In November, 2006, Craig R. Smith, who writes for WorldNetDaily, submitted an article which were his thoughts on the U.S.
Having lived in a 3rd World Country for 11 years I have to agree with him fully. People in the U.S. are so spoiled. They have no idea what it is like to “live without”. Even the poorest people in the U.S. have aid, protection and services available to help them. All I ever hear from the news and people back “home” is their constant complaining about what they don’t have instead of being thankful for what hey do have. I wish everyone could come and live in a 3rd World Country for a while. View what poverty, corruption, the lack of education and lack of basic human rights will do to a country.
I am part of a Yahoo Group (Honduras Living) and the people who are members give advice and help to others who are thinking of moving to Honduras. We tell it like it is. We discuss the problems of Honduras, the friendly people there, the corruption, the beauty of the land, the poor, the rich, everything. While living in a 3rd World Country I have to listen to people slamming the U.S., Honduras, the world, and anything they feel they must come down on. Sometimes I wonder if people are happy only if they complain. Most people complaining don't do much to improve the situation or even give constructive ways to effect a change! Everyone is entitled to their opinion and I know the world is not a perfect place. However, I prefer to look at the wonder and the beauty in this world. I see the help that is being given to my fellow man and am proud that there are nations that can assist those in trouble. I believe in the dedication of our fellow citizens, our leaders, our country to do the right thing. If we don’t like what is going on, we have the right and ability to change it. That is what is great about the U.S.
Therefore, I submit Mr. Smith’s article.
“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 2/3s of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change.
So being the knuckle dragger I am, I starting thinking, ''What we are 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 involved. Whether you are rich or poor they treat your wounds and even, if necessary, 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 having 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 close with one of my favorite quotes from B.C. Forbes in 1953:
''What have Americans to be thankful for? More than any other people on the earth, we enjoy complete religious freedom, political freedom, social freedom. Our liberties are sacredly safeguarded by the Constitution of the United States, 'the most wonderful work ever struck off at a given time by the brain and purpose of man.' Yes, we Americans of today have been bequeathed a noble heritage. Let us pray that we may hand it down unsullied to our children and theirs.''
I suggest this Thanksgiving we sit back and count our blessings for all we have. If we don't, what we have will be taken away. Then we will have to explain to future generations why we squandered such blessing and abundance. If we are not careful this generation will be known as the ''greediest and most ungrateful generation.'' A far cry from the proud Americans of the ''greatest generation'' who left us an untarnished legacy
So, God Bless America and the freedoms she allows to her people and the compassion she shows to other countries in need. I am proud to be a citizen of that country and proud of my country’s efforts to help others."
I can say no more than that. God Bless America!
I'm not sure who this Craig R. Smith is. (WorldNetDaily?? He does not appear on their masthead so he must have merely contributed that "article.") But people like him really p*ss me off. In the first place, he completely misses the point of the Newsweek Magazine poll, then uses his misinterpretation as a springboard to rant on and on about his own agenda. Which is, (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."
ReplyDeleteThe Newsweek poll never indicated such things. All it said was that a majority of the people polled are unhappy with the direction the country is headed and unhappy with the performance of our president. Does that mean we "hate" the country? Heck no! Does that mean we do nothing but complain about how bad we have it here? Heck no! Does that mean I don't thank the Lord every day that I live in the U.S.? Heck no!
There will always be malcontents like Smith who object to every criticism as "unpatriotic" or some other foolishness. If Mr. Smith is so blissfully obtuse that he has no earthly idea why Americans might be unhappy with the direction their country is going, perhaps he ought not to be submitting articles to such august "publications" as the WorldNetDaily.
Yeah, we have a lot to be thankful for here in the good ol' USA. But, sorry to inform Mr. Smith, all is not hunky-dory in the land of the free and the home of the Braves. I suggest he remove his head from the sand...or wherever else it's stuck. His article could've done without the nasty tone.
