America to Me.

I was born and raised in the United States of America for almost 45 years. This year is the 250th year anniversary of the existence of the United States of America. I have the total right to write and analyze my nation of America in a fair, accurate fashion without sugarcoating reality. Now, America is the most powerful nation in human history, the most diverse nation in human history (people of every race, color, nationality, sex, and background live in America for centuries), and we are among the most resilient nations in human history. Many Americans have done the right thing to establish legitimate inventions, to stand up for human rights (in the civil rights, women's rights, labor rights, environmental rights movements, etc.) and shown compassion in the world. Also, many Americans have done evil like enacting slavery, oppression a against BIPOC people in general (BIPOC stands for Black, Indigenous, and people of color), lynching, advancing xenophobia plus sexism, and other atrocities. How do we reconcile the contradiction of America having this mixed legacy of goodness and wickedness? You just show the truth as it is, and you should inspire America to be better than the past and present. America is about Jackie Robinson and Babe Ruth playing baseball. America is about skiing and hiking among hills and mountains. America deals with courage involving the Freedom Riders and anti-Vietnam War activists expressing themselves. The food we eat, the slang that we exhibit, and the honor shown to soldiers who paid the ultimate sacrifice relate to America too. It is important to note that African Americans culturally have a heavy influence in ultimate American culture from music, fashion, inventions, and social justice matters. We have a long way to go to witness America living up to the lofty, sacrosanct ideals of democracy, liberty, equality, and justice. Yet, we have every God given right to fight for those principles constructively in witnessing a future America filled with glory and honor. 

As we conclude the chronicle of the 250 years of my nation of the United States of America, we all realize the miraculous birth and existence of America. America was born on July 4, 1776 (when the Declaration of Independence was signed by the Patriots), during the midst of the American Revolutionary War when the 10 colonies fought the imperialistic British Empire (that British Empire was filled with imperialism, slavery, racism, and capitalistic economic exploitation). The colonists (filled with the Sons of Liberty, farmer, soldiers, merchants, and human beings of every color) won the American Revolutionary war via guerilla warfare, help from other nations (like the Dutch, the French, the Spanish, etc.). From the Battles in the states of Massachusetts and New York to the Battle of Yorktown (in Virginia), America won the war filled with resiliency. Many Patriots supported the notorious evil of slavery and others didn't. Filled with both righteous people and wicked people, America's history has been filled with a profound paradox. That paradox is that while heroic Americans advanced legitimate social changes, cultural improvements, inventions, etc., America is also complicit in the sins of racism, slavery, the genocide of Native Americans, colonialism, xenophobia, sexism, etc. The U.S. Constitution caused America to function as a democratic Republic (that means that we don't have a direct democracy in every circumstance, but we do have a direct democracy in electing many House members, Senate members, referendums, etc.). What do we do about this paradox? We have to do 2 main things. One is that we should never sugarcoat American history (as some far right zealots advocate), and other thing that we must do is to fight for justice in America during the present and future. Losing hope is not an option when we desire future generations to live in a world that is better than today. America to me is about the battle between good and evil, the resiliency of humanity, the glory of righteousness that has inspired the world. Never giving up is our percept, and real Americans accept that credo wholeheartedly. Recognizing the existence and importance of Native Americans is key in understanding America as well. They had their lands stolen by thieves and murderers just like my people (i.e. black Americans) were brutalized via slavery, racism, discrimination, lynchings, the peonage system, etc. Whitewashing American history is wrong, but we must also do the following. We must acknowledge the glory among the righteous aspects of America and continue to fight the evils in America to make America improve itself (along with people globally). 

By Timothy