What Happened to “America the Beautiful?”
We used to be called “America the Beautiful” for a reason.
As a photographer, I’ve been able to experience and document the true beauty in America. From the “spacious skies” to the “amber waves of grain” to the “purple mountain majesties,” “above the fruited plain…”
So I thought I’d share some of my favorite photos I’ve taken of our land as a reminder of its beauty. The land itself is breathtaking. But the reality is... there’s absolutely nothing beautiful about a nation divided by hate.
I want these photos to be a reminder to you: America can still be beautiful. But beauty on its own isn’t enough — not when hate continues to define how we operate and how the world sees us.
Traveling through other countries, I’ve seen first hand how the rest of the world views America right now. People tell me, “America is beautiful… but it’s too scary for me right now.” That they used to dream of moving here, building a better life, and now they say they never will — not under Trump.
Not in a country that’s unsafe for anyone who isn’t cis, white, straight, and conservative.
It’s become shameful to admit where I’m from. Not because of the land itself, but because of the hate that’s taken it over. Because America is no longer seen as a place of opportunity, but as a place of danger. And that fear doesn’t come from our mountains, our seas, or our skies — it comes from us.
From the people who continue to choose hate over humanity.
And while we’re here fighting culture wars over basic human rights, the rest of the world is laughing at us. Because instead of caring about people, too many of us would rather spread hate and misinformation that harms the most vulnerable.
You should be smart enough to start asking questions. Check your sources. Stop believing everything spoon-fed to you by biased media outlets and propaganda machines. History is repeating itself right in front of our eyes — and right now, only some of us are paying attention. The rest of you are staying silent, only speaking up for those like you.
We cannot keep pretending that this is about “differences of opinion.” It’s about whether or not marginalized communities — queer people, trans people, immigrants, people of color, women — are allowed to live freely and safely.
It’s time to stop looking at people who are different from you as “others” and start listening, learning, and understanding their experience. That’s how we begin to see each other as human.
America is supposed to be a country built on freedom, equality, and justice for ALL.
So why is it so hard for most Americans to show that to others?
Don’t confuse the cruelty of people with the beauty of the world. This land deserves better than the hate that’s poured into it — and so do we.
