Being the global superpower, the United States is constantly under a magnifying glass.
People and the media often end up criticizing it for everything it does or doesn't do. And while some of their arguments might be perfectly valid, they don't always capture the full picture.
So when we found a Reddit thread where Americans themselves had been sharing the things they believe their country is doing right, we decided to take a closer look. Here are the points that stood out.
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National and state parks
National parks are beloved destinations for both citizens and visitors from around the world, even more people visit the state parks.With sweeping vistas, stunning forests and incredible wildlife, amazing hiking and camping adventure, parks are one of the brightest jewels of America.
It’s not just an American thing but we have very beautiful national parks.
Maybe in the top 60 good things about America, we can repeat this about having beautiful national parks 60 times and it'll distract us from not having healthcare, livable wages, affordable education, and a president who is actually sane.
I was very young when my parents and I immigrated here, and I have far more opportunities here than I would in India. So I’m very thankful for that.
Well, compared to India, every western country does have more opportunities. Not bagging India, it's a fantastic place.
Wheelchair accessibility. As someone who uses a wheelchair for all ambulation, I can say the US has a leg up on that compared to the other countries that I have been to.
I like the diversity of the landscape & natural world. I’ve been to mountains & deserts & mountains in deserts. Been to the ocean with a sandy beach, to lakes with sandy beaches, to lakes with rocky beaches. Been to the woods & to forests. I’ve seen so many different native plants, all kinds of animals, & bugs. It’s pretty cool.
Spoiled by a pic of an idiot wrapped in the flag, which is too bad because there is a lovely cross-section of natural wonders in the US.
The people here are actually very nice. There are a few bad apples that make us look bad, but most people are friendly and helpful.
In the words of the mentally handicapped kid I tutored my senior year when asked what makes America great _It is where my family is_.
I can wear what I want. Sure I have strict parents at the age of about to be 21. But coming from the middle east. Most people don't realize the blessing we have here to be able to wear shorts or jeans or tank tops.
I’m posting late so I don’t expect a response but being in The United States is not as bad as it’s made out to be.
We have wonderful nature and geographical diversity, a far above average job market, an admittedly corrupt but also relatively stable democracy, land borders with a country we are very close with and another that we have no real problems with, one of the most stable currencies, and an extremely diverse culture and demographic.
I know that it’s really screwed up to say, but this country is really great for people who do generally well but can be brutal for those left behind. We have to fix our healthcare system (although it’s good if you have insurance) we have to fix our minimum wage/education system (also good or bad depending on where you live)/ and political corruption. We need to fix our tax code and stop catering to the ultra wealthy and corporations, and should probably stop sticking our noses in everyone’s business.
All in all the US is pretty cool, contrary to what Reddit says. Yeah we’re probably not the best, but we’re doing alright.
In my early twenties, on a whim, I turned my back to the region I had lived in my entire life and set off on a great American journey with nothing but a backpack full of clothes, some meager belongings and a handful of cash. For the following couple of years I traversed this country and it's diverse, awe-inspiring landscape. Along the way I met all kinds of people with varying degrees of beliefs and philosophies, people from different backgrounds, ethnicities and cultures. Many were kind and generous, some not so much, and some were filled with the same kind of wanderlust that encouraged me to travel. This experience revealed to me the great diversity belonging to this country, in it's terrain *and* it's people.
With a few exceptions, we can treat red lights as a stop sign if we are turning right.
Honestly, if I had to pick the #1 thing I'd say the open space.
the USA has so much open space that we've carved off enormous parts of the continent to permanently be just open space. The US National Park system is the crown gem of the nation.
Despite our stereotype for being xenophobic and racist, I think Americans are by and large an incredibly friendly people.
Many of us would happily give the shirt off our back to help our neighbor (at least on a 1-1 level, not sure why that hadnt translated to the national level).
AC during the summer.
AC during the summer to the point where you catch a cold in a supermarket or a public transport bus.
Free refills.
