January 15, 2007

Originally written by Craig R. Smith

"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's of the citizenry
> just isn'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 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 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 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 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.
>
> 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?"
>