America. Home of the brave. Land of the free. The greatest country in the world. Although lately, it’s seeming more like the home of the ungrateful, unstable and uneducated. The land of the lazy, helpless and selfish. This isn’t the image we want for our country, is it? So let’s do something about it.
What ever happened to the American dream? Everyone worked hard for what they earned and didn’t complain about the sacrifices they had to make. It was just part of the process. In fact they were happy to have a job to put a roof over their head and a hot meal on the table. No doubt there are still people in America who feel and act this way, just on a much smaller scale. Shouldn’t it feel good to merit what you have? Instead of having it handed to you for nothing? It may sound ideal, but I assure you it will not warrant as much happiness and satisfaction as knowing you deserve it.
When something goes wrong in our country, we all tend to take it to social media (me included) instead of doing something to solve the problem. You don’t like the way a situation was handled or just plain out don’t like the situation? What are you doing to change it? If you can answer anything other than “nothing” to that question then you are one of the few who still know how to take initiative. The only way something is going to change is if you do something you’ve never done, or else it’ll be how it’s always been.
The amount of energy we waste on nonproductive complaining and ranting could be put to use helping find a solution to the problem. Yes I realize, in a way, this article is sort of a rant via social media; but because it is something I feel strongly about, writing and sharing it with you guys is my way of trying to help solve the issue. I also realize not every problem is in our hands as the citizens. Starting small can lead to more dramatic changes, though.
Apart of what makes this country so special is the freedom to be anything you want, do anything you want, think anything you want and say anything you want. The diversity found in America is that of a unique quality. In my Sociology course this past semester I was introduced to the term “salad bowl”. I’m sure you’ve heard of America being referred to as the “melting pot”, the salad bowl is a similar concept but with an important difference. In a melting pot all ingredients are melted together so that none are recognizable as their own. In a salad, it is easy to spot out each and every ingredient you add. Getting the picture? We are more of a salad bowl than a melting pot, because you are free to hold your identity securely and be an individual which you choose to be.
But I’m not here to tell you how terrible our country is, or list everything wrong about it. I’m here to show a little appreciation for it. Of course it’s not perfect, no country is. All one hundred and ninety something of them have their faults and parts of themselves they are not proud of. That does not mean I am any less proud to be an American. No, in fact, I am more proud to see the leaps and bounds this country has made throughout the past 240 years. For those of you who think it’s wrong to have pride for your country, just look around, there are lots of things any person would change. But there are also some pretty great things our country contains as well.
From the redwood forest to the gulf stream waters, the land we call home has such a wide range of geographical features, you don’t even have to get out your passport to explore it all. With 6,624 state parks and 58 national parks helping to preserve the beauty that is America, it is hard not to find something you want to see. It is not hard to see why I, along with so many others, are proud to be Americans.
America is the land of opportunity. Today now more than ever, if you have a dream, there’s a path open for you to get there. In fact, I almost feel overwhelmed at the options my future has if I take advantage of them. If you’re willing to put in the work, you can have it all. Our country was built, and is still here today, because of entrepreneurs and people with dreams.
Our country has made great strides in social inequality despite what popular opinion has to say. The inequalities and issues are the main things highlighted in our news and popular culture today. But as I said earlier, if you take a look back less than 300 years ago to the social and economical discrepancies that were present in America, ours have lessened by a lot. While people may assume that slavery and discrimination are inherently American things, this is untrue. Nations and cultures around the world have practiced bigotry and slavery. This is not me saying that it makes it alright and that it is something we should forget about; no, absolutely I do not think that. But for people to say that because America also participated in these acts, we should therefore not be proud to be Americans? I do not see the sense in that. As a person, there are probably actions you have made that you are not proud of. Does this exterminate all pride you have in yourself? No. No person is perfect, so how can you expect a country, run by imperfect people to be, perfect? You cannot. All you can do is learn from mistakes and continue to better yourself and your country.
I hope you see the possibilities and great offerings our country has for anyone who is willing to stand tall and be a decent and hard-working human being, today and everyday. I hope you are proud to call yourself an American, today and everyday. I hope you work to make this country a better place and change the parts of it you are unhappy with, today and everyday. Because, after all, this land was made for you and me.
