Most young people are no longer proud to be Americans, poll finds

Flying Squid@lemmy.world to politics @lemmy.world – 975 points –
axios.com

Overall, 39% of U.S. adults say they are "extremely proud" to be American in the most recent poll.

Meanwhile, only 18% of those aged 18-34 said the same, compared to 40% of those aged 35-54 and 50% of those 55 and over.

18% is still too high. As Obama's pastor said, God damn America! Americans have very little to be proud of at this point.

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I thought we were living in 2023. Why be proud of coincidence to happen to born in a location? Feel lucky compared to other locations, maybe that makes more sense.

Yeah, I've never understood it. Especially when that location gives you privilege over people in other places. You're proud because you were born in a wealthy country due to no control of your own? Fuck your pride, there are people starving to death. Feeling lucky you're not one of them, fine. Being proud of it? That makes you an asshole.

I guess the other way to think is. You should be proud America helped in developing the internet, uk for penicillin, Greece for democracy etc. what’s wrong in that?

Italy for pizza

Don’t forget lots of people have nuclear bombs now… that’s pretty cool.

It's conceivable that one would be proud of their country for the actions their country takes, both domestic and/or world stage. Like I'm sure the people living in those Scandinavian where a vast majority of their country is healthy, happy, and even their criminals are treated with dignity and respect can be proud of how their country has turned out.

I don't think it's a common interpretation to feel self-directed pride due to one's country. Unless, maybe, you're the president or someone who makes actual decisions for the country.

I've met plenty of people from Africa: Kenya, Ghana, Mozambique, Sudan, Ethiopia; who are great friends and colleagues to this day from my days at NASA JPL

Incredibly brilliant people live outside of Europe too

I do not mean to be dense but I don't follow how your comment applies to mine.

European Defaultism is inherently racist, and it's a constant problem on the internet with left-wing people who pretend not to be racist, but loathe people of color and the countries they come from, only ever referencing white European countries as some sort of fake "utopia" that doesn't really exist. It's one of the most common forms of racism on the internet

Yep, so many times Americans online say "the rest of the world" when what they actually mean is "Western and Northern Europe". It's so frustrating, and like you said more than a touch racist (usually unintentionally so, but that doesn't make it any less shitty).

As a German punk song said: "If you have nothing else to be proud of you can always be proud of your country"

I do feel extremely fortunate to be American, but yeah, it doesn’t really seem like we’ve done anything worth being proud of as a nation since… ww2? That was a fucking while ago.