I am an American, and I have some gripes about my own country, namely the current administration, but as a whole, I think America is an excellent place to live.
George Bush has some very controversial views, and I disagree with the majority of them. For instance, unlike Bush, I think gay marriage is completely fine and should not be banned. Those in a relationship, whether it is both a man and a women, two men, or two women, should all be able to share the connection and benefits that marriage provides. I also am not explicitly against abortion. I believe that it is a choice that should be left up to the women and the circumstances. For instance, if someone is raped and impregnated, they should have the option to remove themselves of the burden of a child. I also do not agree with Bush’s reasons for the war. It does not seem necessary to American security; it is not justified.
I find McDonalds to be a great place to stop once in a while for a quick meal, but I try not to make it a habit. Why; because I understand the disadvantages of constantly eating fast food. One thing that very much annoys me about America is the constant lawsuits over pointless items. People should not be able to sue McDonalds for becoming obese, that is completely their fault. Along the same tangent, people should not be able to sue Dunkin Donuts for selling hot coffee; did they expect the coffee to be cold?
Now, as a generalization, I can see how TV, movies, and other forms of media could have displayed America as a greedy, fat, lazy group of people, but unless you have come to America and traveled around, you have no basis for your opinion. I do not want dim-witted actresses as the American icon. I want people to see the shores of North Carolina and the cities like Boston and the gorgeous and friendly people of Florida. If American opinion is based on what is seen in Beverly Hills, the views will be superficial and unreal.
America is a wonderful land of opportunity for people of all social groups, classes, religions, races, sexes, etc. Sure, there are still come corporations that will chose the male over the female for position of CEO only based on sex, but America still allows for extreme freedoms, and corporations like that have become less and less over time. The American idea is for anyone to be able to come here and speak freely, act freely and reach for their dreams.
Am I saying everyone in America is perfect? Nope. I am quite aware of the large number of people who take advantage of the system, those who do not respect and acknowledge their freedoms, etc, but they should not be the stereotype.
Whenever I think that America is a country falling down the tubes I think about everything that is great about this nation and the ability for everyone to go into a voting booth and change our administration. Right now I just cannot wait for the next one; Bush, good riddance.
