Ode to America

Exactly as it sounds

No other country can claim the title of melting pot—that is what makes America great (not narcissistic moguls playing politics). Only in America do you see a Chilean, a Chinese, and a Caucasian laughing together over drinks in the midnight glow—not from the stars above but the buildings across, which in their varying shapes, sizes, and colors represent the diversity within their concrete walls.

Yes, this really only happens in the larger (mostly port) cities, where there's a greater influx of immigrants, but it's still there. It still exists. I've traveled a fair amount, and you know what? The world's relatively homogeneous. It doesn't make the cities or villages visited any less friendly, but it'd be a whole hell of a lot less interesting place to live.

America's not perfect, we ALL know that. But our greatest strength (despite what some in more conservative towns may believe) lies in our diverse nature. Studies show over and over and over again that the best-run companies employ diverse staff because that's how we derive creative solutions to unique problems.

So yes—among many other problems, sexism, homophobia, poverty, and racism still exist, but you can also get the best damn pulled noodles from an old Chinese man who's been doing it his whole life on the same day you get the messiest cemita packed with all the exploding flavors of Oaxaca from immigrants who came here for a better life—and nowhere else in the world can you do that. Happy Birthday America, God love ya and the Red, White, and Blue. Let the fireworks commence!