Shout!

Friends

Chandramoon

Libertine

Cam

Tony

~~~~~

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?'

Comments (15) | Add Comment | Link

At 09:31, June 15, 2008, Darkstar said:
	I agree Add Comment \| Link \| \|

At 10:55, June 15, 2008, Patty said:
	I'm going to copy this and use on my blogspot blog, later this month. Hope that's all right with you. Also hope you're having a great Father's Day. Add Comment \| Link \| \|

At 12:54, June 15, 2008, lunarfruity said:
	I agree, there are so many pessimistic people in this world, but they don't do anything about it. Just stand and complain. Yeah.. That works. Ugh. We have so much to be grateful for here. Add Comment \| Link \| \|

At 02:21, June 16, 2008, lisalisabobisa said:
	That's one of the best posts I've ever read Michael, and I agree with it 100%... Add Comment \| Link \| \|

At 05:00, June 16, 2008, Chandramoon said:

This is a great post but it doesn't change the fact that the outside world mostly can't stand Bush as he appears to be an absolute idiot. I don't believe that's all the fault of the media!

That doesn't mean we think all Americans are idiots or that we hate America or that we don't know America is a very developed nation.

We are also a very "developed" nation but in Refugee Week (here anyway) we have to think at what cost do we all live in such luxury!

We are lucky and fortunate but in the long run the world has to find some more equilibrium - it can't take the progress of consumerism and materialism indefinitely - there just won't be enough to go round.

I don't know the answers but it's not to be smug about what we have without acknowledging the plight of the great many in the world (you do acknowledge it by pointing out about Darfur).

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At 09:17, June 16, 2008, DeeJay said:
	I have to say that I think it's okay to be grateful for what you do have, and still be unhappy with the direction the country is going. For many Americans the things you mentioned aren't a much of a possibility. There is so much poverty, and the gap between the haves and have nots seems to be growing. I think those sorts of things are what Americans are unhappy with, Rub. Add Comment \| Link \| \|

At 05:57, June 17, 2008, Chandramoon said:

In all developed countries - including the UK and the US there's a yawning gap between the rich and the poor - not everyone is as comfortable as you imply and never will be. It's all relative of course but there's always more can be done. I'll never forget how generous people were in the Gambia - willing to share what little they have with us even though we already had so much more than them.

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At 01:58, June 17, 2008, MS said:

the fact that the outside world mostly can't stand Bush as he appears to be an absolute idiot

Since, apparently, you speak for the outside world, please convey back to it the message for me that the opinion of the outside world is not so valued seeing as how the outside world seems to be in a pretty big mess right now.

it's not to be smug about what we have without acknowledging the plight of the great many in the world

Being smug and being grateful are two very different things and smugness would probably never come out of a truly grateful heart. A grateful heart is what the piece is suggesting we should have.

there's a yawning gap between the rich and the poor - not everyone is as comfortable as you imply

That has always been true. Do you really think governments can change that?

And from another commenter:
I have to say that I think it's okay to be grateful for what you do have, and still be unhappy with the direction the country is going.---- There is so much poverty, and the gap between the haves and have nots seems to be growing. I think those sorts of things are what Americans are unhappy with..

What seems to lie behind several of these remarks is an implication that government should enforce more charity and sharing amongst the people so there will not be such a gap of have’s and have nots. But it is not the business of government to force charity, nor can it really. Charity comes from the hearts of individuals. The American people have shown time and time again that they are among the most generous people in the world. To ignore that is just plain wrong. A reminder to the American people now and again of our blessings is probably a good thing for when we remember our bounty with gratitude, then we also remember not everyone is so fortunate and with true gratitude, hopefully, comes the inspiration to share. Government coercion has the opposite result.

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At 07:45, June 17, 2008, Chandramoon said:

Oh I do agree that we should be grateful for what we have and I personally am truly grateful for the freedoms I enjoy both politically and personally - I understand the difference between smugness and gratitude. I don't believe those freedoms in the US are a result of Bush though - they have been part of western culture for generations. In fact our government in the UK is undermining our freedoms in the name of fighting terrorism at the moment with CCTV on every street corner and constant surveillance.

I don't claim to speak for the outside world but it's a fact that Bush does not enjoy popularity amongst average people here - I'm not making it up!!

I did say in my comments that I think this was a very good post - I was simply separating the fact of your relative liberty from President Bush.

I also agree we should be grateful and fight to keep our freedoms but not at the expense of civil liberties.

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At 11:27, June 17, 2008, MS said:

Yes, you are correct our freedoms in this country do go way back before Bush or any modern president, their inspiration and tradition having actually come from your country when they were brought over by our founding fathers. However, we can thank Bush for keeping us safe since 9/11.

