We may talk a lot of smack about life in these United States, but that’s only because we love America so much. How could we improve life for everyone if we didn’t point out the flaws?
Despite America’s problems, which we’re more than happy to discuss, there are a lot of good things about the USA that we don’t always take the time to appreciate.
That changes today.
Good Things About America
“Oh beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain…”
America is beautiful; and spacious. The country features millions of farmland acres perfect for growing grains, purplish mountains overlooking the great plains, and is bordered by two massive oceans.
The song doesn’t lie.
Here are all the good things about America that we sometimes take for granted.
Entertainment
The US is a world leader in entertainment culture. We export our Hollywood films globally, and the biggest bands from the States tend to be popular elsewhere.
Most cities and states also do a great job of bringing that entertainment to the people. Every major city has concert venues, movie theaters, and auditoriums that attract shows, bands, and acts for nearly all tastes.
Even most rural areas are just a few hours’ drive from a mid-sized city offering entertainment options.
Open Spaces
America is a massive country with vast swaths of unpopulated, open land. Travelers to the Western states will marvel at the natural beauty, clear skies, and starry nights of the undisturbed space.
Some places out west have so little light pollution that you can see the Milky Way in all its majestic glory. You can book a cabin in a remote forest and not see another human being for days.
National Parks
Teddy Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States, developed the National Parks System, and it’s still a treasure today. The idea was that these gorgeous places should belong to the people.
The National Park Service protects millions of acres of federal land and allows tourists to explore the natural beauty hidden throughout the country. Parks include ancient forests, epic desert canyons, mountains, rivers, and beaches.
Millions of tourists visit the various parks yearly to enjoy hiking, fishing, serene views, and the great outdoors.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
The ADA is the gold standard for how a country should make spaces accessible. It ensures that a paraplegic person can access pretty much any commercial building in the country while also protecting the disabled against workplace discrimination.
Most other countries don’t have the same protections for disabled citizens. Many older cities were built well before we thought to care, making it difficult for the wheelchair bound to navigate the city streets.
A Better Life is Possible
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America is the land of opportunity. Although some will insist it’s getting harder and harder to get ahead in the States, they can’t ignore that it’s still possible.
Only in America can a refugee come with nothing, work hard, and create opportunities for their children. Only in America can the children of poor, working-class people go to medical school and become doctors.
Although we can’t hide that it’s harder to jump social classes than in previous decades, we must acknowledge that with hard work and perseverance, it is still POSSIBLE.
It’s not in a lot of other places in the world.
Friendly
Americans are a friendly bunch. We make small talk in cashier lines and on the commuter bus. We wave to our neighbors whom we’ve never actually spoken to. Other countries sometimes find this open behavior baffling, but some love it.
One user living in Germany expressed how delightful small talk is when you don’t get it every day.
“I love Germany, but people here are really uninterested in talking to people outside of their established social circles,” they shared. “Every time I go back to the States, I end up chatting with every single person I interact with, just because it‘s so nice to have a friendly conversation with a stranger.”
Regional Cuisine
America isn’t homogeneous. Each city developed its own unique culture and flavor, making a trip across the US almost like a trip through different countries.
We’ve developed regional cuisines based on immigrant groups and ecosystems, offering a broad range of culinary delights depending on where you visit.
Travelers to New Orleans can sample the unique Cajun and Creole-style dishes the city made famous, while those visiting the Northeast can enjoy fantastic chowders and lobster.
Chicago has its pizza and hot dogs, Nashville has its spicy chicken, the South constantly battles it out to see who has the best BBQ, and the hipster cities scattered across the country compete for the title of “best foodie vacation spot.”
You’re likely to stumble upon an epic food culture anywhere you go in the US.
Diversity
America is a melting pot. It welcomes people from all over the world.
People from every background, culture, religion, etc., call this vast country home. What makes an “American” isn’t your background. It’s an idea for the future and way of life. Anyone can be an American.
The diversity also breeds acceptance of new foods, ideas, traditions, decorations, and anything else.
Americans want to try new foods, implement new ideas, and learn the perspectives of others.
Those we like get incorporated into our giant pot, and our society is better because of it.
Ethnic Food
America’s diversity brings something no other country can match: a huge variety in authentic ethnic cuisine.
Travel to any big city, and you’ll find a wide variety of Asian, Mediterranean, and Latin American food. Many are owned by one-time immigrant families who brought their favorite recipes with them overseas, meaning you get to experience the real deal.
You can have a real Vietnamese banh mi for lunch and authentic street tacos for dinner, then top it off with delicious Italian gelato for dessert. It’s all standard fare in America.
Possibilities
Americans aren’t afraid to try new things. We believe the world is full of possibilities, and “let’s give it a try” is one of our top cultural phrases.
One Redditor pointed out the lack of an established culture as a perk, not a limitation, of American ingenuity. They said the lack of a deep cultural tradition dating centuries makes it easier for Americans to try new things, combine ideas others wouldn’t dream of, and create unique masterpieces.
Free Speech
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Free Speech stands as a crucial freedom we all too often take for granted. We can gather and badmouth our political leaders without a second thought. We can tweet our opinions on legislation, say we hate this political leader or that one, and talk about our thoughts on various policies openly with our friends.
The First Amendment allows us to disagree with our political leaders without fear of reprisal. It’s one of the most incredible ideas our founding fathers provided the world, and we must ensure we don’t lose it.
Agriculture
When thinking about the good things about America, people often forget the thing that gave us all these opportunities: agriculture.
The United States has more arable land for agriculture than any other country in the world. As a bonus, our different ecosystems allow us to grow all types of food, like citrus in the south, grains in the Midwest, and potatoes in chilly Idaho.
Our ability to produce food ensures we’re self-reliant and helps us feed the world.
Fresh Water
Our agricultural prowess is only possible because of our easy access to fresh water. The United States borders the Great Lakes, some of the biggest freshwater lakes in the world, while the Mississippi River brings the waters to the Great Plains.
We also have massive mountain ranges that collect snow and ice all winter, providing fresh water runoff to the agricultural valleys below, and a climate pattern that ensures rainfall throughout the Midwest.
The abundance of fresh water is one of the best things about America that nobody ever thinks about.
Wages
Wages may be stagnant, but they’re usually higher than anywhere else. Engineers, scientists, and business people flock to the US for the fat salaries that are only available in this country.
Anyone who’s thought about moving to Europe for a “better quality of life” knows that their earning potential will be severely limited if they move. Of course, there’s always a trade-off, but if you’re in a high-paying industry, you’ll likely earn more in the US.
Options
One of the good things about America is the variety of options for where to live. If you don’t like the culture or politics of your local neighborhood, you can pack up and move somewhere that’s a better fit.
We have red states and blue states, bustling cities and quaint villages, beach villas and mountain cabins.
No matter what your culture or interests are, you can probably find a place to live in the US that’s a good fit.
NASA
If Americans have anything to be proud about, it’s NASA. Our space program is one of the best things about America.
NASA put men on the moon and rovers on Mars. It launched telescopes to the outer reaches of the Solar System and captured images of black holes.
Our knowledge of the galaxy wouldn’t be possible without NASA’s contributions.
Innovation
The best thing about America is its innovative spirit. From Henry Ford to Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla to Steve Jobs, American innovators changed the world.
American innovation created assembly lines, automobiles, airplanes, computers, and social media.
What else will it imagine?
The Best of America
There are hundreds of other great things about America. The country offers opportunities, diversity, and freedoms that many people in the world can only dream of.
What’s your favorite thing about America?