I think Americans are afraid to love their country. For every man, woman or child that proudly waves a flag or proclaims a love of country, it seems there's another man, woman or child sneering behind their back at what a simpleton they are or, worse yet, attacking them for being a jingoistic nazi.

But lately, some Americans aren't afraid. Some, like John Hawkins today at Right Wing News are proud to shout out the virtues of this great nation:

Before you rip America...

-- Name a country that has freed more people from tyranny?
-- Name another country that powers the world economy the way we do?
-- Name another country that has had our level of military superiority over the rest of the world that hasn't used it for conquest?
-- Remember which nation is standing between the Chinese and Taiwan?
-- Remember which nation is standing between South & North Korea?
-- Remember who's sticking with Israel against its genocidal neighbors?
-- Ask yourself which nation is the heart and soul of NATO?
-- Ask yourself which nation has done more to fight Communism or terrorism?
-- Name a country that has done more for the world than the United States?

The truth is that the United States has done more make this planet a better place to live than any other 10 nations combined.

Damn straight. But when you say things like that today, you have to be prepared for the inevitable backlash:

But, that doesn't faze the sort of people who seem to believe that freedom & democracy is something civilized people talk about over caviar with Kofi Annan, not something you're supposed to risk blood and treasure for. America doesn't look at it like that and that's why they call us "cowboys".

Well let me tell ya something pard, not only are we cowboys, we're every character Clint Eastwood & John Wayne ever played all rolled into one. While "shopkeeper nations" talk the talk, but hide like rabbits when there's trouble, our country, and our "posse", nations like Britain, Australia, Italy, & Poland, are out walking the walk.

These days, proclamations like this are few and far between, even in times of war. As Michelle Malkin points out:

Once upon a time, there were people in Hollywood who loved America. And when America came under attack from enemies abroad, these actors, producers, screenwriters and directors put aside their partisan differences and created movies that -- unlike Michael Moore's new schlockumentary, "Fahrenheit 9/11" -- made all moviegoers proud to be Americans.

Too often, our citizens learn to hate America. Teachers are all too quick to point out the flaws and mistakes of America and are almost embarrassed to talk about the millions of good things we've done in our history. Our movies are afraid to show our enemies as evil and liberal democracy as good.

Even our Olympians are warned against displaying patriotism. Hopefully, younger Americans, like Elizabeth Cochran, raised in the age of Reagan, will help turn the tide. We're proud to be Americans. We shouldn't be ashamed of our country and we shouldn't let our enemies (within and abroad) let us think we're somehow to blame for their barbarity.