Proud to Be an American

The Week magazine reports a fact that made me swell with pride at how Americans truly understand the meaning of real civic virtue, in an article on Warren Buffett's giveaway of much of his fortune to the Gates Foundation:

The vast majority of Americans make some contribution to the Red Cross, Salvation Army, American Cancer Society, local church, or other charitable organization every year; in fact, more Americans contribute to charities than bother to vote.