General Discussion

We were founded on the idea of representative democracy at a time when that was somewhat rare in the world. We didn't live up to our high ideals at first (actually, we still don't), but we've mostly moved in the right direction since our founding.

We aren't aristocratic. We aren't homogeneous. Our country was founded to be more of an idea than a place. Our ancestors come from all over the world, and we all blend together into something new and evolving.

We value individual rights and our Constitution includes specific protections for things like free speech and freedom of (and from) religion.

We aren't all about blood and soil, although some would like for us to be. We have vibrant communties of new Americans even in states like mine, and they add immensely to the fabric of our nation.

Other countries are great, too. (But not all of them.)

I love this country. We aren't perfect, but we still have great potential.