I love reading all of this because it gets pretty tiring reading all the Anti-American comments. The thing about us is that we don’t hide what we love and we don’t hide what we hate. I think many of us are naive to what we actually have (something like only 40% of Americans have a passport).
Many Americans have no passport because they have no money to travel abroad and no PTO to do so if they did.
Not American but for me, the economies of scale. Almost everything here in Australia is more expensive (even digital downloads but that's another story).
I'd like to get into metalworking, woodworking and fixing up old cars. The US population in 1960 was seven times today's Australian population and so there were a similar number of cars. As a result of the US war effort, there is an absurd amount of surplus machinery.
It seems that now, you can drive into any random barn in any US state and find a classic car, lathe, bandsaw or whatever that belonged to someone's late grandparent.
e.g. Just had a quick look for "monarch lathe" (classic US-made unit) on ebay. $3000-$7000 USD. Similar size lathe here is $10,000 and it's second hand Chinese import :(.
good point. And anything you build/sell has millions of potential buyers vs elsewhere in the "west"
I'm not American, but when I was there it was undoubtedly the food. At no given point was I more than a ten minute walk from good food. Contrary to what Reddit would have you believe, it's not all fast food either(though Whataburger is insanely good). There's alot of good little places to eat and you're never far from one.
The geographical diversity. It's unmatched.
The food. Think about it, this place is a melting pot from all over the world. That’s brought us some pretty incredible food and the country is so big it’s impossible to try it all.
My friend Chau recently got her American citizenship. She is one of the most dynamic people I’ve ever met. Brillant, hilarious and so humble. The day she got her citizenship I felt really proud to be an American. I also recognized it’s been a long time since I’d felt that kind of pride.
Update (possibly), despite having her citizenship Chau has been deported by ICE.
Not american but the donuts are amazing.
Root beer. I love root beer but apparently it’s only an american thing. Everyone else finds it gross.
Ice in drinks. We really value ice.
I definitely prefer not to water down my drinks. It makes most of my beverages better value because I'm not paying for water.
I love how nice people are. People can be really randomly nice, and I know that happens everywhere, but I like that it happens in America, too. I also just love the South! I grew up in Georgia.
You can speak English with a heavy accent and still be seen as fully American.
National parks. They're incredible.
That and the "American spirit" not in the sense of patriotism, but in the sense that people who live here have a certain.....gumption.....to get things done no matter the cost.
Getting things done no matter the cost is not always good. It would be better if we stopped to THINK first.
Our grocery stores stay open really late. On the east coast, it's until 11 or 12 at night. On the west, it's 24 hours in some places.
This is, in all seriousness, the thing I love most about my country.
A close second place is our gorgeous national parks. But I don't go to a national park every week. I go to a grocery store.
That’s the thing you love most about your country? Really? I’m American, and I would gladly give up 24/7 shopping for universal single payer healthcare.
Everything is open, all the time. I realized how nice this is when I lived in Europe and stuff is closed on Sunday and at 5-6pm every day.
Oh no, who let the serving plebs have time off? Down with this sort of thing!!
Our wide-eyed optimism, self-sufficiency and inherent distrust of government.
😂😂😂😂 Maybe 100 years ago, we had wide-eyed optimism. And self-sufficiency only works if you’re already rich. Distrust of the government….sometimes makes sense.
America is amazing at many things (job opportunity and high level of pay, convenience of everything like open times and next day delivery of nearly everything, having English be the most used language around the world, national parks, etc).
America is also proficient and usually on the top of the world in most things that impact your daily life. Should we spend more on roads and bridges? Yes but it’s still pretty good. Should we ensure people have access to health care? Hell yeah but people aren’t exactly dying of poor or no treatment here. We aren’t #1 in economic mobility but our “poor” are walking around with 1-2 year old iPhones.
The country is vast and very diverse is natural environment, people, culture, etc. you can be in the mountains hiking and skiing, beautiful beaches, lake front, in the desert, nearly perfect weather in San Diego, etc.
