Hate, bigotry, and prejudices are not confined to America. Go to any country in the world- anywhere there are people- and the same thing will exist.
In spite of all the problems we have to deal with, I'm still proud of a country that gave an Irish immigrant (who couldn't speak English, or barely read or write when he came over in 1927) a chance to work his butt off and start a family. That was my grandfather, James Gallagher, who came over with just the clothes on his back, and a desire to work. He was given an opportunity, not a handout. Grandpa spent 40 years as a sheet metal worker, house painter, and electrician. He was not afraid of working up a sweat.
I'm proud of anyone who ever put on a uniform to defend the freedoms so many take for granted.
I almost served, now I almost regret I didn't.
Back in 1986, around my 18th birthday, a few months before high school graduation, Public Enemy #1 was Muammar Gadaffi. He was getting rambunctious in Libya, and President Reagan wanted to wipe him out by reinstating the draft, and start a huge war, and people my age would've been the first to go.
Vietnam was only over for 11 years, and still fresh in many American's minds. And many people my age were dead set against going across the world to be a pawn in a political chess game, and run the risk of never coming home.
Luckily I was soon to be enrolled in college, so I would not have been the first pick.
As it turned out, no war ensued, and by the time I developed diabetes, I would not have been eligible for combat any way.
Two generations of young people have fought, and died, to protect freedoms for me. I deserve to be grateful to them.