Team Cheesman

Integrity
Evolution
Community
Understanding
Sincerity
Health
Kindness
Justice
Love
Conversation
Humor
Fun
Humility
Bravery
Vulnerability
Friendship
Wisdom
Exercise
Reliability
Calmness
Bring present
Conscious
Focus
Listening
Recreation
Openness
Generosity
Standing up for yourself and others
Speaking up
Passion
Mercy
Fairness/Equality
Discovery
Adventure
Awareness
Growth
Happiness
Simplicity
Thankfulness
Nature
Gratitude
Compassion
Education
Companionship
Food
Laughter
Relationships
Privilege
Music
Connection
Family/Friends
Integrity
Introspection
Accountability
Freedom
Motivation
Diversity
Communication
Independence
Selfishness
Conscience
Solitude
Ideal of Altruism
Honesty
Truth
Non-efficiency
Empathy
Artistic Expression
Creativity
Authenticity
Forgiveness
Hunger
Perspective
Innovation
Happiness
Selflessness

What about the US makes you PROUD?...

Nature. Pioneering. Dialogue. Compassion. CHOICE. Adventurous spirit. Ability to convene together. National parks. Geographical diversity. Friendliness: People are open, talk to each other on the street. Progress for GLBTQI rights. Relief and aid. "Land of Opportunity." Nonprofits. ACLU. Constitution. Bill of Rights. Travel: Freedom to visit and be in other countries. JAZZ. Valuing human beings. Opportunity. Diversity (musical, religious, cultural, culinary, racial, ethnic, class, age). Hope. Innovation. Space. Endurance. Creativity. Enlightenment. Freedom. Voice. Brings refugees (and immigrants) more than all other countries combined. Leadership. OPEN door. Ability to remake your life. Flower pot. New York. Women's rights, opportunity & equality. Progress. Freedom of press. Ideals. Values. Obama's story. Environmental laws. Ecological diversity. Music education & performance groups.

• Fear
• Violence
• White privilege
• Racial discrimination
• Slavery
• Lack of respect for history
• Reservations
• Treatment of Native Americans
• Television
• Bush's leadership
• Education
• Learning about Native Americans- "How much did I actually learn about what happened? I was disgusted when I learned about it."
• Sweatshops
• Poverty
• Car culture- "It seems like cars bring out the worst in people/ separation."
• Lack of compassion and education
• Dependence on technology- lack of face-to-face interaction
• Jails
• Gentrification
• Recidivism
• Politics
• Segregation
• Selfishness
• Need for more
• Pollution
• Lack of local economy
• Lack of foresight
• Culture of "me" not "we"
• Closing of schools
• Privatizing
• War
• Manipulation
• Apathy
• Economy
• Health Care
• Oil
• TMZ (Celebrity TV show)- people without talent being famous
• Consumerism
• Corruption
• Low minimum wage/ poverty
• Celebration of ignorance
• "Democracy"
• Public transit hasn't been sufficiently invested in (comp. with Europe)
• Ignorance/Apathy
• Sway and power of business corporations
• Prison industrial complex
• Money
• Greed
• Suburbs
• Pollution
• Military economy
• Military industrial complex
• Polarization
• Lost dialogue
• "Keeping up with the Jones"
• Religious based hatred and suppression
• Hurricane Katrina (we would have a natural disaster and not respond, lack of responsibility)
• Guns
• Segregation
• Failure to sign Kyoto Protocol
• Lack of global responsibility
• Total disregard for environment

Taxes that are truly directed towards the common good

Technology shouldn't control our lives

Take Better care of our troops/veterans

Get to the root of problems (systemic change...no bandaids)

More equal distribution of wealth

All patients should be cared for

Less fast food/processed/genetically altered food

More value for Social Services/Teachers

More awareness of where your food comes from/more healthy options for everyone

More consumer awareness

Value of simplicity

Less debt/more financial stability - national/individual/personal debt

Musicians and artisits can support themselves

Cost of education should not limit ppl's ability to work for non profits/survival jobs

Peaceful

All votes count/all want to vote - see the reason for voting

Multilingual (more so)

Intergenerational-interracial dialogue

More educated about other cultures

Inclusiveness

100% environmentally sustainable

Smaller country/tighter community/sense of responsibility to our compatriots

Everyone has a passport and the opportunity to use it

Opportunity for achievement - schools enable education that allows children to find good jobs - redefine education - not just about jobs but about creating good people through understanding of arts and culture.  Honoring multiple intelligences

A country where communities are strong and people feel connected to each other

You know your neighbors

Safe schools

More governmental foresight

A greater sense of global consciousness

To be normal for respect and responsibility/collective value of nature

Intentional opportunity to grow

SOCIALIST - I want to see a country in which we have more care for individuals including healthcare

I want a country that still scares me a little bit - there are so many places that I can travel outside my comfort zone and I don't want to lose that

More understanding and collaboration between the US, Canada and Mexico

More forgiveness - justice system blames/scapegoats - more money spent on crime prevention and rehabilitation

Having a tax structure that provides for all citizens, equitable and effective tax code - Decrease the gap between rich and poor

Every child who wants to be able to go to school is able to - and can/will graduate

More celebration of actual achievement

Libraries are accessible, plentiful and utilized

People are supported in doing what they love

Homelessness doesn't exist - systems in place to help people out- outreach to inform those about the systems

Technology should not be a substitute for human interaction

Trust and respect between police and people

Police serves and protects community - citizens are not scared of the police

The voiceless are given a voice

Immigrants - poor people- everyone has the opportunity to realize their dreams

I watch comedy central

I drink wine (a lot)

Talk with Grandpa about his life

Recreate/find distractions/numb/coping mechanisms (healthy and unhealthy)

I find people similarly passionate about issues and engage in dialogue

FEAR

STIGMA associated with being "American"

Job Choice

GUILT

I have lots to talk about

I feel small

I try to get involved with the children around me

I search for optimism

Ignorance of what's happening in the world

Disempowered/empowered to for work change

Being overwhelmed

I shop at thrift stores

I garden

Fight against my own cynicism

I donate

Push for education

I volunteer

I try to read as much as I can

Try to keep an open mind

Feel helpless to change things

I register voters

I recycle

Fear of traveling/global issues

VOLUNTEER

Inspiration for job choice, further education, dialogue and lifestyle changes

Internal struggle

Separation/avoidance of conversation

Going against the grain

Healthcare- I don't go to the see the doctor

I take the bus

I'm really proud of what I do (job)

I attend " let us rise" and other events

I have dinner with friends

Push for education/teach kids music

I make art

Look to people smarter than me for answers

Wait around for Election Day

Wave and American flag for the 1^st time when I hear Obama speak