Complaints? Really?
Please! Someone explain to me why there are people in America who enjoy talking sh*t about the country. I really do not get it. And don’t you say, “You’ve only been here six months.” Don’t do that. I just saw a YouTube video of some Americans burning the American Flag in public and complaining and insulting the country. And... wow. Just wow.
You know what? I wrote this nice long post explaining how much people underestimate their privileges by just being American citizens. But I realized, letting people answer themselves might be more effective. Or not. But that would completely be on them. So here are my questions.
What would you do in a country where you were publicly and violently maimed for religious opinions with zero repercussions for the perpetrators?
One where your passport wouldn’t let you waltz into 188 countries without a visa upfront if you wanted to seek medical care, run away, or just go for a vacation?
One where you were banned from a million-and-one websites because of your location/IP address?
One where the doctors will let you die on the floor outside the hospital if you didn’t pay upfront and show your identity cards? Nobody cares if you were shot, had been in an accident, or had a cracked-open skull with your brain in your palm. You will not get as much as a stretcher.
Police brutality? How about police and military brutality, with a side of non-existent emergency services, and a cup of you pay the police upfront for any service they provide you? Getting attacked in your home at 2 am? Well, if you survive, you can pay the police tomorrow to report the crime.
Where free Wi-Fi is such a luxury you had to be in the richest international store in a rich city to find it?
Where PayPal, Stripe, Venmo, CashApp, and all streaming platforms except a fraction of Netflix and maybe Prime were inaccessible?
Where a rotisserie chicken wasn’t cheap? Because $5 - $50 was the average salary per month for most people. And the price of the chicken only goes up.
So the next time you bitch about how bad America is, burn the flag, and go back home to watch Disney+ and Hulu, ask yourself what you would do if you were suddenly shipped to a country with the above perks I mentioned in my questions.
While I was writing, I got distracted as usual and took a look at Instagram. Can’t remember what I originally went there to do, but I saw a video that this guy Noah Gonzalez, @noahs_ark made saying, “That’s all you do —You complain about your circumstances. You don’t want to change. You want change to happen to YOU. You’re ENTITLED.” Spot on.
Anyway, my day was great! I got a compliment too! And the Microcomp class is starting to be a little more bearable. Enjoyable even. My American Government class was the next class after that. I definitely was holding back from grinning ear to ear like a lunatic while the teacher spoke. Birds chirped and sang over my head anytime I answered a question correctly and the teacher told a story to demonstrate the rights of American citizens. But, remember Patrick? The interupt-the-teacher-every-chance-I-get guy? Yeah, he made sure to kill the birds every chance he got.
10:36 pm.
My buddy Cyrus forced this health app on me last week because I wouldn’t shut up about wanting to get me titanium abs. It’s called Pacer. Helps me keep track of my calories and steps and yada yada. I’ve started running every night up and down a small hill to hit my 10,000 steps a day goal. The app has a feed as well where you can share your progress. Amazing! But now, I think I got a creep on my hands who keeps trying to order me around.
Anyway, I am going to go to bed early tonight. Why? Well, tomorrow’s Friday, and I am starting to feel lazy already. I can’t wait for tomorrow though, I’ll finally be getting paid after waiting a month. Payroll services told me they didn’t see the hours I entered on my time entry. Even though I and my boss could see them. Whatever.
Sleep tight. Talk to you tomorrow. I am really starting to enjoy talking to you.
