Sure, we hear all the time that we’re living in the greatest country on Earth, but real life has made that feel like a complete lie.
The flag abroad
The Iraq War is what made some people feel weird about patriotism. The feeling never went away. Sure, America talks about freedom more than any other country, but the post-9/11 wars killed millions of people.
We act like we’re the good guys in every situation. That can’t always be true. Even for people who support the military, it gets a little uncomfortable to see how we’re acting in other places sometimes.
The hard face
The hardest part for some people is the cruelty. It’s normal. Prison overcrowding’s a standard part of the justice system, and so many people film strangers having breakdowns.
The underprivileged have become political props for propaganda. Now, we’ve stopped reacting to it all. We see cruelty as being regular, and it’s actually kind of shocking. How did we get to this point?
The usual drill
It’s sad how normal school shooting drills are here. Kids barely even react anymore. They’re used to it. Who needs to learn long division when you’ve got to practice hiding quietly in the classroom? It’s not how childhood should be in such a wealthy country.
Firearms are the leading cause of death for American children and teens, even to this day. But it’s more than the number. Gun violence is way too normalized here. We talk about staying alert like we’re talking about the rain. How’s that right?
The smaller people
Children, children, children. Commercials talk about them, and so do politicians. But look around. School lunch debt and overcrowded foster systems are everywhere. We’ve got teachers buying classroom supplies with their own money. We’ve got kids experiencing food insecurity.
Then there’s the healthcare issue, and millions of parents not having the money to take their kids to the doctor. It’s hard to feel patriotic when life’s like that.
The moving line
The issue for some people comes from the state they’re living in. All it takes is one election. It’s one court ruling. Your rights could be taken from you at any moment, including your right to medical decisions or voting access.
We hear that our rights are guaranteed. But how exactly? Our rights have become temporary, even negotiable. Your zip code matters a lot more than your citizenship.
The smart thing
Don’t you dare be openly smart in America. It’s socially dangerous. We have a weird habit of treating expertise like it’s arrogance, and we’ve lost our confidence in universities. Meanwhile, conspiracy theories get millions of views in a few hours.
Americans push aside actual knowledge. No, we’d rather watch random people filming TikToks inside their trucks.
The grateful smile
They say we’re lucky. They say we’ve got it better than everyone else. But what are we supposed to feel grateful for when paid parental leave isn’t guaranteed nationally? What about vacation days?
Hearing someone say, ‘At least you’re free,’ gets frustrating. We’re free to answer emails during dinner. That’s about it, really.
The loud room
Americans are good at one thing, and that’s projecting confidence. Just look at the movies. Just look at all our flags. We keep telling everyone that we’re number one, but sometimes, it feels like that’s all a performance. We’re not actually solving problems.
In 2024, data found that there were over 771,000 homeless people across the country. That’s the highest total ever recorded here. You can walk past tents sitting near luxury apartments. Somehow, we act like that’s totally normal.
Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.
