Being Creeped Out When Visiting the United States Seems like An Appropriate Response.

Photo by Akshay Nanavati on Unsplash

I just read an article here on Medium entitled, “The 5 Things That Creep Me Out About America as A European,” written by Mona Lazar. I really enjoyed it. The five things in short are:

-Americans are delusional (Seems accurate)

-America’s Authority Figures are Bullies (No lies there)

-Americans are addicted to sugar. (This checks out)

-America is hyper-religious. (Facts)

-America is riddled with crime. (Can’t dispute it)

Reading the writer’s point of view was interesting, and almost refreshing. It’s almost like reading Dorothy talk about her experience in Oz. Yes, of course, there are flying monkeys, wicked witches, hand slapping trees, and all sorts of anthropomorphic creatures that have no business talking but, it’s all so new and different.

It’s almost like the writer can’t help but to sound somewhat enamored.

Even while reading the undertone of delight, her commentary was striking to me, because certain statements inflamed a sadness in me, because I am aware of the underbelly to each item on her list.

With this being the case, I am moved to discuss a few things, and maybe outline a solution or two. You never can tell.

On the subject of delusion, she said:

When I went there I was shocked to see that Americans have been indoctrinated to believe that they do live in the best country in the world and they’re lucky to be there. And this motif has been pounded into their national consciousness since they were children.

You are so right. That motif has been pounded into Americans since they were children. Honestly, being born a child in America, is like having a set of blinder installed on your head the day you exit the womb. And the great questions is how long will it take or how much will you have to endure before you take the blinders off? Those blinders usually come off a lot faster, if you’re born Black or if you migrate to this country.

As for being Black, you are forced to say the pledge of allegiance, when those words weren’t originally designed as a pledge of loyalty to the…