Proud to be an American?

For some reason the words to Lee Greenwood's song keep running through my head this morning, but not because I am so proud to be an American today.

I'm not feeling very free, as the chorus goes:

And I’m proud to be and American,
where at least I know I’m free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
‘ Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.

And I definitely don't want to stand up next to the people who are saying all the vile and nasty things about our government and threatening our legislators.

No, I am not proud to be an American today.

When I wrote yesterday about the cost of this health care reform fiasco, I had no idea what the cost might be in terms of civility and decency.

And the fact that people like Sarah Palin are fanning the flames of discontent with such Twitters as "Lock and Load, folks," makes me want to move to some deserted island in the Pacific.

I do love this land, almost fiercely, but I am dismayed at what people have brought it to.