I grew up loving the philosophy and values I learned about America -- Jefferson, Adams, Thoreau, King, Edison, Feynman, ... welcoming Einstein and so many others. Young as the country and its culture is, we've produced some greats.
As I've matured and times have changed it's been impossible to miss other parts of America grade schools don't teach -- increasing division between rich and poor, decreasing social mobility, corporate control of the government, entrenched racism, sexism, jingoism, needless wars based on lies, ... I could go on. Anyone could.
I haven't lost faith in my country -- such vague words could mean so much in this context -- but I don't like how the powerful are influencing the processes that led to it flourishing so long, even taking into account its colossal mistakes (Prohibition?), nor how those without power aren't taking responsibility to gain power like they (we) could. I'm impressed with the love many foreigners have for much of our freedom, which I share.
I tell myself living in Manhattan is like living outside any country. Legally New York City may be part of the United States, but culturally it's its own world.
Still, I find it valuable to look at where you live sometimes with rose-colored glasses because life feels better when you love your home, but regularly to evaluate it warts and all. How else can you change it if you feel you can, or escape before the need becomes desperate, should the need arise?
(Here is where people often ask where it's better or point out places it's worse. I don't argue against asking those questions, but we don't have to jump to comparisons with others, which distracts from evaluating it from what it could be. Or once professed or aspired to be.)