Since when are we expected to be "proud" of our governement no matter what?

"The highest form of patriotism is dissent."-Thomas Jefferson

1. The war began when Usama Bin Laden declared war on us and the "crusader nations" in 1998. A few years before the "last eight years". Iraq is not the war. Iraq is one military operation.

2. The half-truths and lies you refer to come about because the media never wants to deal with the reasons that the Congress used to authorize the military operation against Iraq. The source below is a link to that law. Start at the first "whereas".

I share your pride at being an American. I am the first-born son of Norwegian immigrants and was also proud to serve in the Navy for 25 years. But, unlike a lot of people in the country, when it comes to swallowing whole the "news and analysis" put forth by the media I fall back on the sage advice of a character named Clem Kaddidlehopper played by the comedian Red Skelton:

"It just don't look right to me!".

I know. Just because Michele Obama hasn't been happy with the way the country has been ran, doesn't mean she doesn't love her country. I love my country but right now...I'm not too proud of it, either. We have many enemies and other countries hate us. We have job loss, rising gas costs, uninsured, home foreclosures, and we are in a war that should never have been waged. We have some seriously racist people in our country. After all this time, I would expect most of that to die out. But nope. Not here in the good ole US of A. Before Bush got his grubby hands on the white house, we had Clinton who very publically humiliated his wife in front of not just the nation, but the whole world.

Lets not forget the homeless, the abused or starving children. Yet the rich get tax cuts. Makes me sick to my stomach to think about it.

Honestly, I totally understand what Michele meant when she said she was proud for the first time. At this point in time....I'm not exactly proud of what we stand for.

Sounds like you will never be "proud" ever. There were lies before Bush and there will be lies after Bush. He is not the only President to have made a mistake or was "coached" into making one with false info. There will be more. I would just be proud to be myself. If you happen to be an American then be proud. I am.

That is your right and the military fought to give you the right to voice your opinion like that. Nothing says you have to be proud of our Government, but if you don't vote then to me, you don't have a complaint.

As long as we support our troops, that is all that counts.

Since election time when patriotism is the only thing McCain can claim in his favor. He wouldn't have been looked at twice if he spoke out against Bush in his own party!

I think the idea is to be proud of your country, whether or not you like the government.

Right. There's one thing all those who demand uncritical adoration overlook: GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE PEOPLE.

They work for us. Kings LEAD. Presidents SERVE.

Sad that so many don't want this TRUTH uttered just now because it ruins their scheme.

you says you have to be proud of the government? i wasn't a bit proud of the Clinton or Carter presidency, the two of them did there level best to destroy the US, thankfully Reagan, and Bush followed those two fools to help stop some of the stupidity of those two presidents.

WE....WHO ARE ABOUT TO DIE IN THE MIDDLE EAST..............SALUTE YOU