You say your government is undermining your freedoms now in the name of fighting terrorism. That remark seems strange to me, as it appears it is the terrorists who are undermining your freedoms. Shouldn’t you be angrier with them than you are with your government that is trying to protect you?

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At 03:17, June 18, 2008, LauriesAsylum said:
	I admit we can act a bit spoiled. But, I also think we can be very generous! Add Comment \| Link \| \|

At 10:00, June 19, 2008, Chandramoon said:

I agree that we have to be vigilant against terrorism but sometimes it feels like the risk of terrorism is almost exaggerated and used as a reason to undermine our day to day freedoms. For example ID cards - it won't stop terrorism as there will always be ways around it for the determined criminals and yet it completely goes against the British way of doing things and will cost a complete fortune in bureaucracy. The government keeps losing our personal details left right and centre with their own dodgy security systems and yet want to introduce more and more layers.

Of course I utterly abhor terrorism but I hate the fact that because of a tiny minority of fundamentalists a whole bunch of people are labelled as suspects.

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At 11:40, June 19, 2008, MS said:

I think you are right to be so vigilant and even distrustful against the encroachment of government into our private lives on the pretext of terrorism or any thing else for that matter. In the UK and US, we have the best systems of government known to man, I believe. But even with all the checks and balances, there is always the potential for abuse. Still, in your words, I sense a real anger at government, almost as if you feel they are intentionally evil. In the US, I get angry with government but I tend to think the workers at government are either just hapless or power hungry, which is a temptation for all people once in a position of power. You see, I subscribe to the idea that man is a fallen creature and it is in his nature to seek out his own interests in a position of power and without restraint will continue to seek more and more power. So, I am not so much angry with those in government as I am patient, waiting for our checks and balances to kick in or for them to come to their senses or until they get the message the American people will vote them out. An informed public is so essential.

About ID cards, do you actually already have those? That is a very scary thing. There are occasions here the specter of ID cards is raised, particularly in regard to a way of dealing with illegal immigration. So far, it has gotten nowhere but as concerned citizens, it is one of those things we truly need to be vigilant against.

In regard to ”because of a tiny bunch of fundamentalists a whole bunch of people are labeled as suspects”— that is an unfortunate thing but perhaps the non-radical Muslim community has erred in not denouncing the radicals more publicly and forcefully.

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At 09:02, June 20, 2008, Chandramoon said:

No we don't have ID cards here in the UK "yet" but it's on the cards.

The Muslim community here is much more vocal in decrying terrrorism now a days - I agree that it seemed a bit slow coming. Here in Bristol we certainly don't have a radical Muslim community - they are very well integrated on the whole.

I don't believe government is "evil" intentionally at all - I agree we have much more liberal and fair systems than many but I am afraid of the direction they seem to be taking at present - more and more centralisation and "nannying"!

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At 02:22, June 21, 2008, Rubicon said:

Very interesting conversation between my buddy Chandra and MS....insightful.

Don't really know how much I could add except maybe that when it comes to governments, the UK has been, as I see it, very irresponsible in allowing the radical-fundamentalist Islamic extremists to grow and harbor their hate toward the west within their own country.
i.e. allowing the Mosques to teach hatred and the terrorism that follows. Allowing most anyone to enter the country without really checking to see who and what they really are. And allowing schools within those Mosques to teach young children how to hate and how to make bombs and the like.

However....credit quickly goes to Scotland Yard in their quickness to catch these terrorists, sadly, most times it's already after they've done their deed.

"The Muslim community here is much more vocal in decrying terrrorism now a days - I agree that it seemed a bit slow coming."

For a long time now I've been a huge advocate for the Muslim communities to step up to the plate and denounce the radicals and the radical teachings....but they've still got a very long way to go in my opinion. I don't believe anymore, that automatic sensitivity toward Islam is anywhere in our future. Although liberals would certainly want to argue that point.

"but I hate the fact that because of a tiny minority of fundamentalists a whole bunch of people are labelled as suspects."

Honey....ya know I love ya, but I have to tell you that it's just just a tiny bunch. It's a very large bunch worldwide and growing at an alarming rate. Europeans are now being recruited diligently, and successfully by al-Qaeda and other terrorist networks because of their looks and the fact that no one pays all that much attention to people with western looking features etc in airports and on airplanes.

This gets real scary because I might very well give a second look to someone with Middle Eastern looks whereas I wouldn't with someone with western features. Take that how you want no matter how much it may seem like "typecasting" or "racial profiling", unfortunately though it's where we are....I truly wish that weren't so.

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