I'm feeling a little frustrated. Let me explain...
I love my country, I really do. I'm even hokey enough to admit that I can be moved to tears at times hearing the Star Spangled Banner or seeing a veterans memorial - even if it's just a local veteran's day celebration. I love us alot...at least on paper. I love the words of our Declaration of Independance, the ideals on which we were founded. I love how radical the idea of "all men created equal" was - still is - but especially in the 1700's. I love what we strive for and represent. I even love the cheesy 'American Dream'. We take for granted that we really are one of the few places on earth where anyone can make it. Yes, I love America and I love being an American...but my country has disappeared.
I know I'm naive about some things, and I will heartly acknowledge the dark spots in our nation's history. We're not perfect, not even close...I know this. However, I still think of us as the country who pulled itself up from it's bootstraps during the depression, while fighting (and winning, mind you) a world war. The country where you can worship as you please, or not. The country where, if you work hard, you can 'make it'. This is my America...and it's missing.
America is now a mix of the world bully and the world idiot. Watch foreign films...watch the perception of America change during the last 2 decades. American punchlines need no explanation anymore, it's accepted that we're selfish bullies...and not very smart. This is what the world thinks of us, and it seems they're right.
When communism fell, I think our nation-and the world-saw this awesome opportunity. Ok, we're the only major superpower left. Let's take this thing out for a spin and see what it can do! Think of all the good that can be accomplished! Think of the example we can set! Go America!! Turns out...not so much. A golden opportunity - once in a lifetime - squandored.
Well, maybe there'll be a second opportuity...behold Sept. 11th. We were a divided, bitter, partisan nation on Sept. 10th. One day later, we held to each other and vowed to protect our nation, get the terrorists and use this wake up call to the world. We loved our President on Sept 12th. He had us in the palm of his hand. Whatever we felt about him before, we were standing behind him now, waiting for him to lead us to healing, to prosperity once again, to justice against those who attacked us.
Fast forward to today. The 'American Dream' is now almost dead, if not totally. Small business owners are being taxed out the ear and being forced to provide health care at astronomical costs. They can't do it...no matter how hard they work...so they fold. Our president talks, at length, about fighting AIDS in Africa, helping the homeless in India and other humanitarian efforts throughout the world. These are noble causes and I will agree that we are not doing all we should be, as the world's wealthiest nation, to help in these areas. But what about the homeless HERE! We don't need to go overseas to find problems with AIDS, just go 10 blocks in any direction of the white house. Another large company, FORD, just announced more massive layoffs. What about unemployment HERE. It's shameful that children in our country don't have enough to eat when we're also facing a national health care crisis due to obesity. We're so busy messing up the world that we got a bonus and messed up ourselves too!
And what does is say to the world when we re-elect a leader that more than half of the country, at his peak, doesn't agree with?!! Oh, I've got to stop right here...
I could go on and on and on and on...but realize I kinda already am. So, I'll just leave it at, I don't know where my country has gone, but this isn't it. I never thought I'd say this, and it truly bothers me to do so, but I'm embarrassed to be an American.
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4 comments:
Sam, no apologies needed, I always look forward to your wisdom...but let me assure you, the sky is blue.
Bully - yes, I agree that some of our veiwed 'bulliness' is acceptable. We've almost become a parent figure in some ways and what kid thinks their parents do everything fair and nice. Parents do seemingly 'unfair' things because it's the right thing for the child...and then that child calls them a bully. And then that parent slaps that child - wait, I digress. Yes, I do realize that we're the first super power to not go totally ape and start raping/pilaging thier people and world...BUT...I want to keep it that way. I want to stay off that slippery slope. Also, so what if no one has done it before...we're America, we should be the first! We should also do it well, and we're not.
Idiot - lots of nations with way more limited resourses than us consistantly higher on standardized tests. Which, yes, I think are a somewhat bogus measuring stick. But it's not just our suffering education system. Let's look at how we got into our current war..."oops, we really THOUGHT they had WMD's! My Bad!" Is the world a better place without Sadaam Hussein in power - definately. Should we have known exactly why/where/how we were going in...uh, YEAH!
Unemployment - the administration's numbers are constantly called into question and I don't know enough about economy to form my own percentage. I just feel like the day is coming to an end where you can work hard and make it. I don't mean super rich. I mean be successful and provide for yourself and your family because you earned it. I know there are plenty of examples all through our history where you can say the same was true...I just feel it's getting worse.
National poverty - I didn't say that nationally we're in poverty, I pointed out that we have a huge section of our population in poverty - struggling with hunger, homelessness, disease and the like. No we're not the richest nation in the world - those tiny foreign oil ones have us beat - but we share our resourses with our people. We shouldn't have this so wide spread.
Oh, and all politicians are asses.
In closing, let me leave you a couple of my favorite references: "America, the Book" by Jon Stewart and "When You Ride Alone, You Ride with Bin Laden" by Bill Maher.
Wow, whoever starts to read these crazy long posts and comments is probably going to get really bored.
Dagnasty and I watched our fearless leader's state of the union address while he was visiting. Man, talk about inspiring.
Our nation is run by the corporate interest and an elite few. Our supreme court doesn't reflect our nation's demographics. We're in the middle of an unwinnable war with a growing debt to china and saudi arabia. The conservative movement creates an intolerance, fear, and hatred of differing people and opinions.
I wish this were a country where you could make it if you just worked hard, but that's not the case. Racism, sexism, and classism are formidable obstacles towards the "Land of opportunity".
At least we've got Bill O'Reilly.
We are the greatest country that is or has ever been, but we aren't nearly as good as we should be. It's difficult to hold these 2 convictions in tension. Plus, it doesn't help that we are moving in the wrong direction.
It is embarassing that a country with our history, our ideals, and our wealth should have people living on the streets. It is infuriating that our leaders squandor precious resources and endanger our people by choosing to fight elective wars.
I resent the fact that I am no longer proud of my country's position in the world. I resent being put in a position where I support the troops, but oppose the war. I resent the fact that some people don't recognize this as a position that is even possible.
I am at the same time inspired by, and also profoundly disappointed in my country.
Ex-freakin'-actly
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