| I find it how much people complain about the USA and the government yet they seem to forget several points:
1) We get to vote. Most of the world's population get no say, or only the illusion of a say, in their officials. The people who make their laws, the people who make decisions that severely affect them.
2) We have the right to complain. Threads like this are wonderful for the freedom of speech and press (I think this forum would be more under freedom of press). IN many countries people would never see posts complaining about their government either though censorship or the poster was captured.
If I get pulled over I can tell the police officer to his face that I think he is doing a horrible job and he can't do anything about it (as long as I don't say it in a threatening way). I can do the same with any of our judges, representatives, council members, senators, even our presidential staff.
3) Most of us can afford basic living unlike a lot of the world. We can traditionally go to the store and buy a gallon of milk without breaking the bank or waiting in a line hours long (under normal circumstances). We see people here living with the very basics to support themselves while in some other countries that would be considered a life of luxury.
4) Everyone here (on this forum) has (or can afford) a telephone (landline or wireless), TV, a computer with internet access, and a new (or newer) car - if you don't have one it is by choice. I'm willing to bet a large percentage of the world's population not only is missing 2-4 of these, they will never obtain one in their lifetime.
People also tend to forget that whenever tragedy hits somewhere in the world the USA is one of the first countries to jump in and offer help. The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, earthquakes all over the world, volcanic eruptions, famine, hurricanes (and other types of tropical cyclones) - unless the government tells the US to stay out - it's the first country to offer assistance.
I think this is a great country to live in, no matter who is in the big office. Is it perfect? Hell no, far from it - and it's been like that ever since I have been able to grasp a view of the real picture (we're spanning many presidents, R and D). Am I going to threaten to pack up and leave the country because who is in that office? Nope.
I've had little exposure at how "the other side" lives - and I know what I've seen doesn't even compare to most people in the world. I've been to Panama. I've seen starving children try to sell little sea shells and pretty rocks for $1 - which would feed their family for a day or two. I've seen them try to sell you the opportunity to take a picture with an exotic bird or a sloth for $1.
I've seen in Belize and Costa Rica some communities with nothing more than twine holding up the sheets of metal to create their "homes". I've seen the garbage piles in between these houses.
All this while I've seen an American couple complain that the stairs on the Mayan temple were to steep and there were no hand rails inside an old Spanish fort.
My father in law came to the USA decades ago with $500 in his pocket form a country that people are (still) thrown out of airplanes (without parachutes) for speaking out against their government. He was already a world known surgeon (having been one of the first in the world to perform open heart surgery). He struggled in the beginning but was able to build up a good life for himself and his family.
I'm glad I am an "accidental American" (American by birth - my father in law, even though an immigrant - is a true American in my eyes). I am glad I live here. This is a great country.
This is what the 4th of July should be about - celebrating the USA. |