Elsa Lang Lively

Since all the articles I have previously written for the Scholarly Journal have been focused on travelling and international affairs, I thought it might be interesting to shake things up a bit and talk about the country I know better than any other, my own country.  Because this is an opinion piece, I am only speaking from my own observations and personal experience after living seventeen years as an American citizen, and I know there are many more reasons than just five to love America; however, these are the first five reasons that come to mind when I think about why I am proud to be an American.

1.  Freedom of religion.  I know it is a pretty widely known fact the right to the free exercise of religion is a guaranteed right in the first amendment, and we as Americans have been putting this right to good use before America even became a nation.  Hearing stories about people being martyred for their faith in places like China and Saudi Arabia are good reminders to us all persecution is still very much alive today, and we should be thanking God every day for the blessing to live in a country where we can freely practice our beliefs.

What I have just become aware of in recent months, however, is the blessing to have grown up in a country where the fundamentals of Christianity are present everywhere and the actual practice of Christianity is commonplace.  Many countries, typically the more Westernized ones, have freedom of religion built into their respective constitutions; however, the right to practice religion does not guarantee the people of a country will actually have a high religious population.  According to the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life from 2010, the United States has the highest Christian population in the world.  Although this does not necessarily mean all self-proclaimed Christians in America truly have personal relationships with Christ, this statistic reflects the amount of Americans who are at least aware of the fundamentals of Christianity and are familiar with the practice of Christianity.  I was astonished when some European friends I made from France and Austria this summer said the majority of the people they knew were not Christians and had never actually heard the Gospel, much less the key beliefs of Christianity.  It is very possible to grow up in a country that permits the practice of religion but never even hear about the Gospel.  Although this is true even for those living in America, I would venture to say the high amount of churches, especially here in Hampton Roads, as well as our nation’s original founding under God, have caused the United States to be a nation where the practice of Christianity is common and accepted.

2. Our military.  Growing up in a military family, I have always viewed the United States military in a particular light.  Having my father and other relatives frequently deploy to the Middle East or other areas around the world has helped me not to take our daily freedoms for granted.  I will always remember my dad telling me he was proud to serve in the military because he believed in helping those in countries who could not help themselves.  Truly, those serving in the military are modern-day heroes who protect not only the freedoms of our own country but also fight for the rights of those who are not yet free.

I will never stop feeling a surge of pride whenever I hear our national anthem or when each branch of the military’s song is played on the fourth of July.  I love how our country is so patriotic and proud of all who serve to defend our country.  When I was staying with my French host family this past summer, I distinctly remember the father telling me the French were not particularly proud of their military, and only the school drop-outs joined the military because they were not smart enough to get accepted into a good university.  He said the only time the military was showcased and celebrated is on their national day of independence, when the soldiers take part in a parade in Paris.  I am so glad our military is not celebrated and remembered only once per year but throughout the year because of the daily sacrifices they make.

3. The food.  I’m going to be completely honest here and say as much as I enjoy authentic French bread and Italian gelato, there’s nothing like a good ol’ American barbeque and a huge Saturday breakfast of waffles and (turkey) bacon.  America often gets a bad rap for having so many fast food chains and a high obesity rate, but food is an integral part of our culture.  By this I am referring to quantity and not quality.  We Americans delight in the sheer amount of food our bodies can withstand during each meal.  I know my family chooses a restaurant based upon not just the taste of the food but also the portion size of the food.  We marvel at the monstrous size of burgers and platters of fries that accompany our meals and feel gypped if free refills are not permitted.  Buffet outings and all-you-can-eat nights are anxiously awaited by Americans all across the country, and the winners of eating contests are treated as local heroes.  While it probably is not ideal to revel in excess, it is rather refreshing to be able to indulge every once in a while and feel good about doing it.

4. The music.  Although I am probably biased on the subject, I would argue Americans have produced some very entertaining music over the years.  From Big Band and jazz to rock-and-roll and hip hop, America has been entertaining the rest of the world musically for many years.  Recently, I was looking at the top ten music charts in various European countries and was pleasantly surprised to find they all had the same top music hits we have here in America.  Of course, whether or not American music is “good” depends upon one’s personal taste.  But if people all around the world are enjoying artists like Michael Jackson and Macklemore just as much as we are, then maybe the American music industry is on the right track….

5. The diversity.  It is so neat to be able to say our nation is a “melting pot” or a “tossed salad,” if you will.  It shows just how much people from all walks of life can be united simply because they are Americans.  I love reading about the stories of immigrants in the early 1900s who wanted to live the American Dream and start a new life in a new country despite the odds.  Although it was not always easy for those coming to America to be incredibly prosperous right away, they worked hard to earn a living and had opportunities to pursue their dreams and passions.

I have always marveled at the immigration story of my great-grandmother, Elsa Swanson, who immigrated to America from Sweden when she was only sixteen years old.  Her family had raised enough money for her passage to Ellis Island, and she left behind her family to make a new life in America.  When she arrived, she moved to Chicago and worked as a housemaid for an elderly female author who published her works with a man’s pen name.  I cannot imagine leaving behind my family and working in a new country without knowing a single bit of the national language.  Yet my great-grandma worked hard and adapted to a new culture and language because she wanted to raise her future children and grandchildren in a country of opportunity and freedom.  It is for this reason I love living in a country where so many diverse people groups can all call America home.

As I have previously mentioned, this is only a short list of many reasons why I love America.  I know this is not a perfect country, and there are many things our country could be doing to improve socially, politically, and spiritually.  Nevertheless, I am so grateful to have lived my life in a country where I am surrounded by people I love and am encouraged to work hard while serving God.  Next year, I am scheduled to study abroad in Scotland and hope to live overseas someday with my future job.  Yet no matter how far my travels may take me and no matter what environment I will find myself in, I will always be proud to call myself an American and will never get tired of returning home, to the United States, and being with the people I love in the place I love.