Tuesday, June 12, 2007

A letter someone wrote.

The following letter was written by Anonymous and emailed to me by my friend Karla. I decided to post it. It's a very good letter

Subject: : ..." HITS THE NAIL ON THE HEAD"

"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 2/3s of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change. So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started 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 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 moment 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 guidedthe 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 forsucceeding 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 thankGod 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?"



Rick Garbett
507 ACSSLogistics Management Specialist
Hill AFB, Utah

12 comments:

Barb said...

What a GREAT post! We certainly DO have a lot to be thankful for and seem to take for granted.

Kim said...

Just so you know - Leno did not write this.

http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/hitnail.asp

And yes there are many things to be grateful for - but does that mean we should just ignore the things we aren't grateful for?

Constance said...

That was awesome. Thanks, Callie Ann !

BTW, would you give a shout out to Sarge Charlie about this ? I think he'd love to see it --

Crazy Working Mom said...

Wow, kinda puts things in perspective doesn't it?! Great post, Callie.

Sandee said...

You go girl. Very well said and very accurate. Still at jury duty, but haven't been chosen for anything yet. Have a great day. :)

Kim said...

Callie,

Check the link I posted above - I am not sure if they say who really wrote it - I think so though.

Apparently, the guy put a comment Leno made, at the end of the letter and thus people think Leno wrote the entire thing.

JustMeShann said...

Amen...

Amazing Gracie said...

Amen!!! I agree with Kim to a certain extent about speaking up about the things we don't like but the problem about that is, that's all we hear!!!
It's refreshing to pause and think on the things that ARE right with this wonderful country!!!
(Snopes and Truth or Fiction are two good sites to determine if something is right on)

Sarge Charlie said...

THAT IS GREAT STUFF, oh well, i would say that, i am one of the happy ones.

Renee said...

Amen

Empress Bee (of the high sea) said...

i would like to add that if we can't get along, at least leave the other one alone!

smiles, bee

Mrs. Darling said...

I saw this in my eamil too. It is so good. We need to learn to count our blessings rather than grumble about everything! This is a great reminder of all that we have!