Over 75 years ago Woody Guthrie wrote one of the most seminal pieces of Americana ever produced, “This Land is Your Land.” While not a discourse on “American exceptionalism,” the song celebrates the vast beauty of this nation.
Every day I hear my peers discuss how they can’t wait to escape the United States, that after graduation they can’t wait to move to Europe and out of America. Not only does this tend to show that a person has a tenuous grasp on reality, but also that they don’t appreciate what makes this country special.
All one needs to do is take a glance at a map to see how remarkable the country is. An incredibly small number of countries have coastlines on multiple oceans while being the size of the United States. And there is an incomprehensible amount to be seen in the myriad places between these coasts.
I think we tend to wrap ourselves up in the notions of America that we base on our hometowns. And this gives most people a negative view of the country. Few people love their hometowns because they know all of the flaws as much as they knows the positives.
It doesn’t help that the current election is causing rampant disillusionment with the government. Every day we either hear, or more unfortunately see Internet memes about, how the moment Donald Trump wins the election people are going to move to Canada.
Students are always jumping at the opportunity to travel abroad, and this is a great opportunity that can grant a lot of benefits. But people should realize that there is much to be gained from traveling within the country as well.
Some of the most significant cities in the United States are a day’s drive from St. Bonaventure, yet many students will never take the chance to go see them. Within a day one could drive to Boston and see some of the most important historical landmarks in the nation. Or to Washington D.C. and take in the Smithsonian.
And cities are just one aspect of the nation. A drive thirty minutes in any direction from Bonaventure can bring you to a small town where you’d be hard pressed to not find something unique or special, like no place else.
Or one can appreciate the vast and incredible natural resources of our country. We have a national parks system that exists in order to preserve the beauty and allow people to appreciate it safely and enjoyably. Or you can experience the beauty of our nature outside the National Park system, which presents a rugged and unique experience.
National Parks show the true environmental diversity of the country. From the magnificent woods of the Allegany National Forest just a few miles away, to the awe-inspiring desert parks in the American southwest, there is an amazing amount to see.
There are experiences to be had all over our country. They may not all be good, but they are important.
It’s ridiculous to think that life in another country is objectively better than in the United States. Maybe the dramatic change you’re looking for in your life is only a few miles away, not on another whole continent.
Corey Krajewski is Opinions Editor of the Bona Venture. His email is
krajewcj15@bonaventure.edu