It’s a secure place to live. Do we have violence and crime? Yes, but removing a few bad pockets it’s pretty safe. I was born in a country that no matter how luxurious of a neighborhood your lived, your house aaa surrounded by big walls and gates with broken glass or electric fence on top to keep people out. In the US, even in the ghetto most houses have a front door and big windows right to the street. In America carjackings happen but in a very small rate. You don’t stop at a red light a worry about someone point a gun at you and taking your car or your wallet. In America people walk down the street or in a bus talking on their brand new iPhone without this constant worry that someone is going to snatch it from you. In America people open businesses and if it fails they sometimes open another or go into another career. Failing in many places means you are financially ruined forever. Bankruptcy is a powerful tool that protects people and allows them to feel like they can take risks.
I am an immigrant to the US, from a top 10 economy and it’s not even close to a comparison. America is FAR from perfect but when you put everything together I don’t see a better place. Sure you can find countries that do 1-2 or a handful of things better but when you consider all of the things that impact your life, it’s really hard to beat living in a place where for the most part you are towards the top of the world standard.
Also… have you ever been to Wawa?
Ranked 24th in the World Happiness Report, behind many European and other developed countries.
Food stores are huge and have many choices.
I live in New York City so this might not apply to all of America. The food, culture, and diversity here is amazing.
I have never faced repercussions for criticizing our leaders or government. The diversity is pretty cool. I have lived my whole life in the northeast, and pretty much any given day I could meet someone from literally any country on the planet. That diversity brings a really tasty variety of cuisine. We have a lot of coastline for beach goers, mountains for fun in the snow, prairies for prairies stuff.
"I have never faced repercussions for criticizing our leaders or government." OP is obviously not a late night talk show host.
You can go to humane society and pet cats for free!!
I'm from Israel, but my dad (also born in Israel) used to work in the US before I was born and his job helped him receive American citizenship so I have dual passport thanks to him.
I have visited the country multiple times and lived there for short occasions, and this is what I love about it:
1. Cars are actually affordable, and so is the gas (even with recent price rises it's still dirt cheap)
2. It's a huge country with endless nature to explore. You don't need to fly anywhere to see a new place. As an introvert who loves nature, this is heaven for me. especially in the less populated states such as Alaska or Montana.
3. It's the land of opportunity. Everyone can make money in several ways, as there are so many jobs, industries, and cities getting developed.
4. Individualism. I love that almost everyone here has a hobby or a passion. I haven't seen anywhere else so many people from every spectrum of society play golf, ride horses, hunt, fish, ride motorcycles, skiing, hiking or rock climbing.
5. Everything is accessible. You can get everything you can think of in Walmart, Costco or Target. Still can't find it? Make an order online (without rediculous shipping fee) and you'll get it in few days.
6. Freedom. You can live the life you want in every possible way. There's nothing I can think of that's allowed in other countries but is restricted in America.
A person's freedom is the main religion here. Do whatever you want. Identify in what way you want, speak what language you choose, eat the food you like and listen to your favorite music. Just live and let live.
I'm a 43 year old mom who just went back to get a masters of science in data science for a career change and it looks like my job prospects are optimistic. That would not be a possibility at all in the Eastern European my family came from.
A UK professor once told me the US leads the world in the following things, which he called GEICA:
Generosity - Americans lead the world in charitable donations and general aid to other countries. When a disaster occurs; the US are the first to help out and give supplies.
Entrepreneurship - Starting your own business is considerably easier in the US as comparative to anywhere else in the world. It seems to be ingrained into the culture, which is lovely.
Innovation - Similar to the above, the individuality US has is quite unique. The drive and passion to produce and create is apparent in the countless new inventions and techniques that spawn there.
Culture - A true melting pot, all cultures and individuals live there. Your neighbour's can be from anywhere on the globe, and they each provide their own perspective and values.
Awareness - Believe it or not, my experience with Americans is that 99% are kind individuals, who accept the countries flaws, and understand the issues it faces.
It's a beautiful country, and is the most important one in the world right now.
