9 ways I’m un-American

July 2, 2018 by Joshua
in Awareness, Nonjudgment

I love living in the United States, New York City, and Greenwich Village. I love our Constitution and Declaration of Independence.

I love that our culture produced people like Henry David Thoreau, Michael Jordan, Rachel Carson, Jane Jacobs, Muhammad Ali, and Richard Feynman, and attracted others, like Albert Einstein.

The United States Constitution

Our country has evolved since its entrepreneurial, revolutionary, freedom-minded, can-do origins. We pollute the air, land, water, and our bodies more than nearly any place and time, nearly 80% overweight and obese, which describes our environment as well as our bodies. Our public discourse as well, insulting people we disagree with more than engaging and learning from.

In that spirit of self-awareness and in honor or Independence Day in two days, here are 9 ways I think of as true to this nation’s early ideals but, by today’s standards, make me un-American: I

  1. Am not overweight or obese
  2. Watch less than 5 hours of TV per day (zero)
  3. Don’t own a car
  4. Have no credit card debt (and never have)
  5. Exercise more than recommended (daily)
  6. Didn’t vote for our president
  7. Eat more fiber than recommended
  8. Pick up other people’s litter (daily)
  9. Can do a pull-up

I didn’t have the heart to post this list on Independence Day because of what it says about America today, but I believe that uncovering problems helps solve them. Sweeping them under the rug sustains them.

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