I am Proud to be an American………Finally

Let’s be honest, the policies and treatment of other peoples of the world by America has been less than admirable. The Bush administration and policies of the past eight years have made the US reviled in many areas of the world. Further, if we consider the Iraq fiasco, Guantanamo Bay where Washington has ignored its own human rights standards, the shambles of the middle east “peace plan” in addition to other hot spots like Guatemala, Darfur, Africa, etc. The failure of US global policies have caused the image of America as the Leader of the free world to diminish if not dissolve completely.

Further, Bush’s domestic policies like many of his predecessors appeared to be a continuation of America’s long history of poor treatment of its own citizens over the last three centuries. If you consider the Native Americans during the early growth of the country, Chinese and other Asians American during the growth of the railroads, African Americans and slavery, Japanese American during WWII, and the ingrained and institutional racism that has kept various peoples from access and opportunity to the “American Dream” the overall report card of America as it relates to liberty and justice for all has been poor.

While we have made a giant leap in the election of the first black president the reversal of hundreds of years of laws and policies of oppression will take more than a four or even an eight year presidential term to repair the damages to American society. From our disenfranchised youth to educational equality, to economic parity, America has its work to do.

Michelle Obama was admonished for her perceived “political misstep” for her statement “For the first time in my adult lifetime, I am really proud of my country”. However, her statement clearly resounded to many as a real and genuine reaction possibly as a African American who remembered her people being hung on the trees of Mississippi, or the four baby girls blown up during a Sunday school class, or the white sheets and burning crosses; possibly at being a witness of the shackles and choke hold of the mentality of entitlement of the old American guard being peeled away. Whatever her reason, she spoke what I and millions of others felt as evidenced in the unprecedented show of support of the new first family as the American flag was waved proudly from the millions on Washington Mall. As we all took a collective sigh of relief, and gained a renewed belief in the “possibility” of America living up to its own ideals. We eagerly role up our sleeves to participate, possibly for the first time, in a political process of inclusion, and a national effort focused on service, justice, openness, and integrity. We can say with a new sense of confidence, we are really proud of our country And, we are proud to be Americans........ Finally.