Proud of My Country

Almost anyone who has taken a gander at the blogosphere or recent news stories is probably aware of Mrs. Barack Obama's February 18th comments in Madison, Wisconsin.

I can't improve on the comments here and here so I won't try.

Candidate Obama's website prominently features the slogan "Change we can believe in." So I have to ask: what changed? The candidate's wife was, by her own admission —"for the first time in my adult lifetime" suddenly "really proud of my country." One must infer a notable CHANGE has, in fact, taken place in Michelle Obama's outlook. And I'm curious. What exactly sparked this swelling of pride?

The context of her comments was Mrs. Obama's contention that "hope is making a comeback" in America. [Especially when lacking experience or wishing to evade specifics, wily political candidates have relied upon a will-o'-the-wisp banner of "hope"as their substitute. Remember Clinton's oft-repeated slogan: "I still believe in a place called Hope."]

If hope is indeed "making a comeback," it's not because circumstances have changed but because some people (Michelle Obama?) choose to view their circumstances through a different lens.

When Ronald Reagan characterized America as "the last best hope of man on earth," it wasn't an accidental turn of the phrase. It was the Great Communicator's acknowledgment of the red-white-and-blue blood that courses through the veins of most American citizens — call it pride. We love our country, and no matter what her shortcomings, America is still land of the free and home of the brave. Proud of my country? You bet!

So what if it took Michelle Obama 40+ years to find in her heart some basic pride for country. I say, welcome to the party. Better late than never.