America, Land of......
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> A recent Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy
with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of the country is
unhappy with the performance of the president. In essence 2/3s of the
citizenry just ain't happy and want a change.
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> So being the Die Hard American that I am, I started thinking, 'What are
we so unhappy about?'
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> Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week? Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer
and heating in the winter? Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy
folks have a job? Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at
any time and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?
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> Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic
Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through
each state? Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find
along the way that can provide temporary shelter? I guess having thousands
of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good
enough. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up
and provide services to help all involved. Whether you are rich or poor they
treat your wounds and even, if necessary, send a helicopter to take you to
the hospital.
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> Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home, you may
be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of having a fire, a group
of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment
to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family and your belongings.
Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or
prowler intrudes; an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest
will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss. This is all
in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and
pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90 percent of teenagers own
cell phones and computers.
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> How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy
that are the envy of everyone in the world? Maybe that is what has 67
percent of you folks unhappy.
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> Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world
has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S. yet has a great disdain
for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in
the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have and what we
hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.
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> I know, I know. What about the president who took us into war and has no
plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31 percent approval
rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark days
after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an economy out of
recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the
book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled brats safe from terrorist
attacks? The commander-in-chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there
defending you and me?
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> Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have
volunteered to serve, and in many cases have died for your freedom. There is
currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go. They are able to
refuse to go and end up with either a 'general' discharge, an 'other than
honorable' discharge or, worst case scenario, a 'dishonorable' discharge
after a few days in the brig.
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> So why then the flat out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of
Americans? Say what you want but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds it
leads and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with
blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The
media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer
what sells.
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> Stop buying the negative venom you are fed everyday by the media. Shut off
the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your
bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as a country. There is
exponentially more good than bad.
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> I close with one of my favorite quotes from B.C. Forbes in 1953:
> 'What have Americans to be thankful for? More than any other people on
the earth, we enjoy complete religious freedom, political freedom, social
freedom. Our liberties are sacredly safeguarded by the Constitution of the
United States, 'the most wonderful work ever struck off at a given time by
the brain and purpose of man.' Yes, we Americans of today have been
bequeathed a noble heritage. Let us pray that we may hand it down unsullied
to our children and theirs.'
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> I suggest we sit back and count our blessings for all we have. If we
don't, what we have will be taken away. Then we will have to explain to
future generations why we squandered such blessing and abundance. If we are
not careful this generation will be known as the 'greediest and most
ungrateful generation.' A far cry from the proud Americans of the
'greatest generation' who left us an untarnished legacy.
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