I post this image to make one main, important point to all Americans:

You really do live in a free nation. Seriously.

Only in a free, democratic nation can you:

• Stand in the middle of the nation’s capital and speak out openly against the residing person in power without running the risk of persecution.
• Wear caricature-like, mocking costume (complete with jailstripes) of that same residing powerful person, while openly calling them a criminal.
• Boo and openly show disgust for the powers-that-be, even as they are in the building of a sporting event and thousands are on-hand to witness the historical event.
• Publish an article accusing coverage of a large, public event, endorsed by many bigwigs (aka. those with the most loot) and people of power, of being biased and forgetting the more important factors involved.

You see what I’m getting at?

Of course, these points are just a handful of those surrounding last weekend’s grand opening of Nationals Park. To state the obvious: this is not the end-all, be-all list of why we should appreciate being being American — but they do point out things we can do that other, less fortunate citizens of different countries cannot.

Luckily, we do not have that here (shh… conspiracy theorists, I will deal with you another day) although sometimes our gub’ment makes me have to remind folks that great saying Edward R. Murrow said way back when: “We must not confuse dissent for disloyalty.”

Check out that Dave Zirin article so you have the other side to the grand opening of Nationals Park.

I did enjoy myself at the fresh, brand spankin’ new ballpark in D.C. The trip was easy (a few metro stops and a few blocks of caddle-trotting along the street) and Nationals Park is truly easy to access.

Outside the park stood — quite loudly — the realities of the publicly funded park ($600-plus million) opening in a city full of poverty. Lots of angry citizens fighting for D.C. schools, their own residences, and the cluster-funk that will be every time a big game is in town.

Inside the park, the stadium is a beauty. The Capitol is just over left field in the distance. Lots of scattered, local food joints inside the stadium and available (and overpriced, of course!) to fit your fancy.

People inside the stadium were friendly, smiling and everything the Washington Post’s Thomas Boswell told me it would be.

Again, outside the stadium, though, was a different reality. The opposite of the smiles, giggles and giddiness. Lots of anger, dissent and frustration.

Aren’t you proud to be an American?