Proud to be an American

Last night I read something on Facebook that just slapped me in the face, my friend Randy posted something on Facebook that created a maelstrom of comments. What Randy posted was not what slapped me in the face; it was one of people commenting on his comment. So, KW this is for you.
I am not well traveled, however, I consider myself well read, well informed and have a large circle of friends that include people from different cultures, ethnicities and who have originated from countries all over the world.
I am well aware of our history as a country, a country I might add that is a mere 235 years old, the other countries of the world have had a lot longer to work on themselves, let’s say that right now. Yes there are things we have done as a whole that were horrific, the way we had slaves, that we bought from Europeans, the way we treated the Irish when they first immigrated here, the way we treated the Japanese during WWII, these are just a few things that have occurred in our history to not be proud of. However, and it is a huge however, we, as a whole, learn from our past and continue to evolve, can other countries say that?
I am extremely proud to be from this country, I am proud of my ancestors who came here and fought for our freedom from England and Mad King George, I am proud of my uncles that fought in WWII, I am proud of my brothers, one who joined the service during Korea and another during the Vietnam conflict. I am proud that my family has fought for everything this country stands for.
I am proud that I live in a nation that fosters free speech so we can know who those people are that do not value human life or equal rights for all. I am proud that I live in a place where I, as a woman, can wear what I want, say what I want, do what I want for a living and not live in fear that I will be stoned to death.
I do what I can in my part of the United States of America to continue to stand up for, not only my rights, but the rights of others, I am a proud Union Activist, and a proud Equal Rights Activist. KW what do you do to make your part of the United States of America a better place for your progeny? If you are so terribly embarrassed to be one of us that can be easily rectified, you can leave. We won’t stop you, that is the beauty of living in a free country, you don’t have to sneak out in fear of being caught, you can simply pack up; get a stamp on your passport and leave. You say that you are obtaining a PhD, is that here in the United States of America? If it is and as you have said you are embarrassed to be one of us, perhaps you should leave and obtain that education someplace less embarrassing.
I am proud to be from the United States of America, I am proud to be an Oklahoman, I am proud to live in the state I have chosen to live in for over 23 years, Texas, I am not always proud of the way we have behaved as a whole, however, I believe we are a country that learns from it’s mistakes, one that evolves and continues growing as a nation. Not all countries can say that, countries that have been around for thousands of years still stone women to death for speaking up, or for trying to work to earn enough to feed their children, they will not allow their people to even leave if they are embarrassed to be from their country of origin, they have to sneak out. We can do whatever we want, within the law of course. In the words of Lee Greenwood “I’m Proud to be an American.”