Americans down on America?

It takes more than a few to become a U.S. Citizen, there is an extremely difficult test, and an English language requirement. The entire process takes 2-5 years. I recently helped one of my Soldiers prepare for and earn her citizenship, in fact, many naturally born American citizens can't pass the test we require citizenship candidates to pass. We allow more people in because we are larger than most countries, and this nation was founded as a safe haven for weak, "give us your tired, your poor, your huddled masses, yearning to breathe free."
As far as religion in politics? We have seen it fail repeatedly religious states are some the most war torn countries in the world. Not saying the word God Pledge of allegiance is not problem.
Our politicians are not sissified, their priorities are wrong. They pander to the loudest, and those with the most money, not the American people, and can't come to compromise on even the simplest problems, because they don't like the president (any president) they waste money, increase their own pay, and continually behave in a way that shows how out of touch they are with the people they serve.

It's a sin that somehow
Light is changing to shadow
And casting it's shroud
Over all we have known
Unaware how the ranks have grown
Driven on by a heart of stone
We could find that we're all alone
In the dream of the proud

Read more: Pink Floyd - On The Turning Away Lyrics | MetroLyrics

Come on, guys. Got to find something to live for! God put us on the planet for a reason. Things seem a bit gloomy now, but they will get better, right?

SPC Rebecca Lovie That is a more fitting term, or at least it doesn't sound as dreadful as dieing.

LTC (Join to see) I have listened to that album every since it came out, and just realized when you posted the lyrics, how close it describes the way things are going in America. Thanks for posting. On a lighter note, that song will be in my head the rest of the night!

We are not a democracy, we are a republic. The chief characteristic and distinguishing feature of a Democracy is: Rule by Omnipotent Majority. In a Democracy, The Individual, and any group of Individuals composing any Minority, have no protection against the unlimited power of The Majority. It is a case of Majority-over-Man. A Republic, on the other hand, has a very different purpose and an entirely different form, or system, of government. Its purpose is to control The Majority strictly, as well as all others among the people, primarily to protect The Individual’s God-given, unalienable rights and therefore for the protection of the rights of The Minority, of all minorities, and the liberties of people in general. The definition of a Republic is: a constitutionally limited government of the representative type, created by a written Constitution--adopted by the people and changeable (from its original meaning) by them only by its amendment--with its powers divided between three separate Branches: Executive, Legislative and Judicial. Here the term "the people" means, of course, the electorate. Therefore, by definition, we are not a democracy.

Yes, we are not a democracy. I know that. I was trying to simplify things. Our laws and our Constitution are supposed to protect the minority from the majority (In a manner of speaking; the tyranny of the majority). When I see 1/2 of the population of our nation actively working against the other to deny equal rights to everyone, I just lose faith in the system.

I can't watch the news or read it without getting very angry. Apparently, this has been exacerbated by my PTSD so I try to avoid current events that aren't presented by a comedian... though I still get upset.

CPT LaFlame, I don't know what would restore my pride in my country. I used to be very patriotic. Wearing the flag on my arm made me proud. It doesn't really do that anymore. It doesn't symbolize what I thought it did. I don't know if I will ever return to my patriotism. I am proud of my fellow Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines for making the sacrifices they have made, but I often feel that those sacrifices were done at the behest of corporate interest rather than the preservation of freedom and the integrity of our nation. I have become a cynic in my age (I am not old!) and I hope I can one day lose this hostility and shame I have. Now, all I can think of is Oscar Wilde's quote, "Patriotism is a virtue of the viscous." While I don't agree with that when it comes to us (The collective folks in uniform), I do feel that way about our politicians. Since they are supposed to be representing us (And are most assuredly are not), I equate their actions with the status of the nation and it makes me sick. I can go on about this... I don't know that I could add much more though.

Mr. Kantor,

It saddens me to hear your perspective, but I do appreciate you sharing it. Thank you for serving. It must be even harder to do when you are feeling lost. I think many of us has had some dark periods of service. I do hope things will change for the better.

CW2 Kantor,

I'm disappointed to hear that. I used to get upset at the state of the country and for what its worth, I have a suggestion. I started reading, I read allot about Patrick Henry, John Adams, George Washington…the ones who risked everything to start the American experiment. I read about the Revolution and what it took to start the country.

It motivated me, because while the country is pretty screwed up, its been thru worse. The founders went had it allot tougher than I ever will.Its our job not only as soldiers, but as citizens to keep it going.

As I recall we are on very different sides of the political spectrum. Still we are Americans first! We won life's lottery! Be proud, this country is the bright shining city on the hill for the world.

MAJ Carl Ballinger - Sir I hope you are right. All I see are people that want everything without working for it. I do not see how our government can be repaired under our current position. People vote for the guy that promises them what they want even though he/she never comes through. Congress excludes it self from all laws and when they do break laws they have their hands smacked. If a citizen breaks the same law they go to prison. The way our system is now we no longer have checks and balances. The executive, legislative and judicial branches are all controlled by the same mindset. I have recently heard people on both sides say "You can't vote down someone the President wants on the court. You have to put them through." Why have the hearings?
Sir I hope and pray that you are right, that my children can see even a glimmer of the America I experienced.   

Sir, we need to work together, and that is going to be a tough sell, but I think it's the only way. We need a leader (preferably the president) who will seek to take this challenge to rebuild American Pride. It has to start at the top. It's going to take strong leadership and if government and private organizations continue to support "press 1 for English" and similar initiatives to further segregate American loyalty, we will likely not recover our pride. We need to stand together to support America by paying taxes and working to support our families - we need to get the 46+% of "Americans" not paying taxes to find jobs and start paying taxes. I don't have an easy fix for the last statement, but I can tell you that if that number keeps climbing, we are all in trouble.

The disparity between the have and have nots is more of the economy of taking from those that provide and the consumption by those who do not.

Sir, I agree if the disparity arises from poverty - however, back when Americans were more proud of our country, it didn't matter how much money you had - people were more motivated and satisfied to put in a good days work regardless - now, it's if you don't pay me what I think I should get, I'm just not going to do it - period. That's a problem. We need to take the focus off big money and revert it back to having a safe, healthy and opportunistic view.