Not all charitable giving is altruistic giving. Donating $1000 to build a new hospital in a poor country you'll never visit is generosity. Giving $1000 to your congregation to build a nicer church for you to sit in on Sunday mornings is less so.
Everybody who comes to America brings their culture with them, so food variety is off the charts. Even rural areas have a Mexican and a Chinese restaurant.
I live in the middle of West Virginia, within a 50 mile radius I can get an insane variety of foods prepared by people from that country of origin.
It’s easy to take for granted. Most countries focus on their own thing for the most part.
Usually exotic restaurants have a connection to a large population of People from that culture. Lots of Indian people live in London = there’s lots of Indian food available in London.
In the US the only Indians in the area of the Indian restaurant might be the ones that own and run that restaurant. they’re not doing it to fill a specific need or to serve a segment of the community, they’re just trying to earn a living like Americans do.
It’s easy to take for granted.
Oh dear. Tell me you haven't travelled much without telling me you haven't travelled much.
I can talk bad about the president and not get arrested and disappeared. So that's pretty nice.
I'm not so sure that this is going to continue to be true, sadly. It's already not true for some. Like that retired army general that they're going to court-martial because he put out a video reminding current military members that they shouldn't follow illegal orders? Or the student who was protesting the gen0cide in Gaza and got deported even though he was a citizen? I know that American HAS been a leg up on some places until very recently, but if I were in America right now I would be terrified of how bad things are gonna be a year from now.
My favorite thing is the culture. The fact that there’s so many different cultures apart of our culture, and then also the fact that every American has a sense of rebellion in them, that’s unlike most other countries. I mean the sheer amount of protests a year is staggering, and idk I feel like it’s something that’s unique to America and comes from how we became a country. We rebelled against something we thought was wrong at the time, and I think that we continue to do that.
Voting to reinstate a monarchy, complete with ballroom, is not my idea of a rebellion.
Free water with meals.
Not my first choice, and certainly not flashy, but it is uniquely American from my understanding.
The states are genuinely some of the most gorgeous places I’ve ever seen, it’s so varied and beautiful; I highly recommend people take a road trip cross country if they get the opportunity to! Also, we really can say whatever the f**k we want here, regardless of what your thoughts on “cancel culture” are.
Not American but I’ve lived in the US for 15 years.
As an outsider:
- closets. I love all the built-in closets. I was never a wardrobe fan.
- separate laundry areas.
- that most housing is detached. On the one hand it does mean a huge reliance on cars. On the other hand I never ever hear my neighbors.
- accessibility of toilets is a heck of a lot better than any other country I have visited. During the day I can usually rely on finding a Target or Starbucks or something. Even if I have to buy something to use it they’re easier to find than in Europe.
- the casual way everyone dresses. My fashion-conscious friend is appalled but especially as a parent I appreciate that I can dash out in my pjs if I really, really need to.
- convenience. Every time I visit my family now I forget that not all shops are open until 9/10 pm. I also live in Washington state currently and have developed a deep love for all the coffee stands around here.
I really want to know now which countries this person has visited - if any
We got good artists and good music.
And English bands still have had massively more influence, even going into their 70s and 80s. Our Australian/British AC/DC just taking America by storm again. 😎
I grew up in the USA, spent 15 years abroad, and moved back 2 years ago. Here’s my list:
- The general convenience of everything (online services, drive-thru banking, everything the YMCA offers, giant stores that sell everything, the public school system, etc). Every day I’m blown away by how easy it is to do everyday tasks.
- People are generally good drivers, and traffic laws/signage are clear and consistent.
- People are super nice! I know Americans are branded as obnoxious, but the vast majority of people are super helpful and nice and friendly. Here in the South, I love how I can just strike up a conversation with a stranger.
- Here you have access to almost any tv show you want to watch. No need to seek “alternative methods”.
- Everything looks so NICE. No rebar sticking out of buildings, things are generally well painted.
- How much space there is! Homes are larger and more spread out (depending on location, of course, I know it’s not everywhere).
