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| Fireworks in DC - Thanks, Google Images :) |
HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY EVERYONE!
I'm proud to be a citizen of the United States :) Here are 50 reasons why I'm thankful that I live here! Note, these statements above may have political implications, but they are not intended to persuade readers toward any sort of political ideology. These statements are only meant to express my gratitude as to why I am proud to be American :)
1. The government allows international adoptions :) This is why I'm here in the first place (THANKS, MOM!)
2. We have freedom of speech. I'm able to post such things as this blog :)
3. We can VOTE
4. There are 3 branches of government that as of now still do a decent job with checks and balances :)
5. The only political unrest during an election year are the commentators on CNN yelling at each other and people writing scathing blogs about candidates they don't like.
6. There really isn't any sectarian violence (ethnic violence) as of 2012.
7. We're slowly working through the history of ethnic violence (in the 1960's and in the 1800's) of the past and trying to reconcile things.
8. We have mega-churches and Christian radio stations without fear of persecution.
9. As Christians, we have enough resources to send to other nations to help get the Gospel out.
10. Ordinary citizens can write to Congress (even if you only do get a form letter back).
11. Ordinary citizens can have access to the docket at the Supreme Court and actually attend a session.
12. Government buildings are accessible to the public.
13. There is still some transparency in our government
14. Universities allow international student ministry :)
15. The colors red, white, and blue are nice together :)
16. We're NOT the nation of PANEM (yet)
17. Our nation encompasses the tundra of Alaska, the majestic Rocky Mountains of Colorado, the forests of New England, the Redwoods of California, and the TROPICAL ISLANDS OF HAWAII :) So much scenic stuff without even leaving the country :)
18. I do enjoy watching American Football.
19. There are still opportunities for upward mobility within society.
20. Proceedings involving governmental officials charged with contempt or involved in impeachment hearings are somewhat public (CNN and CSPAN) so we know that there is... um... still some accountability to the taxpayers there.
21. Colorado is awesome!
22. Oh yes - thanks to Land Grant institutions like Colorado State University, higher education is still accessible (for now) for mostly everyone.
23. The American Dream still inspires people - though we shouldn't put ALL our hope there.
24. There is still a National Day of Prayer.
25. Christian student groups at the high school and college level are still permitted in the public school and public university systems.
26. The Bible is not banned here.
27. Historical documents detailing the Founding Fathers' worldviews are still accessible in museums and the national archives.
28. The state has not turned the military on the regular citizens.
29. Oh yes, WE HAVE THE BILL OF RIGHTS built into our Constitution!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
30. Our constitution is actually a really short document, easy to follow, easy to study :D
31. We also have the Americans with Disabilities Act which is yet another step in ending discrimination against people with disabilities and making society more accessible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOO!
32. I can get scholarships because I'm Asian :D
33. The Founding Fathers came from a Christian worldview and the premise of most of our laws still reflect that.
34. Even so, citizens are not FORCED to become Christian by the government :)
35. Gas prices are cheaper here than in Europe.
36. Women have rights such as: right to vote, right to own land / a home, right to work, no-fault divorce, right to an education, and one nearly NEARLY ran for PRESIDENT!
37. A person of ethnic minority status can own land / a home.
38. A person of ethnic minority status was elected president.
39. And if the country thinks he hasn't fixed the economy fast enough, we can elect someone else. :D
40. We can have events like Occupy Wall Street where people's voices are heard, and yet that doesn't throw us into a full-scale revolution.
41. International students still come in droves to our universities.
42. It is relatively easy to become a citizen if you were born somewhere else.
43. An ordinary person can eventually get his/her case heard in the Supreme Court and the outcome can set the precedent for the rest of the laws of the land.
44. The Star-Spangled banner is a pretty song :)
45. There is still a middle class.
46. People still have resources to give to a TON of secular and Christian organizations that help others around the world.
47. The spirit of entrepreneurship allows for inventions that have helped a lot of people.
48. Washington DC is a cool place to visit and potentially live :D
49. Though our healthcare system is far from perfect, my mom as a single parent was still able to pay for the glasses I needed and the occupational therapy I needed to catch up to my peers when I first came over at age 2.
50. It's home :) "Land of the free and the home of the brave :D"
Happy Fourth of July!
3 comments:
Nice list!
While not to diminish 36 and 38, I hope that when we do have a woman finally run for president and elect her, it's because she's the best president we could ask for and that she really is amazing. I want us to remember our first woman president or first president of some other minority and say, "Yep, that was a great president." Rather than looking back and saying, "Yeah, that was a mistake and the only cool thing about them was their minority status. If not for the novelty of that, they wouldn't have been elected."
Yeah, totes, I agree. But you know, my HDFS side (since we talked about that in class) and me being part of an ethnic minority group does think that's cool. But you're right. We should vote the president in based on his/her qualifications first! :)
I agree it's cool! I just want it to be the coolest it can be! :)
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