I often stay silent when it comes to politics publicly for several reasons but mainly because 1. I know that I don’t know everything and 2. I really cannot stand some of the outrageous ignorance I see people post all the time on social media. It seems to me we live in a world where nobody is ever able to put themselves in somebody else’s shoes or the mind of someone else’s life.
But one comment that has constantly irked me is the line “if you don’t like it, leave”. Why anyone thinks this is an intelligent response to someone posing an issue or problem we have in this country is laughable to me. It’s also the wrong attitude to pose not just with American political issues but issues in life in general.
First off there is nothing wrong with addressing an issue you believe the country has. After all the first step in solving a problem is recognizing there is one. Secondly posing an issue in the country does not mean someone hates America or is any less American. This country was founded on people who saw a problem and addressed it. The new saying that I would love to see on social media should be America love it or change it.
Many should also realize that forced patriotism is not something that will make the country great. One can love America and consider it home while still wanting better for America. I like to compare it to my love for football. The fact is realistically the NFL is professional football and im not going to get that level of professional football anywhere else (CFL doesn’t count). But I can still be at times upset with the product of play the NFL produces , especially on Thursday nights and speak out against such even though my love for the game of football will never waiver.
Now I can understand that some people will feel that there will be thoughs who complain just to complain, but I would like to think that there is a significant number of us in this country who do have significant concerns about a variety of topics in this country and the overall direction of our country. But America is my home, I do love it, I do want it to succeed but yes there are things within it that I do also want to see change.
America is not a toy with a little kid to be picked up, played with and put down forever, never to be picked up again. It is a country with potential today to reach heights greater than ever before. But none of that will not first happen without discussion, compromise, information, critical thinking, and most importantly love. Now is not the time to be silent regardless of who you are in this country, now is the time for all of us to sit down, look each other in the eye and talk.
