May 03, 2006

My brother recently asked on his blog, “Where is the love?” Referring to how America seems to be emotionally quagmired – much as we were pre-9/11.

A very nice Brit named John responded in the comments saying that Mikey was being too hard on the US, and that something good is always around the corner.

While I certainly agree with John that things ebb and flow, I have to say that it doesn’t surprise me that the “spirit” of the nation is faltering.

Unfortunately (or fortunately…) we are ill-used to problems and discord. Our gas prices go up, and despite the fact that we still pay much less than the majority of the rest of the world, we feel persecuted. People spend hours bitching and complaining about a war that hasn’t impacted 90% of people’s lives here in the US. Yes, many have given the ultimate sacrifice – but they did so willingly, even if some vocal members of their families don’t believe in the cause. Maybe these members should have paid more attention to changing opinions BEFORE their loved ones decided to join the military… Remember, there has been no draft – everyone in the Military is there by their own choosing. And I say, “Thank God” for them, because it is by their blood that we are free to complain.

We have no food rations, no metal rations, no gas rations – in fact, we are largely an overweight populace with a penchant for huge, gas guzzling SUV’s, which last time I checked were largely made of metal. We have a little more debt (that pales in comparison to what we will be spending each year for Medicare and prescription drugs), and people play the martyr as if Bush is single handedly sending the country to hell in a hand basket. How much do you think the Democrats would have spent on all this? Oh, that’s right, they wouldn’t have STARTED the war. And then we’d still be the UN and Saddam’s monkey, Iran would still be developing nuclear weapons, gas prices would still be high, AND Al Qaeda would be at our doorsteps instead of us at their’s. Bin Laden stated on multiple occasions that he was going to provoke us until he had a war with America – now he’s got one, but it isn’t HERE. Even the MSM agrees that the problem in Iraq is Al Qaeda, not some band of stupid Saddam-ites. Face it, we are going to have to fight these sumbitches someplace… I’m quite OK with the choice of arena.

If Bush is an imbecile, then I think it’s really a sad reflection on us – because he is the BEST that our country produced in its greatest hour of need since World War II. I’m no rosy-eyed fanboy, but I’m also not a hypocrite (usually). Exactly when has anyone in government done everything “right” all of the time, let alone done it in a way that pleased everybody? Bush is no more of an imbecile than that great American President to which John referred to in his comments.
And, frankly, the only way out of this “slump” is for Democrats, Republicans and the rest of the world to heed what are probably this man’s greatest words:

And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.

My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.

Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God’s work must truly be our own.

Now, THAT’S something to ponder, because THERE IS THE LOVE. It is in working towards a higher purpose, with a sense of personal responsibility and the rejection of an expectation of entitlement.

I just hope it doesn’t take another 9/11 for us to remember that we weren’t going to forget.