I'm proud to be an American. - Comments

What's ignorant is blindly following this country and defending it without recognizing that it has flaws. To say that people don't have the right to be critical of America because we are so lucky to have clean water and homes--that's a dangerous form of laziness right there. I agree that we should be grateful. Most people I know are. But we need to constantly fight to better ourselves, and that's why these kids are disappointed in America. Because they are good people who recognize that there are aspects of this country that are horrible and cruel and no, we should not support that!

The problem is that you're not seeing that these people are thankful for the homes and opportunities they have. They'd just rather fight on a domestic level for equality and improving the lives of the people around them than sacrifice their lives for wars they don't believe in.

Both are important. You can't have domestic fighters without military fighters and vice versa.

And our generation has not had a life changing event yet? Where were you when 9/11 happened? You may not remember, but I do. It changed the people around me greatly. My dad was almost on one of those planes.

We've been through multiple wars in my lifetime. Kids my age have lost fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, etc. to these wars. We're also fighting psychological wars, now that it is becoming a lot safer for those who need help to get it.

Please be more sensitive when you accuse this generation of not experiencing pain.

"I hear classmates say how much they hate this country for being ignorant, racist, bias, etc, etc. They don't understand that it can't get any better than this. I woke up this morning and flipped a switch and LIGHTS came on. I turned on a faucet and clean, drinkable water came out. I wasn't stoned for leaving the house without my dad with me. I went to my school and was educated for FREE. They complain about everything they wish they had, when they don't even stop to appreciate what they have."

Ok. I don't live in the United States and my opinion don't end on Americans alone (more like at people who live in countries who enjoy such privileges etc). This is what I think everytime someone bitches about something superficially minor like it's the end of the world and I'm just like ... 'There are people in the world who have no clothes to wear to keep them warm from the cold.'

Aah the problems of the first and third world countries. Also, your patriotism is admirable. America certainly has things that it should be proud of.

v. Actually, considering how old some countries are, 200 years is young.

I totally agree with you on most of this. People these days just don't care. We've become so accustomed to living in luxury most of us don't realize how bad some other people have it. As my friend says to people who complain about stupid little things, "Us and our first world problems..." While I can't see America turning around anytime soon, I wish it would just go back to how good America was when we first started. If the founding fathers could see us now I'm sure they'd be rolling in their graves...

How can a 200 years old country be a young country? The Czech Republic only came into existence in 1993, that's a young country. Also, the US constitution was definitely not 'the first of its kind' - there are several earlier modern constitutions, e.g. the Corsican Constitution of 1755.

I'd join the military for sure I don't like a lot of things about our country but at the end of the day I'm proud and I'm lucky to have been born here. Especially since my culture is Mexican if my family wasn't here I'd most likley be in Mexico, now THAT is a messed up country.

Plus before I decided my career path I was considering joining the navy.

The united states has it's perks, but I'd never join the military. I just wouldn't. I have too much to lose, and you're right it is selfish of me. It is down right wrong of me to not want to die for my country, but the thing is until our country can mind our own business and worry about what is right at our door step. (Mexico which is being ran by drug cartel, in the law enforcement and out on the streets) then I am not willing to put my life at risk. I'm already planning on becoming a Law Enforcement Officer to keep what safety the USA has intact I don't need to be worrying about outside affairs until I am in the FBI or CIA like I want to be.