In the wake of recent tragedies and political change in our country, it is rare to hear praises of the United States on the news. Most stories are focused on the flaws of our government or crimes that are being committed around the country. However, despite our countries faults, it is important to remember what an amazing country we live in. Here are five reasons you should be proud to be an American:
1) Freedom of speech
It is so easy to take for granted the fact that we have the freedom to speak our minds without consequence. There are many countries in the world where stating what you believe can get you killed or thrown in jail. In Mexico alone, 36 journalists have been killed since 1992 for covering stories that involve crime, corruption, and politics (Committee to Protect Journalists, 2016). While the US struggles with issues like crime and corruption as well, freedom of the press has protected our journalists from the threat of governmental interference while covering such topics. Moreover, our constitutional right to freedom of assembly and association allows us to peacefully protest in public as well as form groups with others who share our opinions. Take pride in the fact that the U.S. is place where you are free to voice your beliefs without the fear of governmental interference.
2) Freedom of choice
Being an American gives you the opportunity to choose what you want to do with your life. In fact, the U.S. has many freedoms that other countries do not. For example, the U.S. is one of only 21 countries in the world that guarantees the right for same-sex couples to marry in all 50 states (Time Magazine, 2015). Moreover, the U.S. constitution guarantees the right of its citizens to choose what religion they want to practice as well as the right to vote, regardless of race or gender. Besides these more basic freedoms, we also have the freedom to choose where we live, how we dress, how we raise our children, the kind of job we want to have, and hundreds of other everyday choices. You should be proud to be a part of a country where you have so much freedom to be who you want to be.
3) We stand together
There are a lot of issues in our country that threaten to tear us apart, such as the debate over gun control, racial tensions, and terrorism. However, there is also a lot that can pull us together. Though it is a sad truth, tragedies like the Orlando shooting often bring us closer together by reminding us that we are more alike than we are different. We all want the right to embrace our individuality without our lives being threatened. We all want to feel safe in our own towns. Though we may vary in our political and religious beliefs, take pride in the fact that our country stands together in the face of those who want to see it fall.
4) Diversity
The United States is made up of so many different cultures and people that we don’t even technically have an official national language. By 2044 white Americans will no longer make up the racial majority in the U.S. Instead, our nation will consist of a myriad of different racial groups (LA Times, 2015). This shift to a country with no racial majority not only has the potential to decrease racial tensions, but can also make us more intelligent individuals by interacting with people from different backgrounds (Scientific American, 2014). The growing diversity of our country is something to be celebrated. By learning about different cultures and accepting our differences, we are better able to work together and become a stronger country.
5) A running government
There are many people I know that could rant for hours about the ineffectiveness of our government. Whether it be concerning our ever-rising national debt or our constant involvement in foreign conflicts. However, the fact that we have such a functional government is something to be proud of. Our government is responsible for our military, police force, school system, healthcare system, and many other programs that we encounter every day. While none of these systems are perfect, they are still something that not every country has. There are countries like Yemen which has been torn apart by a civil war for over two years with no sign of their government stabilizing (UN News Centre, 2016). Take pride in the fact that we live in a country with a government that has the ability to protect its people.
