Iāve lived overseas a long time and listened to people moan about their governments. Most of the timeā with rare exceptions, like when a regime is imposed from the outsideā people have the government they deserve.
Thatās where we are in America. Itās a country I still love. Up thread someone mentioned that itās by sheer luck we were born here. I disagree, gently. My parents were from Texas. Their parents were from Texas. Their parents were from Texas and back to Virginia. Where else could I have been born?
Thatās simply to say that this is my country and I donāt have another one. I love it like I love my family, of which I also donāt have another one. Iām not going to labor under the delusion that it is better or more special than any other family, but it is mine and so I love it for how it is. And I want it to be better, and kinder, and braver.
Which is what I wish my country could be. Thereās never been a place in history where itās easier to be kind and brave. We are richer and safer beyond measure than anyone in the world. Iām ready for us to choose to be so.