This is not a popular opinion of most Americans, but it needs to be said. Quite simply, America is not "the greatest nation in the world", as it has often been claimed. There are certain things that makes this nation great, but it certainly cannot be claimed as the best anymore.
Growing up in America, they make you believe that we truly are the best at everything, which is simply not true. Having spent nearly a year outside of the US, I've realized just how flawed the US and how blind its citizens are to its flaws. They cite examples, like size, military, and the Olympics.
When the Olympics rolls around, everyone becomes extra patriotic. Sure, we have a lot of time and energy to devote to sports and that shows with tons of medals. Just because we win lots of gold doesn't make us the best. Just because we have a large and impressive military doesn't mean we are the best. Just because we have a staggering population (319 million) also does not make us the best.
There are several things that make America not the best. For example, universal healthcare. The US embarrassingly stands almost completely alone among developed nations not to provide it.
Gun control is another thing. The US tops consistently the charts on lists of mass shootings. While in Australia, I've been asked a lot about guns. "Aren't you afraid to get shot?" is a question I've gotten a lot or something like "I'm afraid to go to the US because I don't want to get shot." This is a problem.
Our politics. Regardless of which candidate you support, our politics have been made a laughingstock of nations around the world. Nearly everyone has heard of Donald Trump and Hilary Clinton, but Americans do not bother with any other countries' politics. Many Americans could not name a leader of another nation, or even be able to distinguish what type of government other nations have.
Let's not forget education. In the US, the cost of higher education is ridiculously high. In other countries, university fees are often paid for partially or even wholly by the government. Although I love Dickinson, I have to admit that the sticker price of $64,000 a year is excessive, which is similar to other private universities in the US.
I remember talking to Italians about how my parents had been saving money for me to go to college since I was a baby, and they thought that was crazy that we would spend that much. We also are not the highest
I kept this list very brief, but here are several more things that the US does not lead in.
We are a very proud nation, stemming from our founding history. We are proud of the fact that we broke off and became our nation. We are proud of the fact that we can effectively defend ourselves against others. We are proud to be American.
But as part of being American, we have to recognize our inherent flaws and not continue to believe that we are really just the best. It's hard to hear that something we've believed to be true our whole lives isn't true after all, but we can't live in ignorance is bliss anymore.
