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SilverHamer
04-19-2007, 07:00 PM
...this is a worthwhile read, particularly if you are a US Citizen...


JAY LENO..."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 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?"

Jay Leno

Tracy
04-19-2007, 07:08 PM
But Der Monkey is still a fuktard. :p

SilverHamer
04-19-2007, 08:01 PM
No argument from me...I just thought Leno's thoughts were pretty profound.

From my own experience of being outside the homeland a few times, I have seen how so many take what we have here at home for granted. A few visits, however short, to any number of less civilized countries around the world makes a person really appreciate how so many people have become numbed to what we enjoy and take so much for granted. We are quite lucky in spite of who may be attempting to lead us.

In my travels around the world, well, the parts I've visited anyhow, here are a few of my own personal findings:

Italy has some of the worst Italian food I've ever eaten. Give me Poppa Johns, or even Little Caesars, any day over the pizza I've had in a few locations in Italy (which was all I could handle). NOBODY makes a great pizza anywhere like they do in New York, or even Chicago.

Taco Bell food would be considered a delecacy compared to much of the so-called Mexican food I've had in Mexico. Actually it's more Tex-Mex.

And THIS is just a couple of examples of FOOD. There are so many other things which could be compared that you won't find better anywhere else. And there are also a number of civilized countries who have the best of a lot of things which can not be duplicated anywhere else...except here. And that has nothing to do with national pride or anything...just experience. NOBODY has Lemon Curd that is as good as in the UK. NOBODY can make a schnitzel as good as you'll find in Germany...etc.

I stayed in Romania for about 4 weeks when my ex and I were adopting a baby in 1990. During that time, Romania was at least 100 years behind us in almost everything. I stood in line at the market with my host for 3 hours to get some meat for supper...we arrived at 5:30am and at about 8:30 when we were finally able to get into the shop, the only meat they had left was a few chicken necks. Right about then I had the deepest and most profound appreciation for McDonalds or Burger King.

MarkE
04-19-2007, 10:29 PM
Larry...

From another who was around the world several times while in the military...I got a real kick out of your comment about the worst Italian food in Italy. I have been all over the boot several times and came to the same conclusion. Im convinced at this point that the only decent pizza in the world comes from NY :)

Anyway...agreed...all I had to do was travel beyond the US borders for the first time to KNOW that we live in the greatest country on the planet. My first tour was in Africa/Mid East. What a shithole....both of them. i was in Luanda Angola during one of their "civil wars" It was no treat. I was in Jiddah Saudi Arabia as the first US military presence to be there in over 30 years. What a shithole. I have been cursed at, shit on, spat on and denegrated by citizens of every country in the western hemisphere. The worst was Norway and France. The French fuken hate us!!! Go figya....I wonder who it was that chased the nazis out of their beloved fuken country. Thats gratitude for you.

okay...off my soap box. I have no problem with Bush. All in all, with the exception of the way he is handling Iraq I have no problems. yes, he is a dickweed. I am as much a Hawk/Patriot as you will find anywhere....but its time to bring our kids home. Mission accomplished.We have been there too long.

Any yes...the US is full of spoiled crybabys. Most of them have never been outside the US and cry when the local Starbucks runs outta their favorite overly-marketted shit coffee. Also, there is no respect among the young anymore....not toward their parents, not toward their teachers, not toward the police or anyone. The US young need some serious hardships to snap them back into line.

okay...I got back on my soapbox. Dont get me started :)

SilverHamer
04-19-2007, 11:04 PM
MarkE, did you ever get to La Madalena to the submarine tending base? I had a friend who was there in the late '80's whom I went to visit...long ass drive from Augsburg, Germany to Livorno on the West Coast of Italy, then a 13 hour ferry ride to the Island of Sardenia...aboard the Moby Prince which struck an oil tanker about 4 or 5 years later and sank leaving only 2 survivors...La Mad is not one of those places you "pass through" on the way to somewhere else...LOL. It was a great visit, but that was the trip in which I was introduced to Italian food in Italy. I also thought that $4 for a cup of coffee, served in a very small cup filled about half-way was quite rediculous...that is until after I had one. SHIIITTT! That stuff was like speed! LOLOL.

I may have exhibited a bit more bias than I had originally intended in my previous post...so I will back up a bit and add that NOBODY makes beer like the Germans! Nobody makes Ale like England! Nobody makes Stout like Ireland! And certainly NOBODY makes rum like the Austrians! Stroh Inlander Rum is more potent than Bicardi 151 but has a taste all of it's own which is very smooth. But you can literally burn down the house with it...you could almost put it in the gas tank of your car...HAHAHA.

Aaahhh, the memories...

Jake...where is it you live in Austria??? I will also say that I have not gone skiing anywhere which compares with Austria...breath-taking scenery and awesome people! However, I have hung up my skis and poles for good now. I'd probably kill myself if I ever tried to get back on the slopes. SCUBA diving is much more relaxing :)