Have YOU no Shame!

Michelle Obama’s recent comment about how she is "for the first time in her adult lifetime" beginning to feel pride in America has created a firestorm for all the wrong reasons.

"What we have learned over this year is that hope is making a comeback. It is making a comeback. And let me tell you something -- or the first time in my adult lifetime, I am really proud of my country. And not just because Barack has done well, but because I think people are hungry for change. And I have been desperate to see our country moving in that direction and just not feeling so alone in my frustration and disappointment. I've seen people who are hungry to be unified around some basic common issues, and it's made me proud."

Follow me below the fold for an explanation of why...

This statement been parsed to identify the timing of a lack of pride in America and everyone seems to be debating the nuance of exactly when she felt pride in her country, the use of the word "really" and other such non-sense. Then, we seem to focus on the argument of feeling pride in the electoral process as opposed to feeling pride for America. These nuances are missing the point. Pride is very similar to respect except that pride is deeper and more emphatic that respect. Everyone recognizes respect MUST be earned and it is NOT something that can be demanded, yet we expect pride to be different. Why? I believe the reason is because many people confuse the nature of pride with love. I love my country, but I want America to do better than Abu Ghraib, torture, spying on Americans, disrespect for the Constitution of the US etc. and so on, and so on. Should I be proud of these (and other) atrocities? I think NOT! If I do, I would compromise my sense of integrity and my sense of humanity. Apparently, Al Franken is correct when he suggests conservatives are immature about their country when they act like 3 year olds who hate anyone that would criticize mommy. A mother may have unconditional love for her children, but that does NOT translate into pride if that child commits a crime against humanity. Why is one’s love for their country any different? Unfortunately, we believe the GOP talking points and assumptions that pride in our country is unconditional. I believe that assertion is wrong. Love may be unconditional, but pride is earned. Furthermore, I would suggest outrage is warranted IF you love something or someone that openly transgresses against humanity and the principles of your country. Otherwise, you either condone transgressions against humanity or you really don’t care about your country's principles to help your country (or loved one) do better. Patriotism requires vigilance only if those who are vigilant love their country. Pride is NOT unconditional and it is NOT required in order to be patriotic! Pride leads to chauvinistic patriotism that many acknowldege as Jingoism, but love of one's country is different. Love requires honesty and hard work for the benefit of one's country. So, I ask, who is more patriotic... those who admire America's conquests or those who have pride in America's accomplishments for humanity? To suggest pride is unconditional is the same as admiring America's mistakes and accepting less of your country. That's NOT patriotic at all!

•  Tip Jar

  by Cowboy Borat on Thu Feb 21, 2008 at 01:35:14 PM PDT

•  I'm proud about not being proud.

  When George H. W. Bush said that atheists couldn't be patriots... that was it.

  My dad was an atheist soldier who fought in WWII and Korea. He won medals for bravery in WWII and received a life-shortening injury in Korea.

  My dad WAS a patriot, Mr. Bush, and no, I'm not proud of my country.

  Maybe that'll change.

  by Fishgrease on Thu Feb 21, 2008 at 01:43:36 PM PDT

  •  Yes, i have also not been proud of my country

    and have been trying to defend it by telling people that not all americans approve of the deciders decisions.

    by ArtDemo on Thu Feb 21, 2008 at 02:26:12 PM PDT

    •  Amen n/t

      by Fishgrease on Thu Feb 21, 2008 at 02:39:51 PM PDT

•  Absolutely 100% on target.

  Speaking as someone who is ashamed of this country's record of the past six years....

  ... there hasn't been much to be proud of.

  by John Poet on Thu Feb 21, 2008 at 01:44:05 PM PDT

•  Obama voter here

  A presidential candidate's wife and co-campaigner is expected to be proud of her country.  period.  It was a poor choice of words on her part.

  Nothing to get excited about.  The excitement of the wins and the little McCain brouhaha should make it yesterday's news.

  It is not a big deal, unless we continue to make it one.  The fact is every statement a presidential candidates wife makes will be looked over quite critically.  Especially one who gets out and actively stumps for her husband.  She has put herself front and center by actively campaigning.  She will take heat for any error she makes.  That is how it is.

  Shoot, you saw the heavily rec'ed diary yesterday over Cindy McCain who made a single snide remark.  She is not leading rallies for her husband.  She just made a snide remark and the dkos crowd was wanging on her for her hair, her dress, her pears, her vapid eyes and so on and so on.

  Why would you expect Michelle who is very actively campaigning to get any less of a pass from the rest of the political arena?

  by crazyshirley2100 on Thu Feb 21, 2008 at 01:45:39 PM PDT

  •  I agree with this

    Pushing "you aren't REQUIRED to always be proud of your country" as an angle is political suicide.

    It's nuanced as hell, and 90% of people will disagree -- it's a presidential candidate's wife.

    The best approach was what happened.  She contritely explained that she had misspoke, and was referring to a political sense.  More apologies may be necessary, but it was a mistake and should be called one.

    by prefan on Thu Feb 21, 2008 at 02:43:29 PM PDT

  •  As an Obama supporter...

    ...I hope you can understand how his comments about how he doesn't want to just end the war, but he also wants to end the mindset that got us into war in the first place is something that resonates with many Americans. Blind patriotism based on militant nationalism is part of the reason that got us into the war in the first place and Michelle Obama's comment about pride in our country is a great place to start that conversation because unconditional pride in the form of militant nationalism is not in our best interest and it is NOT patriotism.

    by Cowboy Borat on Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 06:02:27 AM PDT

•  your my

  kind of cowboy. Blind patriotism and nationalism lead to bad places.

  You're not to be so blind with patriotism that you can't face reality.
  Wrong is wrong, no matter who does it or says it.
  Malcolm X (1925 1965)  

  by shaharazade on Thu Feb 21, 2008 at 02:25:36 PM PDT

  •  I'm not a cowboy at all

    I simply use this moniker to mock the idiot (hence the Borat reference) cowboy currently in the WH.

    by Cowboy Borat on Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 06:06:46 AM PDT

•  What shaharazade said.

  Iraq Moratorium

  by One Pissed Off Liberal on Thu Feb 21, 2008 at 02:36:52 PM PDT

•  When you're in a foreign country...

  and somebody asks you where you're from, do you have any embarrassment when you say "the United States?"  I have, and I think that's what Michelle Obama was getting at.  I had actually taken to just saying I'm from New York City, because foreigners generally like NYC, whereas I always get angry stares if I say the other thing.

  Even if Obama gets no further and loses (fairly, not through a superdelegate putsch), there's a different feeling around the world about our country these days.  People have hope everywhere that our democracy is more than 'just words.'

  by jeroly on Thu Feb 21, 2008 at 03:40:59 PM PDT