“Freedom.”

Are you sure that’s the word you were looking for to describe why you love America? Because you can do whatever you want? Because you can have whatever you want?

“Freedom.”

But can’t you do and have even MORE of whatever you want in A LOT of other places? There are likely less restrictions on any one thing somewhere else. You can find more freedom elsewhere. More guns. More capturing or killing of animals. More wives. More drunk driving. More bigotry. More rape, violence, rioting, looting, murdering, destruction, robbing, killing.

“Freedom.”

Freedom is everywhere. There is an abundance of freedom in the world. And one person’s freedom to do as they wish is another’s subjection to it. Freedom to do harm.
Here’s why I love America: Protection. In situations where your freedom means another person’s harm, this country, generally speaking, will RESTRICT your freedom.

“Protection.”

Isn’t that actually what makes America great?

• One note: I’m a big advocate of the freedom of speech, like every other freedom, if it doesn’t harm others. That said, I don’t think that what many people would call “harm” from speech is actual HARM, but rather FEELINGS like discomfort, anger, shame, embarrassment, etc. For example, if you tell a lie about someone which results in them wrongfully being imprisoned, that’s harmful speech, and there should be penalties associated with doing so–restrictions on your freedom. However, if you tell me you disagree with my soapbox posts on Facebook because I’m naive and ill-informed, I will feel uncomfortable feelings, but a government (and IMO social media platform) should NOT restrict that freedom.