Saturday, November 8, 2008

what are we unhappy about?

I received this in an email today from a good friend. She passed it on to me as it was passed on to her. The email claims it is written by Dave Letterman but I have serious doubts that that is true. It just doesn't sound like him. Still, what is written hits the mark and that's why I'm posting it here.

David Letterman wrote this; it's the David we don't often see...

"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, ''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 OJ. 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, 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?"

It is a blessing to be an American; to have the luxuries, the privileges, the rights, and the freedoms that this country affords each and every one of us.


Blessing #8 in a month's worth of blessings.

12 comments:

Ken Duck Geraths said...

Amen!

Susan said...

Double Amen!!!
Susan

Christine said...

Probably David Letterman did not write it. I received an E-mail yesterday that was attributed to Ben Stein. Probably he did not write that one either. Yet...it made me think too.

I have always wondered...most people know that the media puts a spin on things so the question is: Why is what we think so affected by that spin when we know that they do it all the time? The media does it because they know it works. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we all woke up tomorrow and found an honest media?

Momma Roar said...

This does really make you think - and if more Americans thought this way, I believe things would be a lot different. This is a great essay!

I've read this before, but it was attributed to Jay Leno. I looked at snopes.com and found this: http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/hitnail.asp

Jen - Queen of Poo said...

Hear hear! I agree, that doesn't sound at all like David Letterman.

Anonymous said...

I couldn't agree more. While it's not from Letterman, it's great to read it--very timely. Snopes says this article first was circulated in 2007 as coming from Jay Leno, but it appears the actual author is Craig Smith, who instead of ending it with the bit about the Pledge of Allegiance (which was Leno), this is Smith's conclusion below--timely as we near Thanksgiving.

I close with one of my favorite quotes from B.C. Forbes in 1953:

''What have Americans to be thankful for? More than any other people on the earth, we enjoy complete religious freedom, political freedom, social freedom. Our liberties are sacredly safeguarded by the Constitution of the United States, 'the most wonderful work ever struck off at a given time by the brain and purpose of man.' Yes, we Americans of today have been bequeathed a noble heritage. Let us pray that we may hand it down unsullied to our children and theirs.''

I suggest this Thanksgiving we sit back and count our blessings for all we have. If we don't, what we have will be taken away. Then we will have to explain to future generations why we squandered such blessing and abundance. If we are not careful this generation will be known as the ''greediest and most ungrateful generation.'' A far cry from the proud Americans of the ''greatest generation'' who left us an untarnished legacy.

(found at: http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=53028)

Barb said...

I received this from someone else too. David Letterman is getting a lot of credit, neverthelss, it is definitely worth reading and thinking about.

MightyMom said...

snopes give a link to the original article...I'm gonna repost the original

it's a great one!

Lori said...

So true. We have so many things to be gratful for.

I'm catching up on your blog....and I've finally posted come over when you get a chance.

Jamey said...

We take a lot for granted in our country that is for sure! We have also worked hard for what we have and given up a lot to have the kind of country we have. But we definately need to learn to appreciate it more!!

Linda C said...

We live in a wonderful country!

Given this line in the email: "Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show?" -- I find it hard to believe that this was written by David Letterman.

David Letterman rarely misses an opportunity to mock or show President Bush in the poorest possible light on his show.

I quit watching David Letterman because of this reason. Not funny or entertaining.

Dina Roberts said...

My question is if the email is so profound, heart-warming, life-changing, deep, etc....why do they need to lie about who wrote it? Why does it need a celebrity author?

I received the email from my dad--when he sent it, the claim was that it was from Jay Leno.

There IS a lot to be grateful for in our country, but being grateful doesn't mean you can't work to change things for the better.