My family immigrated to the United States from the former Soviet Union. At the age of twelve, I started eighth grade in a new country, with new kids and a new language. While my peers discussed Back to the Future II and their summer vacations, I was scared out of my mind, working hard to disguise my feelings. 

Thankfully, with time, things got easier. I made friends. I learned the language. I fell in love with the country. As far back as that first year, I remember getting upset when kids criticized America. Every time I heard complaints, I’d tell my friends that they should thank God every morning for waking up in this country. During my 27 years in the United States, I have said that exact phrase hundreds of times.

Because there are no units of measurement for feelings or quality, as human beings we tend to gauge our impressions by relating them to competing alternatives. I believe that because most Americans were born here, they have a naturally impaired ability by default to judge the true extent of our country’s greatness. 

As a person who loves America with every living cell in my body, it is not easy to listen when people disparage this miraculous land. When we do exercise our freedom of speech to criticize our country, let’s remember that, if given a choice, we would not choose to live anywhere else. Furthermore, if we are forced to reshape our future to look more like the past, it may be difficult to control which historical traits we bring back. Therefore, we would run the risk of resurrecting parts of our history that should remain buried forever. 

Let’s seek to reach ideals without disrespecting our precious jewel that so many, willingly and unwillingly, spilled their blood to build and protect. America remains a beacon of freedom, opportunity, creativity, and hope for the entire planet. America is already great!