I love what this country could be; I often hate what it is.

Spaw

But, Spaw, your truth of your statement is what I love bout this country and its inhabitants: Unlike a great many other countries- naming no names - the USA acknowledges its failings and slogs on. hoping to make it better. I think our response is very close to unique.

I read once that very few - if any - countries have the message of the line: "God mend thine every flaw" in any of their official anthems. Our best loved song, America, the Beautiful, has a number of lines like that and we are very comfortable with conceding our imperfections. Always with the hope of improvement.