To celebrate the upcoming Semiquincentennial, let’s crowd-source a list of at least 250 things we love about this country.

Mention your favorite American foods, music, products, national parks, movie stars, or even small daily freedoms.

I’ll kick us off with a classic: American Sodas

Coke, Pepsi, Dr. Pepper, and the endless varieties of Mountain Dew (Baja Blast, anyone?)

4/28/2026 8:02:59 PM

Quote :

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion"

4/28/2026 8:06:08 PM

College football - marching bands, student sections, rivalries, noise, outfits—and oh yeah, the football

4/28/2026 8:10:46 PM

US Beef!

4/28/2026 8:12:38 PM

Professional wrestling - who doesn't love the Rock, Stone Cold, and the Undertaker?

4/28/2026 8:22:41 PM

I'll say blue jeans! I'm wearing them right now!

Here's what we've said so far:

1. American sodas
2. The Establishment Clause
3. College football (and the culture surrounding it)
4. US beef
5. Professional wrestling
6. Blue jeans

4/28/2026 8:48:41 PM

Fried chicken fast food joints like Chick-fil-A, KFC, and Raising Cane's. Finger lickin' good!

And on that note, fast food drive thrus, the first of which was in Springfield, MO.

4/29/2026 4:07:19 AM

How could I forget Bojangle's???

4/29/2026 6:07:51 AM

4 more...

Hip Hop music

Alternative rock music

Microsoft

Nike

4/29/2026 9:11:04 AM

Capitalism
Slavery
Genocide
Sitcoms

4/29/2026 9:36:04 AM

Eastern NC BBQ

Also, I kinda dig the fact that someone born in 1979 in California, 2000 miles away from me, was pretty much raised with the same general values as I. While our local circumstances were vastly different, if you put us both in a room together, we could probably have an awesome conversation about the past 46 years.

I’m trying to think of any other country this large where one could say the same. I feel like lockdowns on media in China and Russia would keep people in their country so far apart from having a similar situation. Maybe I’m wrong.

4/29/2026 10:24:51 AM

A big stupid expensive arch vanity project
A big stupid expensive ballroom vanity project

4/29/2026 11:28:50 AM

A reflection pool that looks like an Olympic pool
Huge banners of a wannabe dictator on our DOJ building

4/29/2026 11:54:49 AM

Jif peanut butter

The Internet (thanks, Al Gore)

Pro sports leagues and their stadiums: MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL, MLS

Baseball caps

Sports trading cards, especially baseball cards

Basketball…fun fact: Dr. Naismith invented it to spread Christian values

Billy Graham

Harris Teeter

Preppy clothing from Ralph Lauren, Brooks Brothers, Vineyard Vines, Lands End, and LL Bean

Elite boxers like Louis, Marciano, Frazier, Ali, Tyson, Holyfield, and Foreman

Disney movies and theme parks

TV shows/streaming shows: For All Mankind, From, Stranger Things, Law & Order, South Park, The Simpsons, Bob’s Burgers, Rick and Morty

US golfing GOATs Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods

Some of the best golf courses in the world: Pebble Beach, Augusta National, and Pinehurst No. 2

Highest concentration of top-ranked universities globally: MIT, Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Princeton

Fourth of July Fireworks

Thanksgiving: Turkey and stuffing, cranberry sauce, football, family, and Macy’s parade

Outrageous yard decorations for Halloween and Christmas

Chain sit down restaurants: IHOP, Texas Road House, Cracker Barrel, Hard Rock Cafe (formerly UK), Olive Garden (sue me)

TexMex food (safe for this list since it has Tex in it?)

Target, Walmart, Kohl’s, Dick’s Sporting Goods

Walgreens and CVS

US Men’s basketball and US women’s soccer national teams

Elvis Presley

Hollywood movies and actors

MTV (before it sucked)

Nickelodeon

Hawaii

Alaska

Mount Rushmore

Diners

Happy Meals

Museums in DC, including Smithsonian

The Grand Canyon

4/29/2026 1:40:34 PM

Billy Graham?

