the thread is not referring to people who have threatened to leave
the thread is referring to when people bring up something they disapprove of in America, and other people tell them if they don't like it they should leave
for instance, if someone doesn't revere the flag, because of grievances they have about something in AMerica,, they have been told they should leave,,,,etc,,,
One of the many little notions and behaviors I've witnessed while wearing my Historians hat (so to speak), has been the various "who is a real American" arguments. I think this might fall into that general category.
For my part, I have gradually learned that the greatest ideals of America, of the United States, are vastly more subtle and challenging to understand and live up to, than the vast majority of people put the effort required in order to grasp.
When the US was just starting, it's heritage was mostly European. In order to try to unite us for mutual protection, our wonderful leaders of way back then, made rules of freedom for us to try to live up to.
It can be argued that many of the so-called Founding Fathers silently assumed that freedom meant "freedom to be like me," as lots of people even today don't even realize that they think, and it is certainly true that the US has gone through a number of tumults, arguing that the latest wave of "huddled masses" weren't "up to snuff," and should be turned away.
Possible the MOST difficult concept for people to grasp, is the idea of The Loyal Opposition. Many nations and peoples have gone through great upheavals over that. When does opposition constitute rebellion? Here in the US, with our expansive ideals and multi-sourced national heritages, it's much harder to come to any certain conclusion.
Then we get to the nature of SYMBOLS in all this. Things like the national flag, and related items, can become more than just symbols to some people.
In some religions, there have been huge conflicts amongst believers, over whether this or that symbol is to be held to be Holy, and some even declare that it is an act of heresy to think that ANY objects should be used as symbols of faith. Entire wars have been fought over such, many times, and even today, some people kill others over this.
Here in the US, I've witnessed a variety of people display what I would call a classic example of Irony (others might say hypocrisy), as they demand that other Americans venerate certain symbols as well,
in the name of freedom and justice for all. "Either you stand and salute this symbol of Freedom To Do As You Wish, or we want to to leave the land of individual liberty."
It's almost funny.
But I understand the emotion. I want America to be the America I believed I was living in as I was growing up, and some people want it to be a very different America. And many don't seem to realize that we can't BOTH demand uniform behaviors, AND claim freedom and liberty at the same time.
It's quite a challenge to be a REAL American, if you ask me.