- People are more reliable when it comes to time. (I don’t need to take a day off work to sit at home all day hoping the electrician will show up and then he never does.)
- So many parks and playgrounds and family-friendly things to do for free
- All the options at the grocery store
- Fast, reliable internet
- Potable tap water
- I can flush toilet paper down the toilet.
- At least where I am, we have four distinct seasons and they’re beautiful.
- Central heating and air conditioning
- The theater scene, Broadway, etc
- The overall positive and joyful and hopeful spirit
Note: Of course many of these depend on what city/state you’re in, suburbs vs country vs city setting, socioeconomic status, etc etc.
OMG, an American went to a 3rd world country, and thinks the whole world is like that except America!
Running water, high construction safety standards, the poorest Americans are still better off than most of the world, being able to feel relatively safe, freedom of speech.
I can practice my religion.
How to tell us you're not a Muslim without telling us you're not a Muslim.
I would like to point out that America is arguably the most diverse and inclusive country in the history of humanity. I'm not saying we are perfect, but issues arise here simply by nature of our diversity. Countries that claim to not have racism problems are countries that lack diversity in the first place.
It would be impossible for an inclusive country to elect Donald Trump once, let alone twice..
No one has tried to invade us in a very long time. Strong freedoms. Superpower. All the good stuff.
The American dream is a real thing. If you work hard enough in America you can have a very comfortable life.
I’m a american and lived here my whole life in many different states because my dad was in the army. because of this we also spent 3 years abroad in germany. while europe was amazing, there are a few things that i can think of that i think make america great.
1: things are open late and all week. in germany, they don’t have things like walmart or even gas stations that are readily available. when you’re out of toilet paper you have to wait until the next day. the other thing is being open on sunday’s. germany closes everything on sundays. we got locked out of our house and couldn’t call a locksmith because it was sunday. i’ve never valued the convenience more than after that.
2: fast food. i know that it’s unhealthy but if you’re on a road trip cross country, there are so many more drive through food options that are available in america than in germany. the only fast food was mcdonald’s and it’s either that or a sit down restaurant when you’re out and about.
3: air conditioning. the summers were hot and we had to keep buying standing fans because after being on 24/7 they break pretty fast. it’s so nice being able to just turn the ac down a few degrees and the house cools down in an hour.
those are only a few things i can think of, but i definitely do love living in america and there are many great things about it
Wow! What part of Germany were you in? Not one I've been to except in the rural areas. Air conditioning! What a concept. We must inform Europeans immediately! And food. Yes, real food. It's amazing that we actually have real food in Europe. The 'fast food' on most motorways in France or Les Routiers restaurants, for example, is better than most restaurants of any kind in America. Sorry, not sorry.
Amazing concerts and music festivals.
The ability to publicly criticize your leaders without fear of retaliation, and elect different ones if you want.
I know this isn't unique to the USA and the USA election system has it's own flaws, but seeing Russia and China in the news lately is a good reminder that not everyone is allowed to do these things.
As much as the media would like you to think otherwise, America is the least racist place on the planet. Source: I am Asian.
Least racist place on the planet? The self-delusion is strong in this one....
You can go into a store and the price is the price. Shop keeps don’t take advantage of people who aren’t locals. Can’t say how many times I’ve been overcharged whilst overseas simply because they know I’m not from there.
Also, as a matter of fact, Americans by historical and global standards are very wealthy. Even middle class in USA is wealthy compared to other parts of the world.
Our system has lifted so many people out of poverty and promoted liberalized trade, making everyone more materially prosperous. This is the West in general but also specific to US.
That...that is trolling, right? The shops that don't even show the total price are better than basically every shop in Europe and probably almost all over the world, that do? Where does OP buy, at flea markets? Americans healthy? "As a matter of fact" no nation is healthy where people die because they can't afford insulin.
Could have mentioned the national parks -- and shops being open late at night.
Many of the commenters seem to believe the headline was "What are some things ONLY America does right." Or "What are some things America does best."
