Although I am not in complete agreement with everything Jay says, I think there is great merit in many of his opinions and comments. Rather than edit, I am posting it in its entirety.
No matter what your political convictions are this is eye opener.
What a thankless people we are!!!
Jay Leno wrote this; it's the Jay Leno we don't often see....
As most of you know I am not a President Bush fan, nor have I ever been, but this is not about Bush, it is about us, as Americans, and it seems to hit the mark.
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 2/3 of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change. So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, 'What are we so unhappy about?''
A.. Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 Days a week?
B.. Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter?
C.. Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job?
D.. 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?
E.. Maybe it is the ability to drive our cars and trucks from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state?
F.. Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter?
G.. I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough either..
H. 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.
I.. Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home.
J.. 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.
K.. 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.
L.. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90% of teenagers own cell phones and computers.
M.. 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% 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!
Turn 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 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
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1 comment:
Jay, I love you. I do. But I take issue.
Yes, we have great stuff in America, but most Americans have worked hard to achieve it all. The great restaurant? Run by an even greater chef with great pride in serving great food. All the other great commercial interests you mention, run by dedicated Americans.
Most Americans, myself included, don't take anything for granted, especially since items you list are unaffordable today. The media's imperfect, but America's unhappiness is valid. Here's a some stats:
high unemployment - 2007 - 7.0 million unemployed with a jobless rate at 4.6%. This year 8.5 million, 5.5%.
mortgage crisis - Last week's numbers show foreclosures for May were up 19 percent from April and up nearly 90 percent from May 2006. In Nevada, one foreclosure filing for every 166 households last month, nearly four times the national average and the highest rate in the country for the fifth month in a row.
Remember, high jobless and foreclosure rates mean less money circulating, less new home construction, less eating out, etc.
And this country had decades to get off oil, but our government, with lobbyists, special interests and yes, even corruption, let it ride. Why? Because these people are financially well-off thanks, in part, to the American people. Just one year ago, President Bush declared, "America is addicted to oil." This living-under-a-rock attitude, this blatant indifference and insensitivity is indicative of the mindset of most politicians and the rich and/or powerful who look at life through rosy-colored designer glasses.
Jay, I like money as much as anyone, but it's easy to understand why those who earn millions each year think Americans are spoiled brats. You have everything you need to survive well in a society with means, but most of your fellow Americans don't. Sadly, when I was younger, healthier and yes, successful, although not by your standards, I still managed to understand the less fortunate and when their condition, their unhappiness was not of their making, but their America.
Jay, how do you stay positive and happy in a country that's abused by its politicians and gives more to its powerful, rich citizens than majority taxpayers? How do we stay positive when, despite America's problems and failed leadership, Bush borrowed almost $1 trillion from China to fund the Iraq war . This can't make sense.
Yes, this country has lots of great restaurants, cars, services, etc., but now you live in a deteriorating economy and can't partake. Besides, you just lost your job, your home and today, your right to privacy.
Spoiled brats? Perhaps some. However, in the America I live in, we can't afford expensive cars, large homes, designer clothes and all that money can buy. In my America, we're lucky if we can fill up our gas tanks.
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