I love my country. I believe the United States of America is the best country in the world to live in. Having traveled in 31 countries so far, I have witnessed and experienced life under oppressive and corrupt governments. In the USA, we enjoy freedom of speech, despite the rise of the social media cancel culture. Citizens who break our laws are tried in a legal system that presumes innocence, with the burden of proof of guilt resting on the prosecutors. I've served on juries and found this system fair.
In the USA, when someone calls for police, firefighters, or emergency medical services, these first responders arrive as quickly as possible. For more immediate dangers, most citizens are legally entitled to own and carry weapons. Guns, mace, tasers, and other defensive weapons are readily available to citizens over 18 years old with no criminal record.
In the USA, farmers can grow whichever crops they choose with few restrictions. It is illegal to grow marijuana in many states. We don't suffer under the onerous "green and sustainable" dictates of the European Union. Oddly, food grown in Europe using a long list of forbidden pesticides can't be sold in European Union nations, but food grown by foreign nations with these same pesticides can be sold in Europe.
In the USA, I have the right to bear as many children as my health allows. China finally lifted the one-child ban because families were abandoning so many baby girls and keeping the boys, so that an entire generation of boys has to travel outside of China to find wives.
In the USA, our government drove indigenous peoples from their lands and imported slaves from Africa and indentured servants from Europe. We fought a bloody civil war to end slavery. Citizens demanded law after law to create equal rights for women, children, minorities, and the elderly. Yes, it took generations to right these injustices. Today, we have minorities in the highest political, educational, military, and civil offices. We continue to work toward fair wages and safe working conditions for all workers.
In the USA, we are free to worship the religion of our choosing. There is no nationally mandated religion. People here are free to marry regardless of gender, age, or wealth.
Racism? In Muslim countries, Jews, Christians, Hindus, and the whole LGBTQ crowd are subject to torture and murder. This year, blacks in South Africa are murdering whites and taking their property. I met a white farmer who fled South Africa in fear. Racism in the USA is fueled by those who profit from fear. Sadly, rioting for one's cause only reinforces ugly, outdated stereotypes. The Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. taught more effective methods to change society.
In the USA, we can eat what we please and drink what we please. We agree and have made a law that minors cannot buy alcohol.
In the USA, I am free to read whatever I want. Book bans? When a community demands that its tax money be spent on specific educational reading materials in the public schools, it is making a choice. Do we really need 50 Shades of Grey in the elementary school library, or are the children better served by reading classics? The federal government does not ban the sale of any book. Libraries, book stores, and online retailers have no federal restrictions.
In the USA, I can drive, get an education, marry or not, work at jobs in any industry, and buy or rent a place to live. If I lived in a Muslim country, I could not do these things without permission from a male and a male escort. I can wear pants, skirts, swimsuits, and dresses. In many Muslim countries, women must remain fully covered except for their eyes and hands or risk being beaten or tortured.
Why do so many people from around the globe come to live in the USA? They long for freedoms, safety, and the opportunity to earn a livable income that is far better than what their home country offers.
To anyone who lives in the USA and hates the USA, I say, go live in a country you can love. You have the freedom to leave at any time.
And if we disagree, great! I will defend your right to your opinion. Mature adults understand that disagreement is normal and healthy and should never be mistaken for hatred. Let's get back to civilized debate and discussion and leave hate for the single-digit IQ folks.
Happy Fourth of July!
