Countdown to Independence Day: #5 Be proud of being American

Over the next several days leading up to Independence Day I will be posting the 10 steps that must be taken to preserve our great nation and the principles it was established on.  Each day will cover one of the steps as they appear in my book Liberty Inherited.  It is my hope that, in some small way, I can get Americans to start thinking of what they are on the verge of throwing away.  Today's posting covers step number #5.  I recommend reading the previous posts for step #1 through 4.  Please note that any additional comments that I add to the original text will be in italics.
 

5. Be proud of being an American

At times it may feel awkward to display how proud we are to be Americans. I believe this to be for two reasons. The first is that we are often kept ignorant of the greatness of our country and its people. More often than not we are taught to be ashamed of what America has done wrong rather than celebrate what it has done right. But we need to recognize that this version of our history is incomplete at best and fraudulent at worst. I believe this is done as a step to internationalism.  Proponents of that philosophy know that they must destroy our sense of national pride before they can get us to give up our national identity. The second reason is that, for many Americans, pride is seen as a form of conceit. That would hold true for false pride but there is nothing wrong with being proud of your accomplishment or those of your country as long as that pride does not turn into arrogance. So I urge each of you to hold your head up and proudly proclaim that you are an American. America and the patriots who have sacrificed so much to make United States exceptional deserve no less.

In the book I warn against confusing arrogance with pride.  So when I encourage Americans to be proud, I am not encouraging them to disparage others from being proud of their nation.  It needs to be remembered that pride is not a competition.  Every nation and culture has something to be proud of and I love experiencing the pride that others have in their own nation and the achievements of that nation.  (For example, today is Canada Day and I am thrilled seeing our northern neighbors waving the Maple Leaf. The same goes for the Queen's Jubilee in the UK.  It was very heart-warming watching Britons showing of the Union Jack)  It is when we start trying to compete on whose pride is more justified that our pride turns to arrogance.  (Real pride never need justification.  It always speaks for itself). People rightly deserve to be proud of who they are and we as Americans need to accept that right for ourselves and respect it for others.