I had to give up reading this thread. Pretty much every developed country I have ever been to, or lived in, has just about all the things listed, plus, of course other benefits. Whilst US citizens might think 10% tax is a good thing, 20% tax is even better, funding healthcare, national police forces, defence, infrastructure... plus we don't have guns.
Honestly, I think I'm being too harsh because most of these people seem like immigrants from quite poor countries. From the title I thought it was just Americans boasting about America. Sorry if I've been too rough on you, but it looks funny from here 🤣
The problem with lists like this is that most USA citizens, we don't travel and don't have the time off to visit other countries. So most of these items are assumptions, many not based in fact. What BP needs to understand that when you ask Americans about America, we can't really compare it to anything other than what we imagine, because so few of us actually get out of the country and have a basis for comparison. What you're asking here is "What does America do well, absent any real current info about any other country in the world." Because that's how most Americans are answering these questions, without a frame for comparison. They're just assuming nobody else has national parks, or open space, or grocery stores open past 6pm.
This is very repetitive. The national parks. The food. People are so nice. Under Trump??? AYFKM???
When someone thinks that having ice in their drinks is a sign of a thriving country, you know you done f****d up son 👍
It's not that many of the OPs named things that are pretty Standard in all developed nations - it's that they seem to think, or even downright claim, they were uniquely American. As such this tells us more about the education system or the general knowledge about the rest of the world there, than about the country. And it's just sad if people think "I can make a lot of money" was great, while it takes so much luck and life is so hard for poor people, let alone the risk of losing all that much money to something that costs you nothing elsewhere.
This one was just barely touched upon in one post - the size of the average American house/yard. I've been to around 55 different countries, and people show me "where the rich people live" - but it's just what we'd consider an average American home, if that.
What about the fact that almost anyone can purchase a legal tool that is designed to deprive another person's ability to live, and take the purchase to the nearest school, shopping center, street corner and implement it's intended purpose? /s
Could have mentioned the national parks -- and shops being open late at night.
Many of the commenters seem to believe the headline was "What are some things ONLY America does right." Or "What are some things America does best."
I had to give up reading this thread. Pretty much every developed country I have ever been to, or lived in, has just about all the things listed, plus, of course other benefits. Whilst US citizens might think 10% tax is a good thing, 20% tax is even better, funding healthcare, national police forces, defence, infrastructure... plus we don't have guns.
Honestly, I think I'm being too harsh because most of these people seem like immigrants from quite poor countries. From the title I thought it was just Americans boasting about America. Sorry if I've been too rough on you, but it looks funny from here 🤣
The problem with lists like this is that most USA citizens, we don't travel and don't have the time off to visit other countries. So most of these items are assumptions, many not based in fact. What BP needs to understand that when you ask Americans about America, we can't really compare it to anything other than what we imagine, because so few of us actually get out of the country and have a basis for comparison. What you're asking here is "What does America do well, absent any real current info about any other country in the world." Because that's how most Americans are answering these questions, without a frame for comparison. They're just assuming nobody else has national parks, or open space, or grocery stores open past 6pm.
This is very repetitive. The national parks. The food. People are so nice. Under Trump??? AYFKM???
When someone thinks that having ice in their drinks is a sign of a thriving country, you know you done f****d up son 👍
It's not that many of the OPs named things that are pretty Standard in all developed nations - it's that they seem to think, or even downright claim, they were uniquely American. As such this tells us more about the education system or the general knowledge about the rest of the world there, than about the country. And it's just sad if people think "I can make a lot of money" was great, while it takes so much luck and life is so hard for poor people, let alone the risk of losing all that much money to something that costs you nothing elsewhere.
This one was just barely touched upon in one post - the size of the average American house/yard. I've been to around 55 different countries, and people show me "where the rich people live" - but it's just what we'd consider an average American home, if that.
What about the fact that almost anyone can purchase a legal tool that is designed to deprive another person's ability to live, and take the purchase to the nearest school, shopping center, street corner and implement it's intended purpose? /s