Amen. Thanks for a very straight foreward post. If everyone had to spend a year of their time in a Third World country, they would appreciate what they have. My Honduran born son, who lived there for the first 15 years of his life, recently returned to visit. He called me saying it was his worst nightmare: There was no hot water for a shower; no AC and it was steamy hot; and the electricity kept going out. I told him to get a grip; Honduras has not changed, he has become Americanized.
ReplyDeletePatty in Trujillo
Bob:
ReplyDeleteWhile in some parts I must agree with your statements, it is my fault that I did not print the entire article written by Mr. Smith. He commented (where you see the "......." about the feelings of the people towards their President, i.e., involvement in the war. I did not include that portion because I honestly didn't want to get into a big debate about the morals, etc. of the continuation of the present war. While I don't like war I realistically know that war will always be a way in this world. People being what they are seem never to be satisfied and are either looking for more power or are greedy. Some people/countries live with blinders on and cannot accept others for who and what they are. I do not know what the 67% were unhappy about as to where the country is going and I must assume (which is a dangeous thing to do) that people were referring to the war. Of course, it could just be they didn't like the way the government is presently working regarding taxes, the economy, the state of the Union. So, I cannot comment on that. What I was pointing out is that the people in the U.S. really have no idea to how precious the freedoms they have are and what it feels like to be without those freedoms.
People always complain, heck I complain a lot, but I hear complaints from people in Honduras about their country, complaints from various foreigners about their country and what are they doing about it but complaining? We all have the right to gather, discuss and voice our opinions but when those statements drone on and on and never change and nothing gets done to either improve the situaiton or help it, what is the point? It is just a group of people bitching. People put down the U.S. because we are involved with the problems of the world. But if we didn't help I think people would chastizing us for that too. Honduras doesn't want anyone telling them what to do but they accept aid and money without hesitation. They want a free ride and want to take the money and run and object when anyone wants to look over their shoulder as to what they do with it. This is just one example of wanting help from the U.S. and then telling them they have no say in the matters that are going on there.
I may be off the track here but my article was mainly to let people know how lucky they are to live in the U.S.
I appreciate your input and count you as a dear friend whom I have admiration in and value your input.
Sharon, Just wanted to let you know that your last blog really meant a lot to me... Sometimes I feel like there are very few patriots left who love this country. I too have been to several 3rd world countries and been to war and have seen how much of the rest of the world lives. It is a real awakening to see how different some of the rest of the world lives and how well we really have it. Thank you for speaking your mind freely. You are right and I appreciate your willingness to put your opinion out there and risk verbal abuse. If more people don't speak up in favor of our country we are in real danger of losing what many have spent blood securing. Last time I checked there were not many folks trying to get out of our country... and many trying to get in... We are a country with many flaws... and many freedoms... I guess they come together... A difficult balance... Something called the constitution... I echo you... God Bless America... Thank you for your candid voice...
ReplyDeleteI happened upon this blog through Bob's helicopter pilot blog and I've seen you comment on other blogs.
ReplyDeleteThis was a good article. Quite frankly, I don't really understand why people leave the US to live in 3rd world countries unless great business opportunities draw them there. I've visited 3rd world countries and wouldn't give up the US to live there. I wonder why people go.
kman
I loved your article and his and couldn't agree more. US Americans are spoiled. The US will never be perfect, but most Americans do not appreciate what they have. It's never enough.
ReplyDeleteJust one example: Instead of appreciating that the US has pretty darned good police protection, people will complain because it took them 10 minutes to respond. My only experience with calling the emergency number in Honduras, they HUNG UP on me 5 times in a row until I gave up.
The police can stop, search your car, even your body without any justification at all -- and steal items from your car or wallet while they are at it.
If they don't like you or you aren't willing to bribe, they can take you in to the station and confiscate your vehicle OR they can even kill you and dump your body somewhere. That is not an exaggeration. Who are you going to complain to?
This probably doesn't happen to tourists much, but it does happen to Honduran citizens.
"Count your blessings" is right!