Comments on: My Country, ‘Tis of Thee http://lavidaidealist.org/2010/02/08/my-country-tis-of-thee/ Stories and Resources from Idealists in Latin America Thu, 29 Mar 2012 15:17:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Scott http://lavidaidealist.org/2010/02/08/my-country-tis-of-thee/comment-page-1/#comment-342 Scott Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:35:50 +0000 http://lavidaidealist.org/?p=4075#comment-342 It's human nature to share problems and empathize with each other. Of course there are extremes and we need to be careful not to cross that line. We can all be good ambassadors by working towards the solutions to problems we find so glaring in our own cultures and abroad. It’s human nature to share problems and empathize with each other. Of course there are extremes and we need to be careful not to cross that line. We can all be good ambassadors by working towards the solutions to problems we find so glaring in our own cultures and abroad.

]]> By: LethalSheethal http://lavidaidealist.org/2010/02/08/my-country-tis-of-thee/comment-page-1/#comment-341 LethalSheethal Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:25:19 +0000 http://lavidaidealist.org/?p=4075#comment-341 I understand your sentiments because I sometimes feel uncomfortable saying I'm American when traveling. Usually I share my background (Indian with a half-Nigerian, half American husband) and explain that "Americans" can look like very different and have very different views. Unfortunately, I do think a few people and actions can give us a bad name. And since the U.S. is rich and powerful, some of our policies could be considered harsh and overbearing. But I wholeheartedly agree that there are selfless Americans truly helping people in their own country and abroad. And in some sense, those are our ambassadors. Thanks for approaching a controversial topic. Sheethal Shobowale Kiva Fellow, Bolivia and Peru I understand your sentiments because I sometimes feel uncomfortable saying I’m American when traveling. Usually I share my background (Indian with a half-Nigerian, half American husband) and explain that “Americans” can look like very different and have very different views.

Unfortunately, I do think a few people and actions can give us a bad name. And since the U.S. is rich and powerful, some of our policies could be considered harsh and overbearing.

But I wholeheartedly agree that there are selfless Americans truly helping people in their own country and abroad. And in some sense, those are our ambassadors.

Thanks for approaching a controversial topic.

Sheethal Shobowale
Kiva Fellow, Bolivia and Peru

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