Why do some Americans hate their own country?

[OldWiseGuy]

I absolutely agree that wanting America to live up to its potential and its values is completely different from "hating America."

At this point, frankly, America needs a rescue mission, but I am so inspired by people from all over my state and country who are enlisting in the rescue effort. I am inspired by women all over, 200,000 in NYC alone, marching to build community and take back their country, and I believe in enough of (almost all) their positions to be very proud of our country. I do believe that they are too strident and inflexible on abortion and that it might lose them a critical mass of single-issue voters...but on the other hand I can understand them a little because their opponents are equally strident and inflexible, if not more so.

I don't hate America. I am "investing" almost all of my tax cut on things like ACLU memberships, WaPo subscriptions, Democratic candidates, and non-profits supporting Climate Change, DACA, and more. I wouldn't invest this money if I didn't think America was worth rescuing.

I am trying to deal with my anger at Trump voters, who, singly and collectively, have never presented me with one good reason why they threw our nation into chaos with their votes. I am alternately disgusted and disheartened with friends who feel this way. I don't understand, especially, my many East Coast friends from my younger days. Many of them were state employees--teachers, police officers. They earned over $100K from their government jobs and retired at 55. One of my husband's best friends, a teacher, retired at 55 with a pension of $90,000!!!!! And now, all of a sudden, when they're enjoying lives of leisure with pensions that most private employees can't even dream of, they're ranting against government....biting the hand that fed them, but not until they've filled a silo or two with pension bucks earmarked for them.

They veto things like student loans, tuition assistance, affordable health care (that they have for life, of course) because they've got theirs.

Yes, I'm sometimes angry.

What you've described in that 'elitism' that runs through the veins of liberals(who knows, it may even be in their DNA).

 

[Rion]

It has nothing to do with people, but with this country. I won't honor this country or pay homage to it by standing for the national anthem or reciting the pledge of allegiance because to do so would go against my conscience and I feel it would dishonor my ancestors who died at its hands.

Okay, but what about peoples who's ancestors were killed by American Indians? Should they hate all of the tribes today? What about the rest of us who are mixed? Do I need to slap myself to honor my ancestors? It's just silly, imo. Remember, and honor, the past, but do not let it control you.

 

[Albion]

I absolutely agree that wanting America to live up to its potential and its values is completely different from "hating America.".

It would be. I agree.

However, the question was about the people who do hate America, and that was a correct description of them.

They may say that they "want America to live up to its potential" or something else like that when challenged about their hatred for America. After all, most of us do not admire hatred, so these haters are not going to just come out and admit to it!

 

[Belk]

Is that what you are teaching your children?

No respect for the country?

I guess that's getting to be popular?


MB

Nothing says "Respect for my country" quit like a socialistic pledge of fealty to the state.

 

[A_Thinker]

But of course, that is NOT why the founding fathers and their descendants saw this country as unique. That was because they had created a free country, with free elections, and guarantees of freedom.

We take much of this for granted these days and are willing to play fast and loose with them as though they are automatic, but in the late 1700s and early 1800s, that was far from the reality of government in the Western world generally.

I agree that America was based upon principles which would guarantee freedom and equality for ALL of its citizenry.

What's also true is that America has struggled (and still struggles) to attain to its principles.

The 1700's. 1800's, 1900's and present day America has not been an equitable experience for ALL of its peoples ...

 

[OldWiseGuy]

Does that mean that America is great because of... you?

Not sure I understand the point of your question.

 

[cow451]

My town holds the oldest (or oldest surviving) war monument in the US. Its inscription opens, "Sacred to Liberty & the Rights of Mankind!!!", and later refers to "The Blood of these Martyrs, In the Cause of God and their Country," which is decidedly religious language.

(Also, I like the three exclamation marks.)

Religious but not necessarily Christian

 

[OldWiseGuy]

I agree that America was based upon principles which would guarantee freedom and equality for ALL of its citizenry.

What's also true is that America has struggled (and still struggles) to attain to its principles.

The 1700's. 1800's, 1900's and present day America has not been an equitable experience for ALL of its peoples ...

In early America everyone set out to plunder it. Some were just better at it than others.

 

[Ygrene Imref]

Nothing says "Respect for my country" quit like a socialistic pledge of fealty to the state.

"America, the GREATEST country in the world.

All other countries are run by little girls.

America #1 exporter of potassium.

Other countries have inferior potassium."

 

[Halbhh]

?

As Christians, we are supposed to love our neighbors and that includes loving our country and our countrymen. Yet I see no end to the hatred of America from other Americans all over the internet and in real life. Why is that?

Oddly, reading thousands of posts here, I've not seen anyone saying they hated America.

Where is that? I did see some of the political threads (hoping to help people remember stuff Paul and Christ instructed).

Could you point out the posts? -- because we can help those caught up in the world to turn to Christ instead, sometimes, by telling them of Him.

About hating the world, though....

He did say that his followers would be hated by the world specifically for focusing on Him, testifying of Him, for their faith in Him, by those caught up in the worldly.

-------
For some actual foriegn victims of warfare, there could be real anger, but I haven't seen those angry victims here on CF yet myself, though I'm sure I've only seen a small % of all posts here of course.

 

[Shiloh Raven]

Okay, but what about peoples who's ancestors were killed by American Indians? Should they hate all of the tribes today? What about the rest of us who are mixed? Do I need to slap myself to honor my ancestors? It's just silly, imo. Remember, and honor, the past, but do not let it control you.

