[Conskeeted7]

I guess I can parallel the way some people feel about America to the way I feel about my hometown. I chose to leave it when I was young because I disagreed with the people, politics, values, and so much more. Now, there are still plenty of people living there. However, my personal goals and values would not allow me to stay there. I felt very strongly about my reasons for leaving and NOTHING could convince me to go back there to live with all things remaining the same.

So, this may be why I find it difficult to see how a person can disagree with so much of something, yet remain. I'm not saying that you don't have a right to. I just couldn't do it. It's like saying that you can't stand Ms. so and so, but when she gets here, you still talk to her. Why? If the dislike is that strong, why even front?

When I was in Europe, I had conversations with people about the US. There were several topics that they could not understand and questioned me about. There actually was a news story on CNN about a shooting in my hometown. Did I have to explain racism? Yes. Homelessness? Yes. Disparities in health care? Yes. Did I feel pleasure in those discussions? No, but I didn't want to leave my country. There were problems there also. It just broadened my awareness of the characteristics in my behavior and being that make me American. I was proud of my differences.

So, because I don't want to leave the US and am proud to live here, I'm likened to a slave that doesn't want to be free? I am free. I had the freedom to choose what I wanted to do with my life and I chose to stay here and do it. I chose a city and state that I wanted to live in and that were better suited for my values and beliefs and I moved. I'm completely satisfied with that decision and my decision to stay in the US. I recognize that there problems in the US, but that will never change the fact that I am American, born and raised. No matter what country I go to, that fact will remain. Not being proud to be American is not being proud of who I am.