I am proud and ashamed in oh so many ways. Isn’t everybody? If you’re true and honest, you’ll admit that too.
As an American, I am proud and ashamed. The USA has a long list of accomplishments to be proud of. It also has a long list of things to be ashamed about. I’m not going to even attempt to list the things worthy of pride or shame done in The People’s name or by those we’ve elected. Those lists would be far too long.
I’ll make the same basic claim as a Christian, even though I’m not really a believer (but that’s another matter, you can read more about that here).
The reason I bring this up is because there are way too many people that live in a kind of denial that exaggerates the virtues and downplays the follies of whatever sense of identity to which they adhere and proclaim. So this is a call to reason, an avenue for greater honesty and an attempt to mitigate the sin of shameless pride.
I’m a patriot, a true patriot, so I’m proud and ashamed of the things my country has done.
I’m a Christian, a true Christian, so I’m proud and ashamed of the things that have been done in the name of Jesus Christ.
I’ve got a big Buddhist portion as part of my psyche and yes, I’m proud and ashamed of that too.
I’m a liberal, a true liberal, proud and ashamed.
I hate to admit it, but I do have a conservative side although it’s pretty damn difficult to find virtue in that until I look at the Amish…
I’m just human. I try to be true, I try to be honest. Pride and shame are just part of the package, part of the human condition.
