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A sad, but entirely too true commentary on America today.
The question is, what are we going to do about it, people?
Though I agree with his general theme, he is rambling with this statement. I can think of four instances of self sacrifice right off hand...flight 93, the guy who saved a person from being run over by the subway, the teacher who stalled the virginia shooter so some students could escape, the recent incident where the two seniors hauled down that idiot on the airliner.
I've said it before, I'll say it (once) again. If in no other realm, we're giving up a lot of our rights and liberties in recent and current legislation, not the least of which falsely pretends to "protect" us against sex-offenders with laws like mandatory registration and notification, self-branding, residence zones, etc.
Most of these laws at least have a simple justification (though most do not hold up under analysis, as this one fails)... but to enact them we have to invoke "public safety" as the higher issue.
We've already reached the point where every single one of us could be mandated to register our residence with the local police. I bet a lot of FReepers would be upset with that... but... what's wrong with that? It works in Switzerland (and so far the Swiss get to keep their guns and ammo.)
But if it makes us feel safer, truly or not, how can one vote against it? Live with the result -- when you start treading upon others' rights, your (and my) own are in the sights.
The America created by its Founding Fathers is dead. And both sides of the aisle get the blame.
We were born to mothers who smoked and drank
Our cribs were covered in lead-based paint
No childproof lids
No seatbelts in cars
Rode bikes with no helmets
and still here we are
Still here we are
We got daddy’s belt when we misbehaved
Had three TV channels you got up to change
No video games and no satellite
All we had were friends and they were outside
Playing outside
It was a different life
When we were boys and girls
Not just a different time
It was a different world
School always started the same everyday
the pledge of allegiance, then someone would pray
not every kid made the team when they tried
We got disappointed but that was alright
[A Different World lyrics on http://www.metrolyrics.com]
We turned out alright
It was a different life
When we were boys and girls
Not just a different time
It was a different world
No bottled water
We’d drink from a garden hose
And every Sunday,
All the stores were closed.
It was a different life
When we were boys and girls
Not just a different time
It was a different world
It was a different life
When we were boys and girls
Not just a different time
It was a different world
It was a different world
Bucky Covington A Different World Lyrics
I’m not American, but my frank and honest conclusion is that the US seems to be in a much healthier state than most other nations do.
This promising condition is in many ways a sheer product of the magnificent US constitution and it could, likewise, be said to stem from certain core values shared by most Americans, although Americans sometimes disagree.
This concord in disagreement is what all good hearted Westerners call by the name of Democracy. Despite various internal quarrels, it is yet another part of what makes the United States of America great.
But, above all, the greatness and strength of America derives from millions of daring individuals who challenged so much more than a cold, fierce and merciless ocean in order to build a new home for themselves and their offspring.
They took the great chance - and risk - of trying to spread Western Civilization to Terra Icognita and they were successful beyond belief.
Their courage leaves a strong mark in eternity.
Perhaps something of importance could be learned from this;
The Western concept of civilization is not, basically, about a belief in the freedom of Man.
It is about the realization of this very idea.
Believe the words of a Viking:
Your bastion will not fall.
Regards from Gothenburg, Sweden.
It was already on the way out by 1954. That is when I heard a father say that his children would have every advantage and would be deprived of nothing. When his kid graduated high school he was given a car. That was the beginning of the end.
Having just got back from seeing two neighborhoods where I grew up in 30-40 years ago, I’d have to agree that times have changed, certainly some neighborhoods have changed.
The biggest problem, as I see it, is that our children are no longer taught about America’s greatness, what it stands for and what it does for the rest of the world. Instead, all they are told is that we are evil, that we rob the rest of the world of its resources and that we are destined to have unhappy lives thanks to racism, sexism, homophobia, etc.
It takes a 9-11 for everyone to think about and express love for their nation again, and that but for a few weeks before they are back to badmouthing the U.S. as the cause of global warming, international unrest, etc., etc.
And who is it that continually criticizes our country and repeatedly fails to acknowledge the good that it does? If you’re on this board, I don’t think I have to answer that question.
One of Ronald Reagan’s successes was that he routinely spoke about the goodness of America. He was obviously proud of who we were as a country and it reflected in so many things he did and said. Can’t think of any candidate today that is making that a focal point of their campaign.
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