Why do you love America

[Citizen James]

Despite the rather trollish claims of a few, I think it's safe to say that most of the posters here love America.  Note, I say America, not a specific individual.  Disliking Bush doesn't mean someone hates America any more than disliking Clinton makes somebody an America hater.

Similarly, I'm not asking for reasons why you love Bush, or you love Clinton.  If you love individual politicians rather than America, you've got a lot of growing up to do.

So why do you love America?

I realize a true list would go on for pages, so I'll start with just a few examples close to my heart.

We are a nation which values individual rights.  The bill of rights is one of our most sacred documents.  These rights include such things as the right to voice your opinion, no matter what others may think.  Even America haters, and those that hate American ideals (like a few of the more ferverent Bush fanatics), are allowed to speak their minds.  And the rest of us are free to ridicule them. 

We are free to worship as we please.   If you want to partake in any religion, major or minor, you are free to do so.   You may follow the path set by Jesus, Moses, Mohammed, Budda, or even just venerate the shrubbery.

You can defend yourself against others, and even use lethal force if threatened with bodily harm.   You are entrusted with this right and expected to be responsible in it's use

You are considered innocent of all crimes until proven otherwise to a jury of your peers.    You cannot be imprisoned without due process, nor tortured under any circumstances.

During times of peace, you cannot be forced to use your house as barracks (the only one never challenged, if I recall correctly).

All rights not specifically given to the federal government belong to the people, and by extention the government of the states.

America is also a land of great Beauty.  We have a wealth of both natural and man-made wonders - The grand canyon, Carlsbad caverns, the redwood forests, the fall foliage of the northeast, the Statue of the empire state building, the St. Louis Arch, the space needle, and all that's barely the tip of the iceberg.

America is a land of a great and diverse people.  Much more, we hold the ideal that all people have something to offer.  For every background we have great excuses to party - St. Patty's day, Cinco de Mayo, the Chinese new year... for the most part we embrace and make our own the many cultures brought to our shores by the 'tired, poor, teaming masses yearning to be free'.

We are a land of great achievements.   We've been to the moon.  We invented airplanes and automobiles.  We created jazz.  We have spawned countless great artists, and numerous inventions.

We are a land of great ideals.  We haven't always been perfect, but we've always sought to re-evaluate ourselves set right that which goes wrong.  We not only allow but encourage open debate as to how to continually better ourselves.   We are not content to sit on our laurals for long, but are always striving to become, evermore, a more perfect union.

There is way more to add, but my fingers grow weary and I want others to have room to add their perspectives as well.

So, what say you?  Why do you love America?