Why I Love America

by: Lanisha Porter

"There are those who see the cup as being half empty and those that see the cup as being half full."-Unknown
 
The devil lives in the details and if we search hard enough we will find all that is wrong in America, but if we do our research throughout history we will also be proud of how far America has come. Well, at least for the "glass is half full" person. Only two generations ago my great grandmother would have never dreamed of having the opportunities I have now to be educated, to travel, and have my fair share of respect in society as a woman and as an African-American. I am the descendent of a working-class people who were often unfairly limited in their chances to flourish in life given the culture of the times.

But here in America, I, a girl from the circumstances of destitute, have been able to climb the ranks and experience world-class opportunities while doing so. With the effort of hard work, there are now so many things in the world that are accessible to me; and there are so many things in place that ensure there are no arbitrary barriers to my success.
 
I know some may frown down upon my ability to celebrate my country when there are recent cases of those like Trayvon Martin, Oscar grant, Eric Gardner, Sandra bland and Michael brown. Some may even find me naive to celebrate a country that discriminates based on the ethnic representation of a name on a job application, or a country where women make almost .$30 cents less on the dollar than what a man makes. But I still do and here's why: while injustices still happen leaving people like my slain brothers and sisters mentioned above as the sacrificial lambs for change, we are progressively moving toward change and fighting for a more equal nation. The tree of prosperity is watered by the blood of sacrifice; and this country has spilled some tremendous blood over the years but the branches from that tree of prosperity has offered some great fruit. Fruits such as the right to assemble and advocate that black lives matter. Fruits to rally together in front of the Supreme Court and say everyone's love counts. It is here in America where women have access to very unique opportunities that many others didnt have in the past. In recent history the women's identity, respectfully said, didn't and couldn't extend beyond the home or being a wife. But now women have the chance to choose. We are still the mothers, wives, and second-shift workers but we also are the scholars, the entrepreneurs, property owners, custodians on bank accounts, and candidates on the ballots. And I, as a young woman, am definitely proud of those freedoms. 

We do not live in a perfect country but we do live in a progressive one. And as I—apart of the present—study history but also look forward to better days, recognize the moral obligation I have to honor the opportunities those before me have sacrificed for, and do my fair share of work to provide for the generations that will come after me so they too may some day be compelled to honestly say I love America.