I Saw You Post That You’re “Proud To Be An American”

Let’s be honest: if the only thing you did to “be American” was be born here, that’s not exactly a flex. That’s just geography. You didn’t earn it—you inherited it.

Now think about the immigrant who left everything familiar, learned a new language, studied U.S. history better than most of us ever did, passed a citizenship test, and took an oath to uphold the Constitution. That’s earning it. That’s pride rooted in effort.

And let’s not forget those who have served in the military. They’ve stepped up in a way that commands respect. Risking your life in service to your country is a contribution few make—and that sacrifice is absolutely worthy of personal pride.

So the real question isn’t, “Are you proud to be an American?” It’s, “Are you proud of America—and are you doing anything to help it live up to its values?”

Because right now? That promise is in rough shape.

Let’s talk about what used to make America great—not in slogan, but in substance:

• We stood up to dictators. Now we’ve got a president cozying up to them—inviting Orbán to the Oval, downplaying Putin’s aggression, and undermining NATO alliances we spent decades building.

• We led with compassion and influence. But now Trump has gutted USAID, turning off the lights on programs that helped lift countries out of poverty and built goodwill for generations. That’s not just cruel—it’s shortsighted. Helping others made America safer, stronger, and admired.

• We championed human rights and civil liberties. Now, they’re being eroded in real time—censorship, crackdowns, and executive overreach have become normalized under the guise of “efficiency.”

• We set the gold standard for the rule of law. Now we have a president who’s still facing criminal trials while attacking the very institutions designed to hold power accountable.

This isn’t left vs. right. It’s right vs. wrong. It’s democracy vs. decay.

So if you were born here, cool. But don’t confuse birthplace with earned patriotism. Don’t chant “Proud to be an American” without asking whether America, right now, is acting in a way that deserves your pride.

Because if we want to keep calling this the greatest country in the world, we’ve got to start acting like it again.