Being an American

 

Setting aside all the "America F**K yea"s, there is a certain feeling that is felt strongly by Americans.  Some may call it nationalism, others may call it arrogance and ignorance.  Some people do not understand the pride and sense of patriotism that many Americans feel resulting in them getting misunderstood.  But these same peoples' act of labeling all patriotic Americans as arrogant and ignorant are in fact even more so- than those that they persecute.  There are a lot of awful things that America has been responsible for in the past.  From the slavery and oppression of Africans for over 300 years to the fast food industry that has helped spread obesity and disease throughout the globe.  Even with the many wrongs, I still believe in America.  I believe in the principles that founded this country.  I believe in the religious liberties and freedom to spread ideas through speech, books, and the internet.  Ideas have endurance without death.  Even if America was completely destroyed by a meteor or nuclear war-head tomorrow, those ideas that have been imprinted on the fabric of history will still remain.

236 years ago, a few men gathered in secret, not far from where I live in Philadelphia.  They made a decision that they would no longer be pushed around.  They would risk their necks in order to create a document that would birth a country. We believe in standing up against oppression.  This same spirit that led our patriot forefathers to liberty and freedom still encapsulates many Americans' souls today. 

 

In the short time that the United States of America has existed, people have flocked from all over the world to come for a better life.  Even to this day, immigrants come to create a future for themselves and their children.  We Americans are a team of peasants and outcasts from around the world who all came to one place in order to work hard and overcome oppression.

 

I want to travel the world and meet as many people from different races, creeds, and religions as I can.  I want to have tea with the Dalai Lama in Tibet.  I want to play rugby in New Zealand. To fly a kite on top of the Sphinx in Cairo. To tango with a beautiful senorita in Buenos Aires.  To spar with Muay Thai fighters in Thailand.  To hunt antelope with a spear among tribal brothers in the African serengeti.  To ride my motorcycle across each South American country.  To live off the unforgiving land of the Australian Outback with nothing but a few tools.  I want to understand the world around me but I am and will always be PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN.

 I believe in America.  Do you?