Emily For President For President
Emily For President For President
Hey Siri? Play "AMERICA HAS A PROBLEM"
It’s kind of hard to have spent so much of my life studying American history without saying that I like America. I like America much in the same way I like Chipotle: I have the option to go elsewhere but I don’t, so it’s on me to deal with any consequences that arise from my actions.
That said, there shouldn’t have to be consequences for just being alive in a country, least of all in a country whose whole ethos is supposedly rooted in freedom and justice but I’ll let some of today’s panel guests speak on that themselves.
Needless to say, I have a weird relationship with this country in that I want it to get better but I just don’t know if that’s possible. We all have to want to grow and evolve as a nation, but some people would rather tear down others than build themselves up. It’s an impossible place to be but one I know other members of my generation feel so acutely which is why I put together this survey.
It’s not big and it’s not revolutionary but I feel conflicted about celebrating a country that no longer seems like it cares who among its masses lives or dies (if it ever did). I’m glad today’s participants were so willing to share their thoughts on America to help me work through my own stance in the best way I know how: oversharing on the internet.
Without further ado, here is Emily For President’s Big American Survey!!!
Just between us friends: do you like America? Why or why not?
MC, 25, she/her: I like it more and more as us Millennials and Gen Zs come into power.
Blair 25, she/her: It's a no from me dog.
Lincoln, 24, she/her: Not really. I’m terrified of being in a mass shooting every time I go in public and I have thousands of dollars in medical debt because I went to the doctor twice. But this is my home and there are some creature comforts. I also want to work in TV so I think it’s the best place for me to live at this point in my life.
AM: Nah I hate it here! Healthcare is a scam, gun violence is out of control, growing anti-trans laws and regulations are whack, reparations for the Black community are so overdue, women’s bodily autonomy is under attack (and the list goes on and on and on)…
Emmanuel, 26, he/him: Being a child of an immigrant who is a Cuban exile, it’s hard to answer this. On one hand, I love the opportunities this country gave my family but I’m also able to be critical of how systemically this country oppresses groups. But also technically, America could be referring to other countries outside the US—like why do we feel entitled to take that and claim it?
NO: Not so much.
Laura, 26, she/her: No, it’s a scam.
Arshia, 22, she/her: Not really. I like the part I live in and most other major cities but overall, I think it sucks. The country is far too divided to live in a peaceful place, and it only seems to turn on minorities, leaving me with little hope for the future. Also now that I’m in the corporate world, I understand why everyone is envious of life in Europe.
Sean, 25, he/him: No—politics seem like a job and there’s an absurd amount of discrimination and inequity.
What is something America actually does well?
MC: Military spending—whether I agree with it is another thing.
Blair: BBQ but it kinda ends there.
Lincoln: Movies and TV—entertainment in general.
Emmanuel: Can’t think of anything that someone wouldn’t have a rebuttal for, to be honest.
NO: Discrimination ❤️
Laura: Yes, women do still have some rights. It’s cool that I can have my own bank account and wear short shorts (for now).
Sean: Build highways.
What is something American CLAIMS we do well but are actually fucking terrible at?
MC: Voting rights.
Blair: Democracy, education, human rights, healthcare.
Lincoln: Accepting immigrants.
AM: The American Dream is fake and has never really been real for many marginalized identity groups and communities.
Emmanuel: Liberty, freedom, and justice for all.
NO: The American Dream.
Laura: Uhhh freedom?? We are not the land of the free at all there’s so much shit people can’t do or they “can” but the country makes it impossible.
Arshia: Freedom, liberty, justice, etc. Basically, everything they claim in the pledge.
Sean: Controlling guns.
What was the weirdest thing you were taught about America in school?
MC: In 6th grade, the grade was split in half. Half of us were Confederate soldiers and the other half the Union and marched around the hallway chanting, “Left right left.” Also, I had a teacher tell me the Civil War wasn’t over slavery.
Lincoln: That racism stopped after the 60s.
Emmanuel: Anything to do with Miss Chris Columbus.
NO: Honestly I don't think we learned enough real history.
Laura: That segregation and discrimination are over.
Arshia: America was always the savior—every country it touch it apparently saved.
Sean: Everyone here is free.
In your opinion, is there any part of this country that is good? If yes, which part and how did you choose to define "good"?
MC: Freedom of speech is “good” and there are many platforms for people to be heard.
