic.

Also as long as the oil and corn industry in the US remains strong so will factory farming remain strong and global warming will become worse. Factory farming is subsidized by corn, corn in return is subsidized by the government which in turn is run by the oil corporations of the world.
As long as beef and meat products full of hormones are cheap, Americans have nothing to complain about, and you bet the US government will make sure that their complacent citizens will not know or hear or really care about what is going on in the rest of the world as long as:

Gas prices don't go up too high, beef and meat remains cheap, Walmart remains cheap (Americans don't care that stuff is made in china) as long that it remains affordable and convenient.

Also young people just want to go about their lives, if you want to make Americans care you have to re-instate a draft (not going to happen because the US does not want people to wake up).

That is why nothing is ever going to change this government, because it will make sure that the people of the US can keep living their convenient lives without much change.

People do care but it takes time and effort something most people don't want to invest their spare time into and until their lives are totally impacted and given a detour they will not make an effort, it has to impact them directly.

Generally people who have family members who die of strange diseases eventually set up charities or start creating organizations to help others suffering from what their loved one died from, the same goes for people who start animal shelters and rehab facilities for drug addicts, in one way or another they were personally affected.

We Americans do care but your life is not our life, yes some of us have relatives over there in the military, but they are only over there because they hope to come back alive and get $40,000 in US government grants to maybe be able to go to college and forget about their wasted time in Iraq or where ever they are sent to. Most of the men/woman in the military are just 18, are too lazy to really get a decent job, going to the military forces them to just follow orders and not be in control of their lives, it's again finding a convenient escape to the harder life of writing resumes back home to work at McDonald's or Pizza Hut.

By joining they feel they are doing something patriotic and that they won't be made fun of by their friends and family, because if they do join; their families and friends can't really make fun of them because then they in turn would be unpatriotic. So it's a temporary escape for most of them, it's not serious for them it's a short stop in life for them being in a foreign place. As long as they have a base nearby that are ok.

WE care but we're too lazy to do anything about it, except better our own lives, like the rest of the people in the world.


About the Author

Name: Anja
Age: 34
Gender: Female
Income: High
Occupation: Graduate

Labels: 30's, americans, corporations, domestic policy, environment, female, global warming, high income, north america