People Magazine has a franchise in which it names 100 Reasons to Love America. Admittedly, it is heavy on celebrities. Given the current reality: animosity, fractures, incivility, and despair, and the fact that July 4th is around the corner, I thought it an appropriate invitation (notice I did not say challenge!) to come up with 100 reasons to love America. Can we do this? Can we reach 100? Share this column and invite others to participate. I will cull, and share, responses.
I’ll go first:
1) citizens have the right to vote
2) highest individual charitable donations as a percentage of the national GDP
3) NYT’s Wordle and Metropolitan Diary
4) innovation upon innovation upon innovation
5) our national parks
OK. Your turn.
Photo courtesy of Martin Darvick
– wide open spaces of nature where nothing is built upon.
– bobcats, havelinas and roadrunners in the wild
-many big national parks
– popcorn in movie houses
-modern dance troops
Chaya! You get extra points for being first. I am going to keep all of these on a separate sheet of paper and hopefully we will got to 100 before too long. I love what you wrote. I miss the bobcats and the roadrunners. And the javelins from far away!! Love you, Debra
The U.S. Constitution
Wonderful cities to explore
Beautiful beaches
Capitalism
Friendliness of Americans
Thank you, sweetheart
I am free to speak my mind and practice my religion without worrying about the government inhibiting or arresting me; unfortunately, other people are free to speak hate and spew their hatred toward me and others who don’t abide by their misguided bigotry.
I may write to/email my elected officials with my concerns or appreciation. And, of course, they are free to ignore me.
I am free to live where I choose, which I have done and I glory in my beautiful, semi-wild setting–watching deer, coyotes, bobcats, javelinas, bunnies, dozens of different birds and the “walking walnuts” (quail babies–soooooooo adorable), and Tigger the Cat who comes to visit
Truly, I am blessed to live in the United States, imperfect as it may be :~}
Oh my gosh, I am with you on those walking walnut. What a perfect
description.I love your loves.
1. Freedom of religion
2. Freedom of the press
3. Separation of Church &State
4. A generally peacefull transition of power
5. Right turns on red!
Alternates:
1. Sustainable Democracy
2. Overall beauty
I love these, Ed. Thank you. Alternates are good, too.
Freedom of the press, and freedom for women to publish their opinions in other sections of the newspaper (besides cooking and domestic arts columns). Believe it or not, this is a relatively new freedom in our country — a freedom that didn’t come with us on the Mayflower.
Thank you, Cindy. Women were also “allowed” to write “gossip columns.”
I am adding yours to the list I am keeping.
Respect for our flag, where in a crowd (most) all stand in respect
to our country symbols such as the flag, and words being sung.
Yes!
And hand-over-the-heart when standing
– Gave my grandparents a new life and a future for their descendants
– Educational opportunities
– Relative safety
– Options to live in varying terrains and climates
– Powerful military for defense
– Amazon for convenience
(Availability of the word y’all)
Sorry, so many, including ones others have listed
Wonderful, Verne, thank you.