Blair: My family is here.
Lincoln: It’s definitely really multifaceted and physically beautiful. Driving across the country gave me a lot of positive feelings about the geography of the country. But it is all stolen land so that’s a bummer.
Emmanuel: It’s hard to answer. I have not personally been to any other country (I have not traveled to Europe) that I would rather live in or feel safe being outwardly queer like I do specifically in NYC.
NO: I mean in perspective, the country allows you to work doing whatever you want (for the most part) which helps people live out their passions.
Laura: Pretty landscapes.
Arshia: Honestly I think the only good parts of this country are the Northeast, West Coast, and maybe around Chicago. I think it says a lot that I’m only picking these areas because they’re consistently Democratic, highly educated, etc.
If you believe America is the greatest country in the world, how did you form this opinion and what is your rationale?
MC: I’m not sure I think there is a “best” country. Seems like an arbitrary title. We can all aspire to be better.
Laura: LOL
If you don't believe America is the greatest country in the world, did you ever believe it was? If yes, when did you stop believing that?
MC: I’m sure I did as a kid. The Romney/Obama debates and election were when I was in middle school and realized gay rights and abortion were not widely accepted. That was when, if I wasn’t already a disbeliever, I became one.
Blair: Yes, I did for many years. As a kid, I was told all the time I was lucky to be from the US. I think I stopped believing this once I got to college and widened my worldview, educating myself on the state of the country.
Lincoln: I don’t think I ever did. When I was little, I was super interested in other countries (Italy, Japan, and India were some of my biggest obsessions). I always thought America lacked a rich culture the way other places do. Although as an adult, I can see now that our culture is made up of a lot of different cultures and that is kind of nice, even if a lot of this country is bigoted towards those cultures. I hope one day we can be the melting pot we claim to be.
AM: Yes, I did for most of my childhood—probably up until I was 15 or 16. Compared to other US history and international relations high school curriculums, I had some amazing teachers who pulled back the curtain on American Exceptionalism and showcased BIPOC and other diverse perspectives more than the average classroom (an assumption).
Emmanuel: I did. It was instilled in me by both sides of my immigrant family because for them it is/was the best compared to where they came from, having dirt floors and no basic needs like water, or even toilet paper. Once I went to college and took different types of classes, I got to form my own opinions on things.
NO: I believed it honestly until I was about 21 and it was time to vote for Biden or Trump. After that, I become more knowledgeable about current events and I kind of realized this country is trash.
Laura: My mother came to this country all jazzed about it and then realized that nothing was actually that better and she reminded me of that all the time, so I’ve never been amped about this place.
Arshia: I probably believed it in elementary school and for a bit of middle school but then I realized it truly wasn’t and I came to my senses. Sure, it’s a nice country and I am grateful to live here, but it genuinely isn’t the best country in the world.
Is there anything else you'd like to add?
Blair: I feel like it’s often embarrassing to say you’re American when you are in other countries. I always say I’m American with a flinch, especially with Trump’s presidency, shootings, etc.
Lincoln: I think the most patriotic thing you can do is try to make this country a better place. We can’t change its dark past but we can do better moving forward. Vote in your local elections and stand up for what you believe rather than writing off the country as unfixable.
Emmanuel: I answered yes to that last question because I feel guilty to say I’m not BECAUSE of the sacrifices my dad and both sets of grandparents made in order for me to be here and live the life I do.
NO: Stop banning abortion for the LOVE OF GOD.
Laura: Supreme Court can lick my butthole.
Sean: Fuck SCOTUS.
If you could flee to one other country in the world, where would you go?
MC: England—but I’d really really miss good pizza.
Blair: Netherlands :)
Lincoln: Maybe France. I like how they’ll just burn shit to the ground if they’re pissed at the government. Also, the food is bomb.
AM: Everyone is so happy in Scandinavian countries :) There are so so many other places I’d love to travel to and live in.
Emmanuel: I have never been but either England (they speak English and I like the accent), Spain because like I love speaking Spanish, and then Italy because I want to live in a villa and drink wine all day.
NO: Switzerland
Laura: Portugal but a super rural coastal town.
Arshia: Probably Sweden or any Nordic country. Maybe New Zealand or Australia, too.
Sean: Finland
Thank you so much to everyone who participated in today’s panel!!! See you back here next week for our 99th episode!!!!