The United States celebrated 240 years of independence yesterday, and since I celebrated independently (it’s fine), I – and I’m sure many others – can’t help but reflect a little bit on America.

It’s nearly impossible for me to try imagining what life would be like if I had not been born and raised in America.  I am absolutely, 100% grateful that my parents decided to settle down here.  I’m grateful for the liberties we have as people, liberties that were fought hard for future generations to have, and I admit, liberties that I take for granted sometimes.  But as a country, we’ve been going through a really strange time in recent years.  By no means are we perfect, but our chinks in our armor are starting to turn into deeper dents and from my perspective, I feel we are becoming more divided than I’ve ever seen in my lifetime.

I’ve been trying to address the things that bother me about the U.S. right now in a well-articulated, paragraphed form but I’ve been deleting them left and right because I think, where am I going with this?!  I’m just going to do it in list form, in no particular order. It’s faster (Note:  I’m not trying to give well-informed statements here, these are all just off the top of my head):

• Online culture: Trolls, bullies, any kind of unnecessary shaming, etc. I get it, not everyone is going to see eye to eye, and that’s fine.  But if you’re going to disagree with someone or something, learn to disagree respectfully.
• Guns: I’d like to think that when the Bill of Rights was being drafted, that it was drafted with common sense. Look, no one is trying to take away your Second Amendment rights or is accusing you of being irresponsible with your firearms.  But let’s not make it easy for people who won’t be as responsible as you.  Let’s utilize common sense for the general safety of EVERYONE.  Ridiculous that this is even an issue.
• Pollution/waste/lack of conservation: I learned how to recycle when I was in second grade. I learned what composting was in third grade.  I learned as a kid to turn the lights off in a room that isn’t being occupied.  I learned from a Berenstein Bears book that just because an apple looks bad on the outside, doesn’t mean it’ll be rotten on the inside.  I learned not to waste food.  I’m shocked when anyone who grew up after me didn’t learn any of this.  We need to take better care of our environment and not be so wasteful.  Try to be green when and where you can, and as often as possible.
• Opposition to LGBT Rights: Really? How are gay people hurting you? Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  Remember that?
• Racism/Police Brutality: I have a cousin-in-law who is a cop, a cousin who was a cop, and have become friends with cops. Their job to serve and protect is tough.  I have blood-related nieces and nephews who are black, and good friends who are black, and I do worry about their safety.  Both sides of this issue are getting a bad rap, and it’s causing a lot of distrust, which perpetuates the problem.  Trying to get to the root of it…man, we need to dig deep on this one.
• Cost of living/rat race: I live in one of the most expensive areas in the country, so trying to keep my head above water and survive comfortably seems to be taking priority over achieving my personal American Dream. I always feel like I’m playing catch up and I’ll never get to where I want to be.  Every time I feel I come close, the finish line gets further and further away.  Sure, moving to another state is an option.  You want to tell my parents that they won’t see me every week like they do now because I need to live far away from them just to get by?  Simply up and moving actually isn’t that easy when you consider who you’d be leaving behind.  Just seems like so many people are struggling to make it, even though they’re working and paying their bills and what not.  And are the rich getting richer?
• Lack of Veteran support: We can’t ever forget the brave men and women who volunteered to serve our country so that we could live freely. It’s a slap in the face, spit on their heads deal when we do.  Would you be willing to make the sacrifices they’ve made?  Our military has my utmost respect, because I know for sure I could never do their jobs.  On my life to-do list is to figure out ways to support our troops more.

There are probably more that I can’t think of at the moment but yeah, when I think of these issues, I don’t feel like we’re all that united.  The consistency at which we’re embracing each other’s differences is choppy, and I don’t know, it’s like we’re playing dirty.  But, we can improve.  Maybe by this time next year there will be significant progress.

I won’t end this post negatively though.  Here’s what I absolutely love about America:

• Our geography: Man we’re a big country! And I love the regional flare, I love that Americans have different accents from each other.  I love that we pretty much have everything here: metropolises, small towns, stretches of farmland, deserts, mountains, waterfalls, islands, frozen tundra, beaches…it’s all so…majestic.  I want to see it all in person.
• Our history: Some of it isn’t pretty. But if you think about the impact the U.S. has had in the world, and how every state came to be, we’re pretty dope.
• Our military: I salute you forever.
• Our national anthem: The Star Spangled Banner is one of the most beautiful songs I’ve ever heard.  Especially when it’s sung live, a cappella, in a (baseball) stadium.
• Our influence: (see Our history) I’ve been to other countries, met people who are not American, and yes, they are watching us.
• Our food: Self-explanatory. I mean I don’t like that we’re also getting fatter but mmmm food.
• Our sports, music & entertainment: Is it bad that my hopes and dreams stem from growing up with American sports, music and entertainment?
• Our freedom: This does come with some restrictions so we all don’t go crazy and do absolutely everything we want (we would self-destruct), but nevertheless, we’re unbelievably blessed and lucky.
• Our people: It really does make me proud to be from a country where so many other countries are represented by the people who come here.

Again, probably more that I’m not thinking of that could be included with this list.  I love my country.  I love what it stands for and how it is a huge part of my life.  Happy Birthday America, here’s to many greater years to come.