This Land is My Land, Too

I’m going to say something that might be unpopular with some circles.

I’m proud to be an American.

For all its faults, it’s still my home. And it’s the home of MLK and Stonewall and a long legacy of people fighting for a better future. It’s the home of countless influential scientists and inventors. It’s the home of many of my favorite musicians, and the home of some of the greatest entertainers to ever walk the Earth. And most importantly, it’s the home of my closest friends and family. We’re all tied together by this shared land and a shared culture, the same way people have been tied together since the dawn of civilization.

Still, I don’t think America deserves a birthday party this year.

The Supreme Court just ruled that discrimination against certain groups of people is a-okay because free speech or whatever. This would be fine if the group in question were, let’s say, Nazis, but everyone knows this ruling is meant to be a slap toward us gays. As one law professor and analyst put it, “What you’re going to start to see eventually is people saying, ‘I run my little inn in this little town somewhere, and I don’t want to have same-sex couples sleeping in one of my bedrooms.’” It feels like the tippy top of a slippery slope toward something nasty. Not wanting to leave us with just one gut punch, the Court also ruled against student loan forgiveness. This is going to screw over so many hardworking students, current and former, who will be in debt to their eyeballs until death. Like, I’m pretty much banking on just freaking dying before I have to pay back everything at this point.

All this on top of the crimes the U.S. has been found guilty of — ridiculous amounts of gun crime, a rising fascist movement, the ever-present racism, stealing the land from the folks who were here first, need I go on?

All that said, I’m still optimistic. I still love this country, warts and all, because of the people here who are trying to make it a better place.

There’s a sentiment among the more jingoistic types that if you’re truly dedicated to your country, you’ll accept it no matter what. This is America — if you don’t like it, get out. You know the type.

But let’s say your family’s home is on fire. It’s a beautiful, beloved home that’s been passed down through generations, and now it’s up in flames. Do you leave it, or do you stay and put it out? There have been times I’ve considered leaving the country, building a raft to Canada or something (as if emigration were ever that easy). But what good does that do for the loved ones who are still trapped in the burning house? What good does that do for the house itself? Maybe the brave thing to do is to stay and fight.

Certain groups of people want to gatekeep the American dream. Hell, I saw this image from a “friend” on my newsfeed just the other day—

—as if you can’t be gay and American. As if you can’t be trans and American, or black and American, or Hispanic and American. There’s going to be people who try to convince you this isn’t your home. That you’re not welcome here. It’s in the face of these literal anuses that we need to stand up and claim our identities, resting our feet firmly within this blazing house we were born into. This is our home too, and the fight’s not over until all Americans are safe and thriving on her land.