Internet Tip of the Week - by Bob Osgoodby
And Proud of ItEvery once in awhile, when reading the paper or watching the news
on TV, I see “American Bashing.” Even some of our supposed good
friends sometimes jump on the bandwagon and come out with a harsh
word or two. The last year or so has been very intere sting as
some new friends surfaced and some of our old ones went astray.A friend recently returned from Germany and told us he was
refused service at a local Rathskeller simply because he was from
the United States. And of course, France as usual, has been on
again, off again in its relations. Possibly their clandestine
business arrangements with Saddam caused this memory lapse. The
litany could go on and on, but this isn’t about hate, so enough
about that.I’m an American and proud of it. Why some might ask. We live in a
country where medical costs are spiraling, and the country
appears divided. While racial discrimination has abated, it is
surfacing anew in different areas with a new cast of players o n
both sides. There is still poverty in some areas and unemployment
is always a concern. Gangs run rampant in the inner cities and
violence is a way of life. Admittedly, there are still problems
in our society, and probably always will be.So why am I proud to be an American? The answer is simple – we
are free. Our vote on election day does count. I am free to
succeed or fail. Anyone who is willing to work can succeed. Those
who don’t become part of the public dole and this is their
choice. Are there exceptions – sure - but for the most part this
is true.I am free to practice the religion of my choice or not at all.
The majority of the wars ever fought in the world were religious
in nature. If I choose to go to church, I’m relatively certain I
won’t be shot on the way out. If I choose not to, I won’ t be
tortured until I profess a certain creed as they did in Spain
during the Inquisitions.
I have a voice in appointing our elected leaders. In Iraq,
Saddam always won by an almost 100% vote. Why? Simple – those who
opposed him weren’t around to vote in the next election.We have the strongest military in the world – bar none. We don’t
have to fear an invader with ambitions to conquer us, and this is
with a 100% volunteer armed forces. I got a kick out of Costa
Rica who decided not to support us in Iraq. They don’t e ven
have a standing army. They also have bars on all their windows
and walls surrounding their property with broken bottles cemented
to the top.Many nations are jealous of our prosperity, and would like to see
us fail, but we won’t. From the raw courage of the pioneers who
settled our country to immigrants with a burning desire to be
free, I am proud. For the opportunities available to thos e who
settled here and all others who are willing to work, I am proud.We have gone through a long maturation process and yes, did hit a
few speed bumps along the way. but we have matured. And, like a
good wine, we get better all the time.To this day I still get a lump in my throat when I hear the
National Anthem, and am thankful for all that we have. Yes, I’m
an American, and proud of it.-----
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