Just to set the record straight.

Just to set the record straight for anyone who is wondering, Americans who live abroad are still Americans. We still care about America. We have the right to vote and we do. I am an American. I live abroad. I love my country and I vote.

I live my life, daily, as a living representative of America. Every time I open my mouth I am no longer a person, but the American. People don’t know my name but know me as the American lady. I am fully aware that I may be the only American the person standing in front of me has ever met, or possibly ever will meet. It was more intense when I first move abroad then it is now. Its still there. I speak, the response is always… you sound American.  Yes, I am an immigrant. I am a foreigner. I am American.

Because I am the living representative of America I have gotten the brunt of the anger from people. It has come as passive aggressive with under toned comments, or plain aggressive. I have had people glare, snarl and tell me to my face that they hate F-ing Americans. I have had people follow me, get excited, and tell me that they love Americans. It evens out. But the anger is there. America has lost its respect from the people who once held it in respect.  The world expects more from us, and frankly, so do I. More so now then ever. Fellow Americans, you may think it doesn’t matter what the world thinks about us, but it does. Very much so.

Right now I am feeling pretty blue about my homeland. This election is a pretty remarkable time. Its fantastic that a black man and a woman are running. Its fantastic that we have progressed. It looks fantastic on the surface. But what I am seeing from way over here, an ocean away isn’t so great. From what I am seeing and hearing are some pretty nasty comments, and disgusting lies.  This election is bringing out the lowest side of us. People are saying and doing things that they would never do. On forums or social sites, they are saying things they would never say to someones face. Its ugly. Its disgusting. Its un-American.

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Open minded?

Some of the most narrow minded people I have ever met live their lives truly believing that they are the most open minded, worldly people on the planet. They believe that they are in a class of just a few who are as open minded as themselves. If your opinion differs from them at all you can bet they will strut around thinking they are the better, as of course, they are the open minded one.

The thing I find is that it usually fits those on the extreme left. Because of their very liberal views they wander around, patting themselves on their own backs, bragging to the world, that they are in fact open minded because they are so liberal. What they don’t seem to see is that they are just as closed minded as anyone with an extreme view.  When I hear them spout stereotypes about a conservative view which is such an obvious stereotype that I want to hand them a mirror. Take a long look is what I am dying to say. What I usually do is just roll my eyes and meander off.  Left, right or what ever. If someone is so set in their ways they will never allow themselves to really self examine to realize that the world is full of people and we all have our beliefs, thoughts, ideals and prejudices. He are all human. No one is perfect.

Maybe they just need to be a bit more narrow minded to see the bigger picture.

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