Global Q&A: ‘What’s the best thing about your country?’

Seamus Campbell, New York City, U.S.A. (The Epoch Times)

Peace and freedom, and a country’s rich culture are features important to citizens of most countries. This is what Epoch Times reporters discovered when they asked locals from New York City to Mbeya, Tanzania:

New York City, USA Seamus Campbell, 55, Priest Freedom! Freedom to do as you please! There’s nobody putting any guns to your head, and you do what you want to do. And so that’s what I think is one of the bottom lines. Freedom here is phenomenal. The same is true in Ireland; nobody is doing that to you in Ireland either. In Ireland, it’s a much older culture and this is much more of an assimilated culture. And that is also one of the pluses here. The United States is such a melting pot of people, and everybody is free to be who they are. Note: Campbell has USA and Ireland dual nationality.

Russia (living in Dubai) Liliya Ahmetzyanova, 25, Academic Assistant The most important thing about my country [Russia] is our rich culture! The people are friendly and hospitable; and we have a great history; and our country has many resources. And another important thing is nature; we have beautiful nature!

Taberg, Sweden Elsa Lind, 8, Primary School Pupil The best thing is that we don’t have any war here! In some countries, there are a lot of [dead] people in the streets.

Marrickville, Australia Eddy D., Shop Owner Definitely has to be the beaches. Australia has some of the most pristine beaches in the world. There is no better place than being on a beach where you can soak up the sun (don’t forget the sunscreen), go for refreshing dip in the water and finish it off with a smoky BBQ. Ahh... I smell something cooking right now. Actually, excuse me a second whilst I grab a juicy steak off the BBQ!

Puerto Montt, Chile Jorge Vargas, 25, Salesman It is really very difficult to answer because my country has a variety of good things. For instance, I like the different flora and fauna that grows in my country, the huge ocean from north to south, and the immense mountain chain. They are basics things, but very important, and I would like to invite you to enjoy the simple things in life. Also, we are a country, very united, that can stand up in difficult moments. For example, the 2010 earthquake, the Juan Fernandez air accident, [and] the forest fires that affected us recently—these are facts that come with a lot of sadness. We lost a number of lives in Chile, but we are strong.

Lima, Peru Victor Torres, 59 I believe the best that my country has is its people, that’s first and then it’s the climate, which is so diverse, as well as cultural wealth, which attracts many tourists from all over the world. It is recognized as having Machu Picchu, one of the wonders of the world and the area of the Amazon. Actually Peru is a very rich country.

Tunja, Colombia David Fernando Gómez Vargas, 15, Student Nature, because our country has a great diversity of animals and plants—it has two oceans, the Pacific and the Atlantic, and that is a great advantage. Besides the culture that the different regions have, each has their own culture and language despite speaking Spanish each has a different accent.

Mbeya, Tanzania Deo Haule, 39, Computer Lecturer The best thing I appreciate about my country is the peace and freedom. You can go anywhere and unless you break the rules you can enjoy yourself and do whatever you want. There is no war, no fighting. ... I’ve been to South Africa and was not in peace. I feared I'd be gunned. Our country is beautiful; no one can rob me; no one can kill me without any problem. I can move freely.

Look for the Global Q&A column every week. Epoch Times correspondents interview people around the world to learn about their lives and perspectives on local and global realities. Next week’s global question: “What’s the biggest moral dilemma you have ever faced?”