I am so thankful to be living in America...

sisterpine · #1 05/26/13, 09:51 AM

I know we have folks on this forum from other countries and I pray you are as happy in your country as I am in this one. Yes, we have many problems here and we are likely to take the big nose dive in the near future just like the rest of the first world countries. Still, I was in the Olive Garden yesterday having lunch with my SIL. She was born and raised in Venezuela and then moved to Canada as a teen and then on to Arizona as a young woman. I believe she still had dual citizenship with Canada or something like that.

We were discussing how messy things are getting economically in this country and then I thought: WAIT A MINUTE! We are sitting in a nice air conditioned establishment, with no obvious police presence, eating a great meal, wearing clothes made all over the world and having a great convo. When we are done we will get into our privately owned vehicle, drive on paved roads and go back home to our privately owned homes with evaporative cooling and join our families in working our privately owned gardens and orchards. My Lord, how blessed we are! My SIL said she prays every night for her family still in Venezuela and she knows how corrupt the government is there and how her relatives struggle to get by.

Just sayin..happy Memorial Day..and thank you to all who helped us have this grand country to live in and be a part of!

plowjockey · #2 05/26/13, 10:02 AM

I am ashamed, when I catch myself, complaining on "how bad" I have it, then I realize that the kings of some countries, don't live as well as I do.

Explorer · #3 05/26/13, 10:03 AM

Yes. A special thanks to all the soldiers that have served, and the many that gave their lives, to keep our country free and prosperous.

Murramarang · #4 05/26/13, 10:14 AM

We do live in a wonderful country full of hard working honest and generous people. We have a society, even if imperfect, that is better than most.

Many have fought and died for us to keep all those things (and unfortunately many and fought and died in wars in which we served that were for other reasons)....but we should remember them all and the freedoms we enjoy EVERYDAY.

I love this country....it is my home.

FarmboyBill · #5 05/26/13, 12:52 PM

And you think this government isn't corrupt??

blufford · #6 05/26/13, 02:04 PM

You forgot to mention unlimited free breadsticks and salad.

rockhound · #7 05/26/13, 03:16 PM

FBB We all know there are corrupt people in government as there are at 7-11 and your local farm store, etc. People are corrupt, many of them at least. There's no getting around it. Slowly we work toward a society where all will be perfect, knowing all the while that goal will never be reached.

mekasmom · #8 05/26/13, 03:32 PM

In everything give thanks.... this is the will of God concerning you.

We are all blessed to be born where we were, when we were for such a time as this.

Murramarang · #9 05/26/13, 03:46 PM

...in the interests of keeping this positive, I have adjusted to post so I don't offend the folks who feel that it needs to be a religious thread (it does not)

Maura · #10 05/26/13, 04:05 PM

At mass some 25 years ago the Sunday before Memorial Day the priest gave a sermon related to the holiday. He came from Poland about twenty years previously and remembers wandering in a big city. A police officer approached him. The police officer asked if he was lost and where he needed to go. To this man from Poland, this minor event represents America to him.

Wolfy-hound · #11 05/26/13, 04:38 PM

I feel in general we have it very very good.

Our government doesn't come barging into your home just because you didn't vote for Obama and shoot you as an example. They don't imprison people for saying "Congress sucks and should be put digging ditches!" We don't have to deal with armed gangs of thugs chopping people's arms off because they are a different race/tribe/ethnicity.

YES our government isn't perfect, and YES our country could stand to improve, but overall, compared to many, we do live awfully good lives.

It doesn't mean that if you are losing your home to foreclosure because you can't find a job that you shouldn't complain... because some people in Africa have to live in the gutter their whole lives. That's akin to saying you shouldn't yell "OW!" when you break your toe, just because someone else lost a leg in a car wreck. Another person's pain does not diminish your own pain. It just can make you appreciate that your pain isn't worse.

Murramarang · #12 05/26/13, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolfy-hound

I feel in general we have it very very good.

Our government doesn't come barging into your home just because you didn't vote for Obama and shoot you as an example. They don't imprison people for saying "Congress sucks and should be put digging ditches!" We don't have to deal with armed gangs of thugs chopping people's arms off because they are a different race/tribe/ethnicity.

YES our government isn't perfect, and YES our country could stand to improve, but overall, compared to many, we do live awfully good lives.

It doesn't mean that if you are losing your home to foreclosure because you can't find a job that you shouldn't complain... because some people in Africa have to live in the gutter their whole lives. That's akin to saying you shouldn't yell "OW!" when you break your toe, just because someone else lost a leg in a car wreck. Another person's pain does not diminish your own pain. It just can make you appreciate that your pain isn't worse.

excellent way to put it....

10 points to Gryffindor

Marilyn · #13 05/26/13, 04:59 PM

Count me as thankful that we have a military willing to do what it takes. God bless those that have given their lives.

Terrabus · #14 05/26/13, 06:11 PM

I lived overseas for 3 years. After seeing what the average person goes through in countries many feel are developed, I count myself lucky. But more importantly, I know I have it good and I know I'm lucky.

Nothing makes you love your country more than leaving it for a while.

Raymond James · #15 05/26/13, 06:46 PM

I think every American should go live in a third world country and in a country with a dictator for at least 6 months. They will appreciate how well we have it here in the United States.

braggscowboy · #16 05/26/13, 07:06 PM

Each of you are right in some way or other. I love my country and this kind of post makes it even more wonderful. Thanks for the post.

FarmboyBill · #17 05/26/13, 08:30 PM

I love my country, Its the politicians who continually try to take it away from what it started out as that I hate. Politicians put me in the military, well, I put myself, but they would have if I hadn't. They created several wars in which they didn't go to but invited forceably all the young men who didn't want to go. Before one war was over, theyed start looking for an excuse to start another. They knew they couldn't stay in the same war forever, people wouldn't go for it, BUT, seemingly people are ok in takeing war on the road to other places. kinda like gas prices. They raise them for months slowly until the people scream in misery. THEN they lower them for a month or so until a holiday when they raise them again, and people tend to go with that.

joebill · #18 05/26/13, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockhound

FBB We all know there are corrupt people in government as there are at 7-11 and your local farm store, etc. People are corrupt, many of them at least. There's no getting around it. Slowly we work toward a society where all will be perfect, knowing all the while that goal will never be reached.

I appreciate the sentiment, and certainly I'd not trade my nationality for any other. This country and form of government is the "last best hope" of mankind, as has been said by a very smart man. We are, however, currently working AWAY from an ideal society, not towards one, and I hope that those who love our constitutional republic will resist the forces that are trying to destroy it........Joe

sisterpine · #19 05/26/13, 10:39 PM

I agree that this country is not perfect, politicians just like other citizens are some times crooked. At least in this country we can stand outside the state offices and shout at the top of our lungs that we do not agree with what the official is doing and know that our family will not be going to a labor camp because we spoke our mind.

Micheal · #20 05/27/13, 07:49 AM

ahhhhh, ain't it grand!
Only in a democracy can you have such a varied opinion without the fear of reprisal.
Thanks to the troops past and present for protecting such a gift......