By Nathan Allen

Guess where this pic was taken…Vietnam?  Thailand?  Bahamas?  Philippines?  Nope.  It was taken in the U.S.A.!!

No, it’s not April Fool’s Day – it’s July 4th, my home country’s birthday!  I chose this photo to represent how diverse the U.S. really is. 

Some people always had a sense of patriotism growing up, but aside from falling in love with my country’s natural landscapes, I had to get some perspective exploring overseas to truly discover my own patriotism. 

My country and its history are not perfect, especially when it comes to both Native American and foreign policy.  However, I have come to love the innovative and pioneering spirit that I feel the U.S. embodies.  Among other things, I am proud of the original art forms it has given the world – musical stylings such as the blues, jazz, and rock n’ roll.

I am proud of the countless craft breweries in the United States – a tradition going back all the way to the founding fathers, and one that the rest of the world is largely unaware of. 

I love our ethnic diversity.  People from all over the world have come and helped weave the fabric of the United States – we are a melting pot of many vibrant cultures. 

I was fortunate to grow up in the San Francisco Bay Area; there I had access to a multitude of different cultures.  I’m sure this helped inspire me to branch out and discover the rest of the world. 

We are a country of new beginnings.  The U.S. was a hotbed for religious freedom and expression – where fascinating sub-groups such as Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and the “Shakers” took root and grew from.  Others such as the “Wild West” cowboys, hippies, beatniks, and the Appalachian “Hill People” further added to the the rich “cast of characters”.

Lastly, I am awe-inspired by our geographic diversity.  In the U.S. you can find marvels such as the Grand Canyon, giant Sequoia trees, arid deserts, lush temperate rain forests, beautiful beaches (such as the one pictured above in Key West, Florida), and even snowy peaks.  Oh, I almost forgot the carved-granite masterpiece of Yosemite National Park! 

I feel truly fortunate to have explored the country a bit before heading overseas.  There is nothing like a road trip through the U.S.  I met a German relief-worker in Manila who got very excited when I told him I was from the U.S.  We don’t always get a warm reception from Europeans, so this was a pleasant surprise.  He was well aware of the beauty of the U.S., and had many friends here.  He had taken an unforgettable cross-country trip with his family a few years prior.

This is certainly not to take away from the beauty and uniquity of other countries; anybody who knows me realizes how much I love and appreciate many other countries around the world…I just felt it was time to show my appreciation for the country that initially inspired me. 

So yes, happy 238th birthday to these United States!! 

May we not lose our founding values – that “all men are created equal”, and that we will always always fight to preserve our “government of the people, by the people, for the people“. 

– Nathan Allen

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By Nathan Allen

That’s Arnold Schwarzenegger on his very first visit to New York in 1968.  It’s the face of a recent immigrant to the U.S. – one who sees nothing but unlimited possibilities before him…and somebody who fully explored those possibilities as he made the transition from professional athlete, to movie star, to best-selling author, to Governor of California – the eighth largest economy in the world. 

This face is symbolic of the “American Dream”; the potential that America used to hold.  Sure, it’s still attainable, but so many things seem different now.

A Changing World

By now, most of us are aware that China’s economy has surpassed that of the U.S.  Most recently, the “Father of Singapore”, Lee Kuan Yew passed away, and my Facebook news feed has been completely saturated with praise for both him and the country of Singapore.  Did you know that last year Singapore officially became the most expensive country in the world?  Even China has taken notes as this tiny country has risen to prominence.  

It’s hard to imagine, because Singapore pulled this off in the span of just 50 years.  So what’s the point of all this?  

The point is yes, America is a great country, but it seems like Asia is leaving us in the dust.  

A month ago I was in Cebu City, Philippines.  I met a young American guy who told me that he now lives in Asia.  When asked why, he looked at me as if it was a no-brainer.  His answer was straight to the point:

“Asia is the future.”

I have another American friend who speaks fluent Mandarin and has made a fortune doing business in China.

Myself, I have spent the last few years traveling all over India and SE Asia.  With this, of course, has come some interesting perspective on the world…but also on my own country, the U.S.  I’m particularly proud of our innovative and pioneering spirit, because I feel that’s what sets us apart more than any other country in the world.  

Improving On Our Success

Yes, in the past, that innovation defined us and propelled us to success…but Asia has been taking notes during our time in the spotlight, and it has carefully monitored what works and what doesn’t.  Among other things, Asia (and by that I mostly mean Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and increasingly, China) has mastered the art of making our innovations cheaper and more accessible.  Couple that with massive work forces (that, in some countries like the Philippines, Americans would describe as “paid slave labor”), and you see why Asia is running circles around us.  It’s not just Asia, either.  Dubai is another good example.  

In a throwback to ancient Rome, there are modern-day empires being built on the backs of armies of barely-paid workers.  

What’s hard for Americans to understand is this:  To these workers, any money is better than no money.  They are happy to have any job. 

These countries don’t always have the same concepts of equality and “fair” business practices…and they certainly haven’t always had the same opportunities.  They may be operating from a history of poverty.  Look at the Philippines.  Downtown Makati in Metro Manila is exploding with growth.  I came back after just one year and didn’t even recognize the skyline anymore.  

Yes, in the Philippines, shiny new skyscrapers are being built at an almost unimaginable rate.  We’re talking about a country about 2% of the size of the U.S., but with 33% of the population.  It is easy to exploit the workforce in overpopulated countries like this, but it’s ironic, because in many cases, the workers don’t even feel exploited!  Again, they are just happy to be working.

So how are we, a country which has worked so hard to fight for the rights of all workers (and in turn, made it prohibitively expensive to create and run businesses) to compete with THAT?

Should we?

These are difficult questions to ask, but of course, they are worth asking.  The U.S. may not be perfect, but when I look at the big picture in terms of global-leadership, it still seems to be the best viable option the world currently has. 

America, it might be time to face the music.  Perhaps other countries are no longer learning from us.  Perhaps it’s time for us to start learning from them.  

I only hope we won’t be too proud or arrogant to listen.

-Nathan Allen

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