I was going to post a retort to Trav's post, pointing out his inherently flawed logic, but decided against it. Regardless of what one might read here and there, I'm proud of where I was raised specifically, and even more proud to be an American overall.
Working hard and being some what intelligent has allowed me to succeed, but 99% of who I am today is a result simply of where I was born, and the way of life afforded me by brave men and women who have created and maintained this way of life.