The US is the greatest country in the world because of the millions of Americans, many of whom moved there from various “shitholes.”

I confess. I come from a “shithole.” I come from a “shithole” country in North Africa, and I couldn’t be prouder.

My “shithole” country is where I was born and raised. It is where I learned about family, love and compassion for others. My “shithole” country taught me how to respect others and not judge a person by the color of skin or the thickness of wallet.

My “shithole” country taught me that it is wrong to eat food when there are others out there starving. My “shithole” country taught me that I can’t enjoy the warmth of my fireplace when there are people freezing out in the streets, desperate for a blanket.

My “shithole” country is where I learned to love thy neighbor, even if that neighbor comes from a “shithole.” My “shithole” country is where I learned that when millions of people stand together, they can do the impossible, like bring down a dictator.

It is my “shithole” country and its lovely people that taught me to smile and joke, even in the worst of times, as in living in a “shithole.”

It is a “shithole” that wasn’t always a “shithole.” Many years ago, this “shithole” contributed a lot to this world, from mathematics to medicine to architecture. It is a “shithole” that gave birth to many great scientists, writers, artists and politicians, including four Nobel Prize laureates.

But over time, and thanks to many factors, including white supremacists invading and colonializing this “shithole,” it slowly turned into the “shithole” it is today.

True, my “shithole” country has its flaws. It is not the richest of countries. It is not the truest democracy. It is not the most just to its people, with millions suffering from poverty and injustice. Yet, with all its flaws and problems, it is still my “shithole,” and I love it.

It is my “shithole” country that instilled in me the drive to work hard and be dedicated. So, when I moved to the US from my “shithole,” I loved my new country with all my heart, and I worked hard to prove that, even though I come from a “shithole,” I deserve to be here.

Yes, my new home is a great home. It is a country that prides itself on democracy and on its victory against years of slavery and racism. It is a country that is known as the greatest country in the world.

But is it really the greatest country in the world when its president thinks it’s OK to call other countries “shitholes,” and when he contributes to and instigates the very same racism and intolerance that we pride ourselves on ending?

The US is the greatest country in the world because of the millions of Americans, many of whom moved here from various “shitholes,” who contribute to the melting pot of cultures, values and backgrounds that make America great.

I am proud of my “shithole” and will continue to be grateful to it and to its people for what they have taught me over the years.

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Fair Observer’s editorial policy.

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