What I Love about the US Even If I Don't Always Like It These Days
A Fourth of July reflection from afar
My relationship with the US lives in a complicated space—a love rooted not in blind allegiance but in recognition of what this country could be, measured against the reality of what it has become.
I believe love means saying what is true, not pretending things are normal when they aren't. "Wounds from a friend are better than kisses from an enemy," it's been said.1
I critique because I care and because what happens in the US matters. I haven't given up on America. In fact, I simply refuse to accept that our current trajectory is inevitable.
But in the spirit of the Fourth of July, I'm only going to focus on what I love about the country of my birth and save the critiques for another day. After all, It’s not nice to crap on someone during their birthday week.