I have no control over what other people choose to do with their lives or how they should feel about their ancestry. I wouldn't hold it against them either way. I don't tell other people how they should feel or how they should react to a certain tragic situation. I don't tell them they need to get over a traumatic event in their life because I know it takes time to deal with the emotional effects.

I also know that I have no right to stick my nose where it doesn't belong and try to dictate how long someone can mourn and deal with something horrible that has happened to them. I speak from personal experience, so I'm not judgmental of someone who is struggling emotionally too. One of the reasons why I finally left the evangelical Christian church was because I could no longer stand the judgmental and uncompassionate Christians I've had the misfortune of meeting over the years.

 

[A_Thinker]

In early America everyone set out to plunder it.

Not everyone ...

 

[OldWiseGuy]

Exactly -- it's very much like a religious ritual committing you to a cause. And that's why as a Christian the pledge makes me very uneasy.

Having just looked up the definition of "allegiance", I tend to agree with you. The hidden word, "liege" means "lord and master". Of course we have only one Lord and Master; Jesus Christ.

 

[A_Thinker]

They may say that they "want America to live up to its potential" or something else like that when challenged about their hatred for America. After all, most of us do not admire hatred, so these haters are not going to just come out and admit to it!

What. exactly, would be the evidence of this "hatred" ???

 

[OldWiseGuy]

Not everyone ...

Even plunderers need logistical support from non-plunderers.

 

[Almost there]

?

As Christians, we are supposed to love our neighbors and that includes loving our country and our countrymen. Yet I see no end to the hatred of America from other Americans all over the internet and in real life. Why is that?

Usually it is because they are young.

I remember when I was in grade school, it was cool to like what everybody else liked. then came Jr High (now called middleschool) and high school. It became cool to be above liking what everybody else liked. But it was still important to not like the same stuff your "enlightened" friends also didn't like.

And remember at the same age your parents suddenly seemed kinda dumb?

Well, this hating america thing is the same. When young, you think you live in the best country compared to all those other countries where the poor citizens seem to have to toil under dictators, etc. But then you reach your late teens and discover that, just like all other nations created by humans, America has some blood on it's hands.

So the "hate america" phase is just that. It's a phase you go through when you realize the country isn't God's heaven on earth. But adults continue to learn and develop a more pragmatic viewpoint along the lines of, "it sucks, but it's still the best system on the planet."

Or, as you age, you become what I call a "gray ponytail".

i.e. with age comes wisdom, but sometimes age comes alone.

 

[Ygrene Imref]

Usually it is because they are young.

I remember when I was in grade school, it was cool to like what everybody else liked. then came Jr High (now called middleschool) and high school. It became cool to be above liking what everybody else liked. But it was still important to not like the same stuff your "enlightened" friends also didn't like.

And remember at the same age your parents suddenly seemed kinda dumb?

Well, this hating america thing is the same. When young, you think you live in the best country compared to all those other countries where the poor citizens seem to have to toil under dictators, etc. But then you reach your late teens and discover that, just like all other nations created by humans, America has some blood on it's hands.

So the "hate america" phase is just that. It's a phase you go through when you realize the country isn't God's heaven on earth. But adults continue to learn and develop a more pragmatic viewpoint along the lines of, "it sucks, but it's still the best system on the planet."

Or, as you age, you become what I call a "gray ponytail".

i.e. with age comes wisdom, but sometimes age comes alone.

But there is no evidence of hate.

You are describing angst - and that sophomoric "hatred" is not actual hate. It is tantamount to an existential, moral and ethical re-evaluation.

In other words, they are GROWING UP. If it never matures, and grows into crisis, that is still better than the full existential, moral and philosophical shelter necessary to pledge allegiance to an entity that - as we all allegedly know - has so much blood on its hands, and makes no effort to cauterize the wounds they cause.



Some people don't grow up, however; they just get older.

 

[Rion]

I have no control over what other people choose to do with their lives or how they should feel about their ancestry. I wouldn't hold it against them either way. I don't tell other people how they should feel or how they should react to a certain tragic situation. I don't tell them they need to get over a traumatic event in their life because I know it takes time to deal with the emotional effects.

I also know that I have no right to stick my nose where it doesn't belong and try to dictate how long someone can mourn and deal with something horrible that has happened to them. I speak from personal experience, so I'm not judgmental of someone who is struggling emotionally too. One of the reasons why I finally left the evangelical Christian church was because I could no longer stand the judgmental and uncompassionate Christians I've had the misfortune of meeting over the years.

...how can you mourn something that you never experienced? If you had prejudice, etc. at a boarding school, I can understand that, but the idea that you inherited the trauma from your family's experience on the Trail of Tears is ridiculous. The only possible way that you've inherited their trauma is if your family has refused to let go of the pain, hatred, and despair. I've noticed that those who go on about cultural trauma, hold on to the hatred, etc. are the ones still living on the reservations.

It happened, it sucks, but it isn't going to define me, who I am, or what I can become.

 

[GoldenBoy89]

It would be. I agree.

However, the question was about the people who do hate America, and that was a correct description of them.

They may say that they "want America to live up to its potential" or something else like that when challenged about their hatred for America. After all, most of us do not admire hatred, so these haters are not going to just come out and admit to it!

These people who supposedly openly hate America in their posts online and in their actions in real life don't just come out and admit that they hate America? Out of what, respect for Americans?

 

[Ygrene Imref]

These people who supposedly openly hate America in their posts online and in their actions in real life don't just come out and admit that they hate America? Out of what, respect for Americans?

Man, the irony.