[BarTopDancer]

I am grateful to have been born in a country to which we have many of the freedoms that Kevy outlined for us. I am ashamed of the actions of our government and some of our population at home and abroad.

Here's how my thinking has changed over the years:

At 17 I received Canadian citizenship (I have dual). I didn't want it, didn't see any reason to have it, I was American, period. I have no identification with Canada other than my mom being born there. Mom's reasoning (foresight?) was that some day I may want to get a Canadian passport, it maybe safer traveling to Europe with it. Maybe one day I'd want to move there, etc...

Fast forward about 10 years (or 3 years ago). I am glad I have an option to get a Canadian passport. American's aren't looked that fondly upon overseas these days. I am glad I am able to move there without much hassle if I wanted to (I don't). Will I get a Canadian passport? Considering I am going to get an American one in a few days, probably not. But I am grateful to have the opportunity to do so if I wanted.

I am ashamed of our national reputation overseas. I am ashamed of what our government has done in and to Iraq. I am ashamed that freedoms have been eroded away at home. I am ashamed of how my countrymen act overseas. The sense of entitlement that this country has as a whole makes me nauseous. Am I going to move? No. If I were I would have done it already.

I am grateful to live in a nation that allows me to be ashamed of its governments actions. I hope we begin to do good, that our entitlement goes away and this country again becomes somewhere to be proud to be a part of.