I love the US, I've never lived there but I feel patriotism for it, it's where my heart is. My dream is to move there someday. I've defended it for so many years against ill-informed, downright malicious AmericaBad™ attacks.

But now, seeing all the anti-Americanism increase around the world, whether rightfully or wrongfully from actions of the current admin, including with people in my own life... even family members... it just hurts so deep, and upsets me so much. I don't know how I'm going to make it these next 4 years without burning out from this. And even beyond these 4 years, I feel like a lot of the damage will be here for many years to come.

If there’s one thing that rolls my eyes a lot, it’s pick me yanks. Now on one hand, it’s completely fine, and good for an American to criticize his or her own country. America has tons of problems, but if you criticize these problems, and point them out, sooner or later, these problems will be fixed and the country will improve. If not, and you just give out blind patriotism, then the nation will collapse. America was built on learning mistakes and taking baby steps achieve their freedoms. Just look at the history. I (Canadian) am critical of my own country because like sooo many countries, Canada has its problems, but I do it out of a place of love, and not out of a place of hate. I am a proud Canadian, and for America, that’s like 95% of you guys as well. Criticizing out of love and not hatred. I love my country for what it has become and what’s it’s going to become.

Yet on the other hand, there’s like a faction of yanks who just HATE THEMSELVES. They criticize their country, becuase they genuinely hate it, and they want to feel included and loved by Europeans. Which is a very odd thing. Like this sort of attitude screams insecurity, and low self esteem. The comments that these self hating Americans make are so outrageous and cringe, like I saw one comment that went along the lines of: “Please hate us we deserve it” or some shit like that.

Like why do you hate your country so much?