Food For Thought

Hi All,

I don't know who wrote this, I wish I'd been the one who put this so well. My thanks to its' author.

Enjoy,

Bob D

Food For Thought

"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 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?

Isn't 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 more 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
spending some time 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.

Stop buying the negativism you are fed everyday by the media. Shut off the TV now and then, 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 peoples on Earth and should thank whatever God we chose to be free to worship without fear of persecution, or at least be thankful and appreciative that we live in the USA.

With hurricanes, tornadoes, 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?"