What I mean when I say I hate America

Lately I've been on this kick. Every other phrase out of my mouth to T is, "You know why I hate America?" And then I proceed to give today's (or that minute's) rant. The answer to my frequently asked question varies greatly, and depends on my mood, mostly.

Now, please don't get me wrong. I LOVE AMERICA. I love that I have more liberties than pretty much any other human being on earth (though more Americans should work to provide those liberties to ALL people). I love the beautiful landscape and varied geography of the US. I love that I've had to privilege to be born, go to school, remain with my family, and work in the US. That I can earn money. That I've met people from all over the world because people from all over the world live and travel here. I love that there are truly good people who work on behalf of others. I love that I can worship in my church, freely and without fear. I love that I can sit here with a notebook sized computer on my lap and write leisurely about my own interests/irritations while watching the Amazing Race. There are a million reasons why I love America.

But I love America for all of the good reasons, and resent the bad things about this country. In a culture of choice, we often don't choose what is ethical, moral, or responsible. Not because we don't have the option or interest, but usally because we don't have to, because we're lazy, because we live in a culture of excess. We spend millions of dollars meddling in the choice to die peacefully, a choice that should be left between a woman, her doctors, and her husband. We preach a culture of freedom and liberty, yet disallow those in loving relationships to be married and have recognized families. We have children who die from lack of proper health care, are failed regularly by their schools, live in neighborhoods that are too dangerous to play on the front lawn -- all while multi-millionaire CEOs consider purchasing their next vacation home.

Those are the big things.

The small things that I hate are things that really just grate on my nerves. The most recent example is this. Yesterday, I went to the grocery store on my lunch break to pick up some milk and something for lunch. Two things. TWO THINGS. So I grabbed the things I needed and went to the self checkout. I scanned my trusty shopper's club card, the milk, my lunch, and paid with my debit card. I pressed all the necessary buttons, bagged up the groceries, and cashed out. Then it came. IT. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. sixteen. SIXTEEN INCHES OF RECEIPT. for TWO items. 16. sixteen. These are trees, here, people. LIVING THINGS. And, because I'm considerate of the earth, I recycle. Many do not. But 16 inches? People died today because American pharmaceutical companies don't make HIV medication available to people who cannot pay for it, and we're literally throwing money away on printing eight inches of receipt per item purchased in the supermarket. Is anyone else bothered by this?

So, yesterday, I hated America because I had a sixteen inch receipt for two items purchased at Stop and Shop.

I don't really have hate in my heart. I have hope. I hope that we can overcome all of our self interest, and envision and participate in a world that considers all people, the earth, and all of our futures. I think we can all contribute to changing how we regard our resources. I think it can start with something small, even by just refusing, or at least recycling, that first 16 inch receipt.