They don’t. Many countries have freedom. What she’s saying is that many Americans equate things like eating out with their freedoms as American citizens. It’s tied in with the idea of America being the land of opportunity. The populace gains opportunities for all sorts of things when they have personal freedoms to be inventive and creative.

You also have the freedom as an American to start a seatless unicycling club. A young man actually won a scholarship to Harvard based on starting and building such a club. I read a story about it a few years ago. And yes, one could probably do such a thing in many other places in the world as well.

Just because Americans have a particular expression of gratitude doesn’t mean we think it only applies to us, or this is thr only place it exists.

The reason "freedom" is such an entrenched part of American vernacular is that constitutional phrase "the pursuit of happiness". As a constitutional guarantee, it can never be taken from us. We’ll never have to pursue such desires on the sly because of the whims of a maniacal ruler (in theory). Why shouldn’t we be grateful and honor that inclusion in our founding document?

It doesn’t mean what many non Americans seem to think. Of course there are public restaurants and shopping the world over. No American thinks otherwise. They may think its not as prevalent or convenient (or, they may be moreso), but that’s not the same as thinking only Americans get to dine out.

I’ll grant you, the phrase has taken on a new insidious life with Fox News and the Trump brigade. And what I said about it not being able to be taken from us is slipping.