This is claimed to be quoted from Jay Leno. I don't know if it is or not, but I found it interesting and thought provoking.
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As most of you know I am not a President Bush fan, nor have I ever been, but this is not about Bush, it is about us, as Americans, and it seems to hit the mark.
'The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some Poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true given the source, right?
The 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 2/3 of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change. So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, 'What are we so unhappy about?''
A.. Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 Days a week?
B.. Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter?
C.. Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job?
D. 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?
E.. Maybe it is the ability to drive our cars and trucks from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state?
F.. Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter?
G.. I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough either.
H. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.
I.. Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home.
J.. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of 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.
K.. 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.
L.. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90% of teenagers own cell phones and computers.
M.. 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% of you folks unhappy.
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.
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 ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks? The commander in chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me?
Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad? Think about it......are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the 'Media' told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day. Make no mistake about it.
The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may 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.
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, and when criticized, try to defend their actions by 'justifying' them in one way or another. Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like OJ. Simpson to write a book about how he didn't kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this way......Insane!
Turn 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 country. There is exponentially more good than bad. We are among the most blessed people on Earth and should thank God several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative.' 'With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, 'Are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?'
I did find it on Snopes and it isn't Leno, but it's not a flat out fraud either.
Leno had been quoted for one line in the thing, and as the email circulated it was edited and eventually gave the appearance the whole thing was Leno's
While I complain about our government from time to time, I'd still rather be living right here than in any other country in the world simply because of everything that's available to us. We really do have it pretty good here in the USA.
Tim Russert was known for saying "what a country, what a country". He was truly in awe of how anyone can grow up to do anything in the USA.
With the Olympics in the news the spotlight has been on China a lot and when I read about the way their citizens are treated it really reminds me how lucky we are to have been born in this country.
JR, I don't know how much serious reading you do, but there is a very good book that highlights China's abuse to women. It's called "The Good Women of China" written by Xinran. I highly recommend it. It broke my heart when I read it.
This country is far from perfect...just being able to say that sets America apart. I think we are slowly being turned into the glass is half empty kind of culture. Will Rodgers said this is the only country that people can "drive" to the poor house. We have so much to be greatful for. The glass truly is half full.
I probably won't have the most popular opinion, but I feel compelled to add to this.
While there is some good perspective in this, I find it to be a bit ladden with patriotic propoganda. I believe it is our responsibility as citizens to stay informed on the state of our nation, but that also means taking ALL media and information (including that which the government delivers to us) with a grain of salt and examining it for its potential value in forming our opinions and choosing our actions. The God statement - it dilutes the credibility of the writer's vision in the supposed "Melting Pot" that welcomes people of all kinds and embraces diversity in faiths.
I believe that YES - in many many ways we have it good and should be truly grateful for what we have. That to me is an undeniable truth. But also, NO - promoting ignorance of media, carrying a limited vision of faith, and taking a passive approach to yur own opinions and actions regarding the health of our nation is not OK.
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-- Heather: "I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it!"
Compared to many other countries, we have it good. I'm feminist enough that I would be imprisoned if not killed by now in another country.
But at the same time, I don't see anything wrong with expecting growth.
I think you can love your country but be unhappy with the direction we're headed, all at the same time. I'm grateful for the freedoms and commodities we have, but I think we need to work to keep it that way.
Part of being in a democracy means staying informed and staying involved. Most people spend more time following their favorite sport teams or TV shows than how their congress voted. I am just as guilty. Voting is the first step and holding our officials accountable for how they vote is the next.
We are not a culture of one but many. I think considering how many different views, agendas and sub cultures there are, we are a remarkably tolerant country. People don't have to agree and that is the point. As long as what we do or say doesn't hurt or infringe on someone else's health or freedom that is the litmus test.
