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Ken Baker's avatar

You've painted a disturbingly accurate picture of the contrasts and extremes of life in America...particularly the way American culture is self-consumed. Even apart from the Christian nationalist movement there is a general entitlement presumption among American Christians (and evangelicals in particular) with regard to comfort, rights, and power. Having lived most of my adult life in Islamic settings abroad, the tiny Christian communities there have no such presumptive illusions. Instead, they cling to each other while they embrace their Blessed Hope. We have much to learn from them...

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sarah's avatar

This is a delightful read. I am NZ born and raised but have been living in the USA for 25 years. You're right about America, as with the comments below, living in America is not for everyone. One could say the same for NZ or Australia and so on. Right now, the last few years heck I'd even go as far as saying since 911 with everything going on this is the most amazing time to live here. Right now its feels like America is on the verge of "fragile peace and certain war" You've got the left trying its best to make everything woke and the right trying to pull the hand brake on that attempt. That sentiment breaches all aspects of American life: spiritually, politically, socially, economically and so on. I hear the more conservative folks saying "America is going to hell in a handbasket" There's plenty of eg's to support that statement.

BUT the heartbeat of America, the American's that won my reluctant heart in '98, the people who are raising their families, working hard, patriotic, doing everything they can to live the American dream to me they are something special. There's sadly some real ugly things that go down in America (I live in a town next door to Sandy Hook so that ugliness got personal for us). We also had friends on the second plane that went into the twin towers. Those experiences and countless others that exemplify evil in this corner of the world taught this little Kiwi how to stand against evil, stand on my faith, and most importantly how to hold on tight to Jesus when nothing makes sense.

America would be lucky to have you Mike, and anyone else who wants to give America a go. There's no promise of a utopia but it will be the best adventure of your life.

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