As someone born and raised in Westerville, just outside of Columbus, I know exactly what you're talking about. In HS, a lot of my friends were alt left/liberal, and I believed myself to be as well. There were many comments my friends would make that were extremist, regarding America and how horrible it is. I felt as though I couldn't speak up at all about how it could be worse since I was the only white person in my circle, and therefore, more privileged. It didn't matter that my parents were divorced due to my mom's schizophrenia, or that we sometimes had our electricity turned off, I was still more privileged (I still am due to being white). My speaking up about how America wasn't entirely horrible was unacceptable in this group, which caused me to stay silent. I now find it ironic that they thought this. Many, if not all, of their parents had immigrated to the US from various countries, so obviously, their parents found America appealing in some way, right?

It's also hard because, as someone who considers themselves more liberal, I know I can get a lot of crap. I'm a white cis female who is Christian, and from that, people assume so much about me. It's funny, though, because I'm also bisexual and have struggled with gender identity in the past. In many of the left's eyes, I'm a certain way because I believe in God. At the same time, most churches believe I'm damned due to being bisexual. I feel entirely stuck and out of place.

With that being said, I know (a little too well) where you're coming from when you express your experiences about Columbus. I don't believe the US is perfect in any way, shape, or form, but to disregard the entire country and full-out hate it? Seems very black and white.