Sometimes it takes a foreigner to help reawaken your love of country. I started watching "Stephen Fry in America", and was somewhat surprised how proud it made me to be American.
During election season, I get sick of our backstabbing politics. I get sick sometimes of the flaunting of America. I get sick of people telling me what being American is supposed to be.
But here's the rub: I've lived overseas - not a result of military duty, but on my own. I've also ridden my bike across three of our states. And I've visited over 30 of our states.
The expanse of these United States go from ocean to ocean, and Canada to Mexico. I've seen Niagara Falls when the icicles grew sideways, and I've seen the sun melt in the Texas sky.
I've been the beneficiary of the kindness of strangers, shared stories with the parents of a 9/11 survivor, met the man who was, at one point, the youngest person to climb Mt. McKinley, and listened in horror to tales of Vietnam.
America is more than jobs creation, 1%, and city occupation.
This is a glorious, amazing country - we've got our struggles, but we were borne of struggle. Struggling helps make us stronger. And God knows we need strength now.
I have a fantasy that all the extreme knuckleheads in our country walk a mile in each others' shoes. Stop spewing ignorant rants, and recognize the beauty of America - of our brothers across state lines, and outside of our speeding cars. Recognize the history, and embrace the mystery of our fruited plains and majestic purple mountains.
As a people, Americans have achieved greatness, and it's time to step it up again.
Rather than look at others' failures, we should rejoice in our achievements.
