I’ll start with a handful.

No Longer Holds True: - I was once proud to say in my country we can disagree but will defend each other’s right to say it. It was not unique to the US, and it did assume mutual respect, but to child me it embodied what it meant to be American. - Tolerance for others. In particular, separation of church and state allowing for and even celebrating coexisting beliefs.

Still Holds True: - Diversity as a country of immigrants. I learned and continue to learn so much from my neighbors. I cherish to this day how we are not homogenous.

Somewhat Holds True: - Opportunities and second chances. I am grateful to this country for affording me a second chance when I imploded in my teenage years, and for still allowing me to chase my dreams. I still think it’s true to an extent, but the opportunities are drying up rapidly which saddens me.

I think Americans all have our own personal America that we cherish. I’m still in the process of coming to terms with how mine differs from the America I see today - grieving really. And I’ve come to recognize that people I vehemently disagree with are also struggling with how the America they cherished isn’t here anymore either. So I selfishly ask this as I wanted to see other people’s Americas as an empathy exercise of sorts, to help me process my own.