“The USA is the greatest country in the world; we are the land of the free.” Having grown up in the United States, these are phrases I have heard, probably, as often as my own name. As a child I’ve accepted this as a fact, naive to the existence of other ways of life. Many of us, having been so perfectly conditioned, never let go of this belief and are uninterested in other countries, cultures, languages; certainly not open to the idea that there might be a place out there where things are just as good, if not better.
The United States is great. I could not argue to the contrary. From the great big mansions, to the great amount poverty that exists, the great amount of debt forced upon hundreds of thousands of young adults trying to receive an education, the great amount of medical bills cancer patients receive for a condition they did not choose, the great social inequality, where, within 10 miles, the landscape changes from well taken care of houses and nice cars, to a neighborhood reminiscent of a third world country.
America land of the Free, I ask, what kind of freedom is having to work two jobs just to put food on the table? How is having an outstanding debt from the moment of college graduation freedom? How is knowing, that for years to come, the majority of the money you make will have to go to pay off the student loans you acquired to be able to work in the first place freedom? How is fearing sickness, not because of illness, but because of the cost, freedom?
Don’t get me wrong, freedom does exist: the government is free to sit back and watch by as its citizens go without medicine and a proper education. There is freedom to discuss cutting education funding despite the United States ranking 14th in education worldwide. There is freedom to defend the 2nd amendment despite the weekly mass shootings that occur. There is freedom to ignore the fact that the US is number one in guns per capita, where, for 100 residents, there are 112 guns. There is freedom to deny climate change despite the compelling scientific evidence. Big businesses and corporations are free to underpay their workers and yet continue to pay less taxes. Authorities are free to assassinate unarmed civilians. Government workers are free to violate the constitution for discriminative purposes. America, Land of the Free? I think we need to reevaluate our definition of freedom.
Having moved to Germany, I’ve realized freedom is being able to receive medical treatment without going bankrupt. Greatness is receiving an education and not spending the an adult life paying for it; it’s knowing, as a mother, your children will never end up on the street, or never having to miss a medical appointment due to lack of money. Freedom is being able to walk down the street, go to the movies, and attend school knowing that you can go to school without the fear of being victim to the next shooting. I’ve lived in the United States for the majority of my life, yet I’ve never felt greater, more liberated, or more secure than I feel right now in Germany.
The United States continues to be incredible; the innovations and ideas that have come out of our country have influenced the world to a degree very few others have. Our ideas of equality and freedom are beautiful, and every day there are great things happening. But we cannot be blind to the reality. There is an incredible amount of injustice and lack of freedom in our country. The moment we open up to the possibility that we are not the paradigm of freedom or greatness is the moment we can inspire change for the better. How can we fix faults when we are yet blinded by glory?