Both sides of the political aisle will have you believe today that the United States of America is either not that great or needs to be altered to be like the rest of the world. However, we shouldn’t want to be like the rest of the world. We already are the GREATEST.

We may have problems that need to be addressed, but we should be aware of our mighty strengths. I have been fortunate enough to travel to many countries around the world, from Europe to Central/South America to the Middle East, and have come to realize there are many problems that simply don’t exist in the U.S. These problems include constant warfare, no working water and electricity, oppressive regimes, food shortages, widespread political corruption and an outrageously expensive cost of living.

Most of us have seen that cringy clip from “The Newsroom” that was shared on Facebook, where Jeff Daniel’s character proudly proclaims that America isn’t the best country in the world. Other than being a flashy opening scene to an OK TV show, there really isn’t that much substance to it.

The nations of the world still decide what to do with their economic issues, military actions and global politics by observing what the U.S. is doing. With only six percent of the world’s population, the U.S. has the largest and most influential economy, holding 22 percent of the global GDP and 17 percent of gross world product.

According to the H-index, which measures productivity and the impact of publications done by scholars, the U.S. is the most scientific country today. We have the most diverse group of citizens and more people want to move and travel to the U.S. than any other country. People from all across the globe flock to America to attend our distinguished universities. We have eight of the top 10 and way more than half of the top 20 universities in the world.

Again, we are only six percent of the world’s population, yet, as a country and individually, we are the most generous nation. Whether it is an earthquake in Haiti, or a tsunami in Japan or any other natural disaster, most nations look to the U.S. for leadership and financial aid (around $32.2 billion annually). On an individual level, in terms of money and time, we as Americans  contribute the most to nonprofits on average.

Imagine a country where every one of its citizens are free to travel its massive, enthralling and prosperous territory, spanning 5,057 miles coast-to-coast, and all over the world to nearly every other country that exists.

Imagine a country that practically single-handedly won World War II and put an end to Nazism.

Imagine a country that has been invaded only once by a foreign power in its 238 years of existence.

Only in America can I or anyone else be anything they want to be or do whatever they want to do and have the freedom to express ourselves.

Only in America can my father come from a war-torn country with nothing but the clothes on his back and have his hard work alone carry him to be a successful businessman.

Being the son of two immigrants who came here looking for safe place to live and to make a good living, I am honored to have been born an American and for all the opportunities that it provides.

Rabih Khoudari is a senior actuarial science major. He can be contacted at [email protected].