However, it's true this country has had some less than stellar moments. We fought for freedom and equality, hold it up like a banner for all to see, yet have sometimes fiercely fought against giving that freedom and equality to all our citizens. We balk at horrid conditions, yet our own timeline is riddled with examples of decisions we've made which have brought on horrid conditions right here at home. We pride ourselves in being progressive in our thoughts and actions, striving for better and the greater good, but have occasionally come off as unfeeling and disrespectful of other points of view in our pursuit of life, liberty and happiness.
We are a country of humans, run by humans. We are less than perfect and make mistakes. We realize, sometimes at an agonizingly slow rate, that an oops has been made and work to make the wrong into a right. Collectively, we are a scrappy fighter, but we also take our lumps. Perhaps our greatest fault is that we don't always loudly acknowledge our mistakes, don't always publicly apologize. But once we do, we are humble in our delivery and are made a slightly better nation as a result.
But, the basic rules of life are still the same, Folks - if you don't like your situation, fix it. If you can't or won't fix it, you move to where you think you might be happier (for the grass is always greener ...). If you can't/won't fix it and can't/won't move, then you stay, keep on keepin' on and either kvetch or suffer in silence.
Or you can find the good in what you have and strive to improve upon it.
I wouldn't trade in on what I have in terms of a country, as imperfect as it's been and will be, and am glad its inhabitants (and a few of my ancestors) decided to fight for their independence back there in the 1770s. I appreciate my freedom and all my rights, including the right to speak freely, for without that basic right, no one would know anything was wrong and work to make it better.
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