May 6, 2007 8:01 PM
Barbara's Soapbox: Americans are unhappy? Or just spoiled?
........ I liked it a lot, but before passing it on, I ran it through Snopes to check on its accuracy. Snopes is a great resource for people who receive and like to pass on email. Usually it takes just once getting stung by passing on false information and having to go back to inform your email list that you've been a fool to make fact checking a habit :)
I just couldn't imagine Jay Leno writing this, so I checked. Sure enough, it was written not by a TV comedian but be a real writer, Craig R. Smith and published last November at WorldNetDaily. It's still a mighty thought-provoking piece and worth a read:
Made in the USA: Spoiled Brats 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 2/3s of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change.
So being the knuckle dragger I am, I starting thinking, ''What we are so unhappy about?''
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?
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.
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 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.
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.
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 brats safe from terrorist attacks? The commander in chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me?
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.
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. Just ask why they are going to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book and do a TV special about how he didn't kill his wife but if he did … insane!
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.
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.''
I suggest this Thanksgiving 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.
The message for mommies? It's important for us to bring up our children to be grateful for all they have, not taking anything for granted. When my kids complain, I've tried to teach them to be grateful instead. Instead of complaining about folding clothes, for instance, to choose instead to thank God for the clothes he's given us. Instead of complaining "There's nothing to eat" (even when the pantry's full), to thank God for full bellies.
I wonder how long our country can continue to be so privileged when so many are so ungrateful. Not only does it seem that the most privileged are the biggest complainers of all, it seems that those whose heads would be first to roll under other forms of government are the most traitorous to our own.
Barbara' Soapbox for the day :)
Posted in Current Affairs | Permalink
Comments
Barbara, I think you and the writer are missing a key distinction here: the writer himself has said that it is the president we are unhappy with, and the direction our country is headed should he continue to lead us this way.
I can't speak for everyone, but I personally feel unhappy with both of those aspects, but still love my country and its citizens, am incredibly grateful all the time for everything we have - the freedoms, the unbelievable wealth and comfort we have, and the beauty of our great land.
I think the writer was trying to make a political point by saying that because we are unhappy with the president's performance, that we are unhappy in general or somehow ungrateful for all we have. I don't think that is a reasonable leap to make from the two numbers he quoted, not at all.
Furthermore, it is pretty insulting to try and paint everyone who disagrees with the president and believes that our country could be even greater if led by someone with different vision and values, as an ingrate. The country had all of the freedoms and incredible benefits you mentioned during the Clinton years, but I bet you didn't care for him as president. Would you have agreed with the essay had it been written during that time? You would have been the one wrongly painted as ungrateful.
I hope this is taken in the spirit of earnest friendship in which it is intended.
Posted by: Gen | May 6, 2007 9:46 PM
Gen, my friend, you definitely have a point. However, while the second source of dissatisfaction is listed as the President, the first is listed as "67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed."
You're right, I was not a big Clinton fan. I find both the Clintons to be quite inauthentic and users of people - and I don't like either of those qualities. But even when they were in power, I still loved my country dearly. You may say that people saying they don't like direction yadayada is not the same as saying they don't like the country.
But that may be missing the forest for the trees. The fact is that the left - and Hollywood and the mainstream media are constantly stirring up discontent with America. When our enemies behead Americans they don't receive a tenth of the air time devoted to a few individual soldiers who've humiliated a few prisoners. No mention is given to the great humanitarian efforts our country makes - through federal and private intervention - all over the world. We don't focus on food banks and places that aid unwed mothers and adoptive families and all the generous deeds Americans do all over the world. I believe we ARE the most generous and caring people in the world, based on money and time commitments we make.
But NOOOO - we are guilty of racism, ruining the planet, greed (well, I agree there is way too much of that and I am very anti-corporate America).
The thing is that who our president is says little about who America is. So anyone getting confused about not liking the President with not liking our country really needs to rethink things. Having been a member of the radical left, I know the loathing of our country by many people on the left is very, very real. Even when they have someone like Clinton in office, that doesn't change.
I know you know me pretty well by now, but there are still some fine points you might not be able to second guess. The fact is that I am a pretty optimistic person and a real cheerleader for things I love - including my country, no matter who is president.
I really do appreciate you!
Posted by: barbara | May 6, 2007 10:51 PM
I keep a copy of the photo "Migrant Mother" by Dorothea Lange taken in 1936 in my kitchen. It was taken not far from where my Grandparents grew up and I could be me, and is not. Every time I look at it I think of something to give thanks for. I want to teach my kids to give thanks for what they have and be able to give to others. I can only teach it by example. I just wish I succeeded more often.
Posted by: Jane Duquette | May 6, 2007 11:45 PM
I think the writer is just saying that we as Americans are ungrateful. Period. He is not saying it is dependent upon the president - just that we have so much we aren't even grateful at all!
Thanks, Barbara.
Posted by: Holly | May 7, 2007 8:42 AM
Thanks for your thoughtful and thought-provoking response, Barbara! I appreciate your taking the time to respond to me and while I haven't an immediate response, I do want you to know that your words touched me and I am enjoying thinking about them.
Posted by: Gen | May 7, 2007 10:27 AM
AMEN!!!
Posted by: Rachel | May 7, 2007 10:31 AM
