Perspective - Inspiration or Political Message?
Okay, I’m not a huge Jay Leno fan. Nor am I a huge George W. Bush fan.
However, there are some times when a random email comes in (thanks, Mom) that you just need to have some pause and think. The mail is after the break or follow the link in the next paragraph.
Todd’s commentary: One thing that traveling the world does enlighten you to are the differences between the US and other “civilized” countries. As a country and culture, we often focus on all of the bad things that happen. We also tend to be a country of the minority. (ie. it takes a 2/3 vote for certain things to happen, giving power to the minority.)
As a side note, I’m not a bleeding heart liberal. I’m not a believer in political correctness. PC is “polite racism” in my book. It goes out of it’s way to make a separation in terms of ethnic group or national origin (ie. Japanese-American, Chinese-American, etc.). Honestly, sometimes it’s better if someone does call you a derogatory name; at least you know the person is a bigot. I believe people have the freedom to be called what they wish. (Me, I prefer American… ask anyone at my office… I’m not “Japanese” in a cultural sense at all). At the same time, the raw patriotism often gets interpreted as right wing / neocon drivel, of which I feel is outdated.
Anyway, this is supposedly from Jay Leno. It’s not. However, it is thought provoking from a bit of a conservative perspective. We are fortunate to be in this country. We do enjoy a lot of freedoms and provisions that many do not have. My opinions don’t have to fit a single party or ideal. Are there things we should improve in this country? The true beauty of the USA is that it is dynamic. That we always are changing, we are NOT satisfied. The day people in this country are satisfied is the day the American Spirit dies.
I do agree that media is sensationalist and often focuses on the “train wreck” or bad karma stories. I think many people don’t like to see heart warming stories because they’re jealous it didn’t happen to them…
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’s 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?”
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, and even 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 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 TV’s, a burglar 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 cellphones 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 to 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 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 murdered like O.J. 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!
STOP BUYING THE NEGATIVISM YOU ARE FED EVERY DAY BY THE MEDIA. Shut off the TV,
burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird case.
Then start being grateful for all we have as a 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 wit the treat
of bird flue and terrorist attacks, ‘Are we sure this is a good time to take God
out of the Pledge of Allegiance’?
JAY LENO
2007
