Thanks to all of you! All the points are presented well. It is not politicians that are the backbone of any country. It is not the wealthy either. It is the general population of the country that work together, have fun together, and recognize that having an open heart and an open mind allows us to love each other and bridge our differences for most of have the same goals.
I’m originally from Colombia too! (Now I’m a naturalized US citizen.) I like the work you’ve done re:the infamous data center but I couldn’t identify with this piece. I love everything about this country and I’m so grateful for all it’s let me do. Are there parts that make me cringe? Yes, much like a relative you adore but still does strange things.
But the 💩 show my parents and I left, where my dad was kidnapped twice and everyone’s desensitized to political assassinations, where so many people are envious, the police will shame you for getting mugged, and one can’t hold an iPhone out in public or leave a purse unattended.. has nothing on the wonder that is this country.
I find that the people who have a complicated sense of patriotism in the US have never had to flee another country (or watched European visitors reacting to common US things on YouTube lately) and therefore don’t know how good they have it. But I’ve felt like an American since *before* my parents decided to leave our native country and I’m so proud of and happy for all the US is.
I feel like you missed the point a little. You can love this country, be grateful to be here, yet still see its flaws. You can be disappointed in what is happening to the USA under the current administration and still be proud to be an American. Just saying it is better than where you came from does nothing to preserve the country you are so grateful to be a part of. We all have to do something to fight for the freedoms we have been blessed with because they are slipping away. Democracy is not a spectator sport. It requires participation. It requires effort, and now more than ever, we need to do all we can to protect this country. You escaped a horrible situation. Let’s make sure we fight for others to have the same opportunity you had.
I’m not blind to its flaws and never stated I pretended there weren’t any. (Which you may have missed from my comment.) I also vote and have written to my representatives and senators numerous times about issues I’m passionate about, so I’m not a mere spectator either.
But I think only US-born Americans have the luxury of going from “this country has flaws” to “I don’t know how to love it much,” and I consider that odd in a country that’s capable of so much and has done so much, and where we can accomplish so much.
As a Catholic, though, my top loyalty isn’t to Country, either, but it’s very close, esp. if I want to help conserve the aspects that make this land so great.
(I wasn’t sure what you meant by that last bit, but just in case I guessed correctly: I don’t think anything warrants coming here illegally and I won’t help anyone do so, but I do support helping those who do/did everything right. We sought and were granted asylum but never pretended we were entitled to it and actually started the process in our native country, which is how it should be done.)
I loved these. We just left a 4th of July parade in Thayne, Wyoming heading to Jackson Hole. Very small town, no Trump flags. This is just what I needed to read. Thank you
I was born in SLC. Dad was in the Army, fought in the Pacific and in Korea. His older brother was shot down in Europe and spent the war in a German POW camp. His younger brother was shot down and killed in Vietnam. His formidable sister was a nurse married to a Marine.
I was raised on Army bases across America and the world.
My son served in Afghanistan and Iraq.
That service and sacrifice meant and means something special to me. It put a deeper meaning to patriotism for me. No one can take that away.
But some people are trying hard to take it from me and to deny it to so many others. That’s what my family has fought against, bled, and died for.
Those people will not succeed. It looked dark in 1942, in 1951, in 1969, during the struggle for Civil Rights, Watergate, GWOT and WMD. And now.
People like you have shown that the darkness can be fought. Thank you.
Thanks to all of you! All the points are presented well. It is not politicians that are the backbone of any country. It is not the wealthy either. It is the general population of the country that work together, have fun together, and recognize that having an open heart and an open mind allows us to love each other and bridge our differences for most of have the same goals.
Teared up, Gabi. So well said.
Thank you for the lovely thoughts! You make me very hopeful for the future of Utah and our country.
Thank you for sharing! The Mt. Triglav story was my favorite!
I’m originally from Colombia too! (Now I’m a naturalized US citizen.) I like the work you’ve done re:the infamous data center but I couldn’t identify with this piece. I love everything about this country and I’m so grateful for all it’s let me do. Are there parts that make me cringe? Yes, much like a relative you adore but still does strange things.
But the 💩 show my parents and I left, where my dad was kidnapped twice and everyone’s desensitized to political assassinations, where so many people are envious, the police will shame you for getting mugged, and one can’t hold an iPhone out in public or leave a purse unattended.. has nothing on the wonder that is this country.
I find that the people who have a complicated sense of patriotism in the US have never had to flee another country (or watched European visitors reacting to common US things on YouTube lately) and therefore don’t know how good they have it. But I’ve felt like an American since *before* my parents decided to leave our native country and I’m so proud of and happy for all the US is.
I feel like you missed the point a little. You can love this country, be grateful to be here, yet still see its flaws. You can be disappointed in what is happening to the USA under the current administration and still be proud to be an American. Just saying it is better than where you came from does nothing to preserve the country you are so grateful to be a part of. We all have to do something to fight for the freedoms we have been blessed with because they are slipping away. Democracy is not a spectator sport. It requires participation. It requires effort, and now more than ever, we need to do all we can to protect this country. You escaped a horrible situation. Let’s make sure we fight for others to have the same opportunity you had.
I’m not blind to its flaws and never stated I pretended there weren’t any. (Which you may have missed from my comment.) I also vote and have written to my representatives and senators numerous times about issues I’m passionate about, so I’m not a mere spectator either.
But I think only US-born Americans have the luxury of going from “this country has flaws” to “I don’t know how to love it much,” and I consider that odd in a country that’s capable of so much and has done so much, and where we can accomplish so much.
As a Catholic, though, my top loyalty isn’t to Country, either, but it’s very close, esp. if I want to help conserve the aspects that make this land so great.
(I wasn’t sure what you meant by that last bit, but just in case I guessed correctly: I don’t think anything warrants coming here illegally and I won’t help anyone do so, but I do support helping those who do/did everything right. We sought and were granted asylum but never pretended we were entitled to it and actually started the process in our native country, which is how it should be done.)
This is what I needed today. Grateful for these words 👏
I loved these. We just left a 4th of July parade in Thayne, Wyoming heading to Jackson Hole. Very small town, no Trump flags. This is just what I needed to read. Thank you
So thankful for you, & the great work you continue to do!
I was born in SLC. Dad was in the Army, fought in the Pacific and in Korea. His older brother was shot down in Europe and spent the war in a German POW camp. His younger brother was shot down and killed in Vietnam. His formidable sister was a nurse married to a Marine.
I was raised on Army bases across America and the world.
My son served in Afghanistan and Iraq.
That service and sacrifice meant and means something special to me. It put a deeper meaning to patriotism for me. No one can take that away.
But some people are trying hard to take it from me and to deny it to so many others. That’s what my family has fought against, bled, and died for.
Those people will not succeed. It looked dark in 1942, in 1951, in 1969, during the struggle for Civil Rights, Watergate, GWOT and WMD. And now.
People like you have shown that the darkness can be fought. Thank you.