4/29/2026 1:57:03 PM

Property taxes

4/29/2026 2:32:39 PM

^^yep, the most influential religious leader of the 20th century

Quote :

"Graham preached in person to over 210 million people across 185 countries. Known as "America's Pastor," he advised numerous presidents, appeared on Gallup's "Most Admired" list a record 61 times, and transformed Evangelicalism."

4/29/2026 2:50:54 PM

Doughnut chains Krispy Kreme and Dunkin’ Donuts

Pizza chains Domino’s and Papa John’s

Presidents Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan

Drive-thru banking

Dick’s Sporting Goods

Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass

George Washington Carver

Apple

Google

Facebook, Instagram, and X

OpenAI

College basketball, especially March Madness

4/29/2026 3:06:57 PM

Ray Charles

Ice cream shops Baskin Robbin’s, Ben and Jerry’s, Coldstone Creamery, and Dairy Queen

The Statue of Liberty (French built)

Niagara Falls

US soldiers who served and those who gave their lives for our freedom

4/29/2026 3:30:14 PM

Quote :

"Pizza chains Domino’s and Papa John’s "

Pizza Hut is far superior to both

4/29/2026 3:48:20 PM

Pizza Hut is was far superior to both.


State Fairs

Presidential campaigns from state to state, weird traditions like the Iowa Caucuses

Republican and Democratic National Party Conventions

4/29/2026 3:55:52 PM

^^No way. Fake ass spongy dough! Papa Johns isn't as good as it once was, but still better. Dominos wins like every metric

[Edited on April 29, 2026 at 3:57 PM. Reason : Edit]

4/29/2026 3:57:28 PM

Arcades

Pinball machines

4/29/2026 4:03:41 PM

Voting Rights Act

4/29/2026 4:05:45 PM

Fried chicken and watermelon

4/29/2026 4:08:15 PM

Pig pickins

Texas brisket

Lexington, Memphis, and Kansas City barbecue

4/29/2026 4:48:32 PM

Cable TV

Satellite TV

4/29/2026 5:00:39 PM

Radio talk shows

Podcasting

4/29/2026 5:02:58 PM

Sweet iced tea

Fluffy buttermilk biscuits

Cupcakes

4/29/2026 5:05:32 PM

One you wouldn’t expect from me: Mo Rocca, mostly for his US historical research and witty style

4/29/2026 5:19:58 PM

Joe Scarborough

4/29/2026 5:22:36 PM

Oreo's, Pillsbury cookie dough, and Chips Ahoy

Skittles, M&Ms, Reese's, Starbursts

Action figures, especially GI Joe's

Risk (the board game) and Uno

4/29/2026 8:02:48 PM

Fox News

NewsMax

OANN

Info Wars

Mike Lindell

4/29/2026 9:40:23 PM

American Pope!

Ghost edits

4/29/2026 9:41:17 PM

Quote :

"Radio talk shows Podcasting "

That's what you... love about this country?

4/29/2026 10:41:18 PM

^they're not all bad, but you're right...most of them are trash

Chip brands Lay's, Doritos, Pringles, and Fritos

4/30/2026 4:51:56 AM

Greenville's own, MrBeast

4/30/2026 7:13:09 AM

Picturesque college campuses

America's deserts in Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico

Native American culture

NASCAR

Golden Gate Bridge

Space Needle

Empire State Building

Willis Tower (formey known as Sears Tower)

Gum brands Orbit, Trident, Wrigley's, and Big League Chew

4/30/2026 2:03:11 PM

Quote :

"Native American culture"

LOL!

4/30/2026 2:12:50 PM

Amazing Halloween celebrations and Trick or Treating/Trunk or Treating traditions

4/30/2026 5:17:50 PM

Smucker’s jam

4/30/2026 6:09:13 PM

Beach music and surfing music

4/30/2026 6:10:08 PM