My comment is a snippet from a poem/rant in progress.

I am an American,
        and proud of it!
At the same time,
        I am filled with deep shame...

My ancestors?

Some came over on the Mayflower,
        others huddled together on the bottom of not so famous boats.
One was a draft dodger during the civil war,
        another helped hang a man in the wild west a few years before
One owned half of what now is Chicago,
        most of them have been working class poor.

I am an American,
        and proud of it!

When I see our Flag defiled,
        burnt or spat upon,
as is it is with all of us,
                I feel great pain...

And yet, sometimes,
        I am filled with deep shame...
learning of things
        done in our country's name...

In other words, the home-of-the-brave-land-of-the-free bit, is, at worst, a dream, at best, something to be confirmed in each generation...

rgrds CrzyBrd