WEEK 291 - Do I Ever Hate the Country Where I Live?

Hi, @Weekend Experiences! It’s writtenbyjhap, and today I’m answering a topic that has been quietly haunting my thoughts for a long time. It’s a question that sounds simple on the surface, yet feels heavy once you truly think about it:

Do you ever hate the country and location in which you live?

To be completely honest yes, sometimes I do. But this feeling doesn’t come from blind hatred or disrespect. It comes from disappointment, frustration and a deep longing for something better. It comes from loving a place so much that seeing its flaws hurts deeply.

For my own perception, one of the main reasons I sometimes feel this way is because of the unstable quality of education in my country. Education should be a fundamental right something that empowers every citizen equally. Sadly, that is not always the reality. In many cases, only students from wealthy families can easily access higher education such as universities and prestigious institutions. Meanwhile, students from poor or average families struggle not because they lack intelligence or discipline but because they lack financial support.

I have seen talented students give up their dreams because tuition fees are too high, transportation is too expensive or daily survival becomes the priority. Education turns into a privilege instead of a right, creating a cycle where poverty continues from one generation to the next. It hurts knowing that potential leaders, scientists, teachers and innovators are lost not due to laziness, but due to inequality.

Another painful reason is corruption. It has become so common that many people are already tired of being angry about it. Funds meant for education, healthcare, infrastructure and community development disappear into the hands of a few. Corruption doesn’t just steal money it steals hope. When people lose trust in the system, they stop believing that change is possible. Honest individuals struggle to survive in a system that rewards dishonesty. When corruption becomes normalized, it silently teaches the next generation that doing the right thing doesn’t always matter.

There are also serious social issues that affect our daily life, such as drugs, crime and poverty. Drugs destroy families, futures and also communities. Crime creates fear, making people feel unsafe even in their own neighborhoods. Poverty forces many families to choose survival over dreams. These problems are deeply connected. Poverty can push people toward crime. Lack of education increases vulnerability to drugs. Weak systems allow these issues to grow unchecked. Over time, they begin to shape not just individuals but the identity of the entire country.

Despite all these reasons, I realize that I cannot fully hate my country. Deep inside, there is still love, pride and hope. I don’t hate the land, the culture, or the people. What I truly hate are the problems that continue to hold us back.

I see kindness in ordinary citizens people who help each other even when they have very little. I see resilience in families who keep going despite hardship. I see hope in young students who still dream of a better future, even when the odds are against them. These are the reasons my country is still worth fighting for.

Sometimes, I believe that hating your country doesn’t always mean disloyalty. Sometimes, it means you care deeply. Because if we didn’t care, we wouldn’t feel hurt. We wouldn’t feel frustrated. We wouldn’t want change. Loving a country doesn’t mean pretending it is perfect. Real love acknowledges flaws and still believes in growth. It asks difficult questions, demands accountability, and refuses to stay silent.

My hope is that one day, education will truly be equal, corruption will be punished instead of tolerated, and opportunities will no longer depend on how rich your family is. I hope honesty will no longer feel like a disadvantage.

Until that day comes, I choose to hold on to hope. I believe that change starts with awareness, with conversations like this, and with voices brave enough to speak the truth. It starts with small actions, honest intentions, and people who refuse to give up even when the system feels broken. So yes, sometimes I hate the country where I live. But more than that, I believe in its potential. As long as that belief exists, there is still a reason to stay, to speak and to hope.

Thank you so much, Hivers friends, and @weekend experiences, for the opportunity to publish this blog and for your constant support that inspires me to share my thoughts honestly.