"I pledge alligance to the flag of the United States of ???
Thankfully, I am a person who is not an insomniac. Falling asleep is not a problem, but sometimes, I can wake up at 3:45 am and not want to go back to sleep. Now that I have this blog, the perfect creative outlet has been gifted to me.
By now, you can surely appreciate that I am not considered a light thinker, by any stretch of the imagination! This morning, I was thinking about the fact that our son is graduating from college in 10 days, a great achievement for which I am genuinely proud and grateful. As I thought about the turn his life would take, travel, family career, I began to look around me and think about what America will be like for my children within the next 20-40 years.
Each day I read the newspaper, and lately find it to be a surreal experience. I do not recognize the country where we live today. I worry about my childrens' future. I see gas at $2.69 per gallon, un-employment at a record high, the fact that most people have difficulty with health insurance, we are spending billions to fund a war in the name of freedom for others, yet freedom here can be a fleeting commodity, and that issue among issues that makes my blood rise to feaver pitch: outsourcing of jobs. I was born in America and today, in many ways, I feel less free, and more restricted as an individual than ever before! What does this say about a country such as ours, that on the one hand, we applaud the efforts of others to work, yet we cannot provide meaningful work to those here in our own country? Has that all mighty idea for 'cheap labor' made us deserve the label 'Un-American?'
Thank you for your minds.
By now, you can surely appreciate that I am not considered a light thinker, by any stretch of the imagination! This morning, I was thinking about the fact that our son is graduating from college in 10 days, a great achievement for which I am genuinely proud and grateful. As I thought about the turn his life would take, travel, family career, I began to look around me and think about what America will be like for my children within the next 20-40 years.
Each day I read the newspaper, and lately find it to be a surreal experience. I do not recognize the country where we live today. I worry about my childrens' future. I see gas at $2.69 per gallon, un-employment at a record high, the fact that most people have difficulty with health insurance, we are spending billions to fund a war in the name of freedom for others, yet freedom here can be a fleeting commodity, and that issue among issues that makes my blood rise to feaver pitch: outsourcing of jobs. I was born in America and today, in many ways, I feel less free, and more restricted as an individual than ever before! What does this say about a country such as ours, that on the one hand, we applaud the efforts of others to work, yet we cannot provide meaningful work to those here in our own country? Has that all mighty idea for 'cheap labor' made us deserve the label 'Un-American?'
Thank you for your minds.
6 Comments:
*Insomniac chiming in* I know all too well unemployment in America! And within the last two years now know all too much about health care. It's amazing how much pull corporations have in our country. *Imagines the future* The Star Spangled Banner brought to you by Coca-Cola!
Amen Sister!
Parislondres:
Hi dear,
About the petrol...I know, my husband tells me we are finaly starting to catch up with the world on this one! It just happened so suddenly.
As for the other issues, I stand my ground!
xox
Hello barbara! What a wonderful blog you have created.
I too think the situation in the US is frightening. I feel broken-hearted about so many things.
thalia
It appears that I will be the dissenter on this one...
In America - my children go to a wonderful public school. I know that there are problems with many of the school systems, but ours is an average neighborhood, and parents are involved. And if we wanted to pull the kids out of public school (which we don't), we have the freedom to go to private school or even homeschool.
In America -- I am able to worship freely at the times and places of my choosing. And I respect the right of others to do the same and appreciate the fact that we can do that all side by side.
In America -- As a woman, I am able to walk around with my face uncovered; obtain an education; work outside the home; speak to people of the opposite sex; swim in public; read books...many, many things that women in other cultures wouldn't dream of doing.
In America -- I have access to some of the most incredible medical care available.
In America -- I can vote for my representative government, and I can disagree with others, and I can participate in the process. And I have no fear of being tortured or raped or thrown into mass graves.
In America -- I have the right to a fair trial and a jury by my peers. (God forbid I ever need to use this one.) But we have a justice system, that while it needs improvement, it works pretty well most of the time -- except for the high-profile cases that ultimately make their way to Cable News. But we don't hear about the thousands and thousands of cases that are handled by a system that for the most part works.
In America -- I can travel around the country freely.
Yes, there are many things that need improvement or consideration in America. I am betting that in your own household there are many things that could use an overhaul as well. But if I were to come visit your house for a week or so, I am betting that you would take offense if I started ranting and raving about the things in your household that I didn't like and demanding that they be changed to accomodate me. I am betting that at some point I would cross the line between your being a hospitable hostess, and my simply being a bad guest.
Yes, again, there are many things that need change in America. But let us also remember that our freedom to discuss those issues freely and openly probably reveals the most about the incomparable blessing that it is to be an American.
uemployment is not at a record hight for high unemployment go to france were it is at 10% or 11% in germany even canada's is higher than ours. It is just over 5% just because you can type something does not make it true.
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