My Enduring Love for AMERICA!!!

America...AMERICA!!!No other word in the English Language evokes such myriad of emotions in me. Ever since I can remember, I had an immense love, bordering on the obsession for America, what it stands for, its people, culture and way of life. I am 37 years old and I have thought long and hard, tried to analyze over the years where the seed of this love began, where this fixation with all things Americano crystalized and I don't have a definitive answer. I guess some things have no rhyme or reason. We don't know why Elvis sing's the way he does, or why Michael Jackson moves the way he does or why no one can can ever repeat the feat of Jordan securing three-peat twice. Sometimes, there is no answer. It is just the hand of god, a divine gift or intervention if you will ( Even though I am an atheist, I don't know how else to put it)

I was born and raised in Saudi Arabia in a small oil town of Rastanura which has the largest oil fields in the world. My mom says my obsession for America started from birth in small ways, gravitating towards American music, particularly Beach boys ( I wonder why though, later it became one of my favorite bands), Pepsi, KFC and I would watch American cities on television with an unusual piqued interest ( How much that is true and how much that is a coincidence, one may never know, but there definitely is a kernel of truth in all these).

My earliest memories of America was during the Gulf war in 1991 where I was turning 4 years old and already had a keen sense of awareness. My dad was working with an Oil firm and we were right in the line of sight of Saddam's scud missiles and to keep his family safe, dad sent me , mom and my newly born brother to the west coast city of Yanbu to be safe with my uncle and family. I was a child of war and I was keenly aware that the AMERICANS were coming to save us and Operation desert storm was a massive success and I remember this the first time being where I thought to myself," Wow, America is Awesome!!!"

Growing up in Saudi, where all of us loved America immensely probably contributed to my initial love of the country. But as I grew older and started to develop my personality and become the man I am today, I realized that I was different. I questioned authority as a kid, rebelled immensely, Loved my freedom, chafed at any attempt to control me both from parents and society, had radical and avant garde ideas and was determined to live life the way I wanted. At a young age, I was an atheist, I didn't believe in the traditional concept of marriage and kids, I found no value in having a house or car and eschewed what was thought normal. I valued my freedom immensely and no where on this planet is that more important than AMERICA, land of the free, home of the brave. It was the values of the country that attracted it to me, not the quest to make more money which is the driving motivation for most immigrants.

I came to America with this promise of freedom and I wasn't disappointed in the slightest. From the moment I landed, I could smell freedom and the ability to live your life the way you wanted. I have traveled the world and by far, American people are the nicest, most enterprising, non judgemental, hard working, decent folk you could find anywhere in the world. Growing up, I loved Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel, Martin Scorsese films, the works of Hemingway, Lee, Twain and Dickinson, to see it all come alive in front of my eyes was illuminating. One of my favorite movies of all time was Saturday Night Fever and to walk along the streets of Brooklyn where the great John Travolta strutted to the Iconic beats of staying alive in the intro was such a great feeling. Tom Cruise's Top Gun was the defining film of my childhood and SAN DIEGO as pictured in that film had a deep impact on me, seared into my consciousness. When I finally moved to Ocean drive San Diego, it felt like full circle, crescendo to my life story. Made all my dreams come true.

But America to me, means so much more than all of this. The times I have most enjoyed is the small town, rural America in the South. When I stay in Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana, I love hanging out in the bar, talking to the locals. I know they are sneeringly called rednecks by the coastal elites but these hard working, simple folks are to me any day better than those phonies who live in that Wall street/Bay area bubble. Having some Fried chicken with Okra and Fresh Iced tea is a pleasure few can rival. I adore the south, its values, culture, way of life. This is the part of America I relate closest to. I alternate between a quiet life on a San Diego beach to somewhat rustic existence in the smoky mountains of Tenessee.

When you think about it, its fascinating how ubiquitous American culture is. The entire world wears Jeans, whether its Africans, Chinese, Australians, Russians, Brazilians and it was created here in America by Levi Strauss. The telephone, Aircraft, Air conditioning, Microwave, light bulb, vulcanized rubber, Television, Motion pictures, chocolate chip cookies, everything we take for granted today was created by Americans. I don't have to mention the dominance of Uber, Netflix, Microsoft, Google, Facebook, Amazon, Tesla, SpaceX, Boeing, GE, IBM, Disney, Apple, Ralph Lauren, Nike, American Express, Hershey's, Gillette, Ford, Starbucks, Kellogg's, NBA or NFL. Imagine a life without the above mentioned...Scary isn't it? Exactly!!Our mere existence would come to a standstill.

To me, in this Imperfect world, America is PERFECT!!!Paradoxically, Our imperfect union is always striving to be better, which is, that's right PERFECT!!!I Love Saudi Arabia with all my heart, but even though I was born and raised there, since my parents are from the Subcontinent, I know I shall never truly become a SAUDI CITIZEN. America affords everyone that chance, irrespective of caste, creed, religion, orientation or any other barrier to be part of this great country as Americans. Just as the pilgrims landed in Plymouth to start a new life in 1620 or the scores of people escaping war or persecution in modern times, America lends a helping hand to all. It's biggest strength, the reason its the greatest country on the planet is its people, immigrants from all over the world who come to make a better life. That is why someone like Elon musk came from South Africa to the US to run Tesla and start Space X. He didn't do this in UK, Canada, Australia or his native South Africa. This tells you everything you need to know, anything and everything is possible in the United states of America. You just got to work hard and dream big enough.

My brother and parents are American citizens. True to my maverick and nonconformist roots, I am NOT a citizen yet...I will be in a decade due to the long processing times and paper work that is involved, but when that day comes, when I proudly take the oath to become a US citizen and pledge allegiance to this great nation, it will be without doubt, the HAPPIEST DAY OF MY LIFE!!!God bless these United states of America. Thank you for making a small town kid from Saudi Arabia live the life of his dreams and fulfill all his desires. It has been an honor and privilege!!!

"The American Dream is that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for every man, with opportunity for each according to his ability or achievement"