And here’s why
The statement, “The United States is the greatest country in the world,” is heard everywhere at every event and gathering. It is one of the most common comments coming from the mouths of American politicians, especially those involved in a campaign. USA! USA! We are number 1!
So, how did we become the greatest? Let’s take a look at what makes us so special.
We have freedom of religion. This is true, but there are some catches; you must be Christian, especially the Evangelical or Protestant kind. Catholics are acceptable, except for that Pope thing. Jews are permissible as long as they don’t own any big businesses. Buddhists are okay because they seem to be quite docile. Muslims, well, that’s another story.
We consider no one above the law. There are some exceptions to this idea, however. If you are wealthy, politically connected, or your name is Trump, the Supreme Court guarantees that you are above the law. Also, if you are a white male and a Republican, you, too, may be considered to be above the law. If you’re a young Black male, forget it! You don’t count.
Every American citizen over the age of 18 has the right to vote. Well, that’s almost true. If you’re a white Christian Republican male, you almost certainly have the right to vote. As it stands now, white Republican women also have the right to vote. If you are white and live in a part of the country that votes Democratic, you’re on shaky ground. You can vote for now. If you are a Black man or woman, you may vote, but you may have a great deal of trouble getting to the polls, proving you are a citizen, or confirming you are registered to vote. In the future, especially if Trump is re-elected, you probably won’t be allowed to vote.
We are the land of the free and home of the brave. Yes, we have many brave veterans who served their country and many who have given their lives to preserve our democracy. However, as far as the land of the free goes, this freedom has some exceptions. In particular, women do not have the freedom to manage their healthcare and have no reproductive rights. Their gynecological decisions are not theirs; they belong to Conservative politicians.
We are a country that welcomes immigrants. Every American is, of course, a descendant of immigrants, except for our indigenous peoples. This was true long ago, but a few minor changes have occurred. We do welcome immigrants into our country, but they have to be white, Christian Europeans. Black and Brown people, known for being criminals and mental patients, are no longer welcome.
The United States has the best healthcare in the world — if you can afford it. However, it’s also the most expensive — many Americans who go without healthcare because of the high cost end up dying. Millions more go into insurmountable debt because of their overwhelming medical bills. Along with the high cost of medical procedures, we also have the highest prescription drug costs in the world. Millions of Americans have to choose between purchasing their prescription drugs or paying for rent or groceries.
America has been known to have streets paved with gold, where everyone can aspire to the American dream of owning a home or business, having a good-paying job, and raising a family. Well, maybe for rich, white guys like Elon Musk. Today, many people can’t afford the high cost of renting a home, much less buying a house. But that’s alright; they can join the thousands on the streets of our American cities. This is good for now, but some communities are making it illegal to be homeless.
Every American can tell you we have the best educational system in the world. Our high school athletic programs are unequaled. We have the best football, basketball, and soccer teams. To ensure this, our high school coaches are among the best-paid educators in the country. At the insistence of parents, students have minimal homework to devote more time to athletics. Our math and science scores are some of the worst in the world. But hay, how about that champion football team? No one wants to be called an elite by MAGA because they are educated.
There is one aspect of our American education system that no other country experiences. We are the only country in the world where a student can leave home for school and not return alive. Yes, America is number one in mass deaths due to school shootings. But that’s okay. Trump says, “Just get over it!”
But don’t worry. Students aren’t the only ones who can die in school shootings. Because of our American love affair with guns, especially assault weapons, we all are kept on our toes. You never know whether you will come home alive from your visit to Walmart, a concert, a parade, or even church.
We can’t forget that the main reason for our greatness is our democracy. We have a democratic form of government in which the citizens elect our leaders. Well, it’s not really that democratic, especially in our presidential elections. Our president is not elected by majority vote but by an antiquated institution called the Electoral College, which is a holdover from our slave-owning days. The president is elected by the votes in about four or five states, regardless of what the rest of the country says. We’ll never get rid of the Electoral College because so many Conservatives want to go back to the days of slavery.
In short, what makes our country great is that our Declaration of Independence guarantees life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Life, for those who can afford the healthcare to stay alive or can dodge the bullets from the weapons of a mass shooter while living their life.
Liberty for those seeking the freedom to love and marry whom they choose or be who they choose to be, as long as those choices refer to straight, white Christians and not members of the LGBTQ+ community.
The pursuit of happiness is for those who wish to pursue the goals of a career, family, business, or life without government interference, except for women who want control over their own bodies.
On second thought, maybe we’re not the greatest country in the world, but we could be if we eliminated all the hate and divisiveness in our country.
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