Say It Loud, Say It Proud - I Am An American
It's so easy to look at America from the negative side of the pendulum. School shootings, race problems, police issues, income inequality, sex abuse, domestic violence, political constipation, etc.
Well, if America sucks so badly than why do we believe we have an immigration problem? The answer is we do because many, many more people want to come to America to create a better life for themselves than unhappy Americans who want to get the hell out of America.
The good in America is overwhelmingly stronger than the negative shit that some of us do to ourselves and others. We have many, many people risking death to protect us. It's not just the military. I agree some police have done some things that are not forgivable, but, many of them face danger on a daily basis. As much as I hate what's been happening with the police lately, I never want to judge until I've walked in their shoes.
People coming together to protest things that are wrong with America are one of the things that makes me love the country I live in. We have the right to protest (without violence) because America gives us that right. How many other countries don't give their citizens that right?
The right to get rid of the people who run our country via our right to vote is what makes America great. Yes, one or two terms of Congress could screw things up (can you spell the Vietnamese War), but because we have the right to protest and vote, we have proven we can make changes that brings America back on track. How many countries don't give their citizens the right to protest (without being put in jail)? Again, can you spell "Hong Kong?"
An economy that thrives on the creativity and creation of Corporations is what keeps America strong. Many believe Corporations are bad guys, however, where would we be without them? The answer is North Korea. The belief of communism is that everyone should be financially equal. However, what has been proven is that in a communist society everyone shares the poverty not the riches. It's those poor people who want to come to America.
Yes, we have a race and sexuality issue in this country, but the truth is those Americans are in the vast minority. The fantastic part of being an American is that those people have the same rights as the majority who believe race and sexuality should not stop anyone from creating a happy life in America.
Yes, we have income inequality in America. I worry about that because the middle class is shrinking. However, the citizens who are getting the least out of America are doing better than the country they fled from or others in many other countries. I brought myself up from poverty because America gave me the opportunity. Others who don't have as many choices as I had or don't want to take advantage of the options America gives them, are still living better than more than half of the world.
Yes, we have angry people or mentally ill people that do horrible things. I believe in stronger gun controls. However, we can't make America perfect. It's the imperfections in America that makes it the strongest and most respected countries in the world. It is these imperfections that has developed us to be the country that will continue to work to make a wrong right. Yes, it happens slower than many of us would like, but look back at what we were like a hundred years ago (can you spell slavery).
Yes, we have sexual abuse and domestic violence in America. However, those few situations have given America's FREE press and media a wake up call that this abuse exists. Because the free press and media has given us the information, we as Americans can, and I believe, will do what we can to stop or reduce the violence. This was happening ten, twenty, fifty and more than a hundred years ago, but until now the free media has encouraged us to say "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore." How many women and some men in other countries are still hiding in the shows because nobody in their country gives a shit
Yes, we have political gridlock in this country. So what? How is your life affected by the gridlock that has been going on for many, many years? The answer is - not much. Differences in Congress are better than dictatorship. American is a great place to be because we have these differences. Many other countries don't tolerate political differences.
Would you rather live in a country that can have political differences or a country that not only disallows differences, but doesn't even give you the vote to change the political gridlock? The option to vote gives Americans the chance to fix what is broken. If we get it wrong the first time, we still have another vote, years later, to set it straight.
I'm unhappy with the horrible shit that's going on in the country I love. However, because I truly believe everything I stated above, I'm;
Saying It Loud - Saying It Proud - I Am An American.
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