America, the land of the free and home of the brave. Since the nation’s conception, people have dreamed of arriving on the shores of the United States. What has been the driving force behind the migration of people to America? The belief that liberties and opportunities run wild.

There is little doubt in my mind that the United States is still the greatest nation in the world, but we have a history of brushing our problems under the rug. The Presidential Election of 2016 brought political and social tensions to the forefront of conversations across the country.

I’m not here to bash one political party or another. I’m here to say that it is essential that we start to talk about the problems that face our nation. Additionally, I’m here to debunk the myth that those who believe that the country isn’t perfect aren’t patriotic. In fact, those who are willing to work towards improvement are the most patriotic citizens.

It hurts to say it, but our country is not perfect. The world is always changing. With time comes different needs. If we want to be truly great, we have to continue to change and progress. The second we refuse to change is the second we have become stagnant. Growth only ever comes when there is a willingness to adapt.

In 2015, the poverty rate in the United States was 13.5% according to the United States Census Bureau. That equates to 43.1 million Americans. It is essential that we find a way to decrease that number. An increase in the minimum wage would likely go a long way in improving the lives of those at the bottom. Not to mention, if the lower and middle class have more money, they will be able to spend more money. All would benefit from increased economic stimulation.

Racism is still alive in the United States, and anyone who says otherwise is simply ignoring the evidence. Recently in New Orleans, monuments that glorified Confederate figures were taken down. Some people from around the area rallied to protest the removal of the statues. Why were they so against the removal? Well, many of them claimed that we can’t hide from history, and the Confederacy is indeed a part of our history. Although it is true that we can’t deny what happened in the past, we can refuse to glorify leaders who led a nation that was dedicated to oppressing and exploiting blacks.

Some people live in “bubbles”. In these “bubbles”, people aren’t able to see the racism that exists in the nation. Social media has made it easier for those who don’t witness racism on a daily basis to see that it does indeed exist. Videos of black men being shot by police officers have gone viral, and the responses from people have been quite diverse. The rhetoric used by some prove that hatred towards certain groups of people is still strong in the United States.

The problems that our nation faces will not be fixed overnight. In order for the nation to improve and progress, we must be willing to have healthy discussions. It isn’t a matter of who is wrong and who is right; it’s about trying to understand the other side’s perspective. Let’s not run from our problems; it’s time for us to address them.