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Subject: What is great about America
Posted by: jedman
- [552262217] Thu, Feb 19, 2009, 16:16
All I have been hearing is crisis, catastrophe, the Obama administration is heading us for socialism. While I disagree with a lot of what is being done and proposed, I think it's time for us to stop being so negative about everything and talk about what is good about America.
I am free to worship at the Church of my choice. I am a Latter-day Saint and through the years we have had our share of persecution, as have other religions, but here we are today, and I am free to worship each week as I please.
The fact that we can criticize our government is a great blessing. Freedom of speech is not available in many countries of the world.
I was able to start a business and with hard work, a little luck, and determination provide for my family doing something that I created.
I believe the American people can rise above whatever our politicians try to throw at us because deep down I think the majority of America is good and hard working, resilient and determined.
America is diverse. In my little company, I have 10 employees, one is from Tonga, two are Hmong, one is Chinese, one is female. We all get along great and have a good time at work. Nobody even thinks about skin color.
I'll stop here, but I would like to know why you think America is great.
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1 | Mith
ID: 2894309 Thu, Feb 19, 2009, 16:39
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Exceptional thread topic. And it's terrific to see someone on the right at this forum raise racial/cultural diversity as one of the things that is 'great about America'. I'll try to put together a contribution later tonight or early tomorrow.
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2 | Perm Dude
ID: 5181910 Thu, Feb 19, 2009, 17:11
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Nice post, jedman. This is a land of opportunity because of the freedoms we enjoy.
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3 | nerveclinic Leader
ID: 05047110 Thu, Feb 19, 2009, 17:21
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The fact that we can criticize our government is a great blessing. Freedom of speech is not available in many countries of the world.
For the most part true and an under appreciated treasure. You can for the most part be critical of the government without fear of retribution. It is NOT common in many other parts of the world.
It's late here, and I want to give this it's proper attention, so I will add more thoughts tomorrow.
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4 | biliruben Leader
ID: 589301110 Thu, Feb 19, 2009, 20:08
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I'm not going to give this the proper attention, but I will respond off the cuff!
Baseball!
The entrepreneurial spirit!
Public Education for all!
Nude bicyclists!
Amazing environmental treasures all around us!
The idea that we are continuously improving our selves, our way of governance and our way of life!
The tastiest beer in all the world!
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5 | Tree
ID: 1311551521 Thu, Feb 19, 2009, 20:16
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peaceful transition of power.
there was a point when i had decided in 2000, we were complacent, we did not react strong enough, and that if this were a latin american country, we would have rioted in the street.
nearly a decade later, i realize that's just now how we do things here. and that's not a bad thing.
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6 | Wilmer McLean
ID: 8157197 Fri, Feb 20, 2009, 01:44
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Knowing when, how and why our country was created, and who created it.
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7 | donavan
ID: 1518179 Fri, Feb 20, 2009, 01:50
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It's been said like this:
You and I are what makes America great! It is the spirit of the American people. We are victors in every area of life. We have suffered great wars, depressions, recessions, terrorism, communism, assassinations, diseases, floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, scandals, and Jimmy Carter! There is nothing that can stop the great people of this country. We are survivors. We press on with grit, determination, and a MacGyver-like ability to solve any problem.
That pretty much sums it up for me.
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8 | boikin
ID: 532592112 Fri, Feb 20, 2009, 10:23
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Baseball! UGH....I see this as a negative, actually maybe just the coverage of it, Football on the other hand.....
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9 | biliruben Leader
ID: 589301110 Fri, Feb 20, 2009, 10:53
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Wrong thread for whiners. Positive, boikin. Positive.
Just assume I meant t-ball and Bud, and even you can be positive about America!
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10 | Pancho Villa
ID: 51546319 Fri, Feb 20, 2009, 15:19
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and Jimmy Carter!
You consider a man who has a Nobel Peace Prize; who physically has built homes for the poor for no monetary reward; who served admirably in the US Navy; who tilled the soil to bring food to our tables insufferable?
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11 | nerveclinic Leader
ID: 05047110 Fri, Feb 20, 2009, 16:31
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The tastiest beer in all the world!
Yeah but only to those in the know about micro brews right Bili? Especially the ones in the great NW!
Will you be drinking a few of those during the Local league draft?
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12 | Boxman
ID: 571114225 Fri, Feb 20, 2009, 18:04
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We have a system where anyone, provided they are willing to work hard, can be successful. As proof, look to our black President whose ancestors, had they been in the South 50 years ago, would've been hung, attacked by cops, or beaten just because they are black.
We have powerful wealth creating machines whether it is stocks, starting a small business, or playing a professional sport for a living.
We have an enormously generous population. Our charities have a global reach and donate to any cause.
We have the greatest army in the history of mankind and it consists of people who voluntarily joined. They reside in seemingly every corner of the globe and are away from their family for months at a time all to protect and die for people they have never met.
I can get in my car right now and drive to another state without cops harassing me at the border.
I can get on this website, tell you how wrong Obama's stimulus plan is, you can say how wrong I am, and there won't be a knock on our door...yet. ;)
The New York Yankees and the Chicago Bears.
I claim Jesus Christ as my Savior, my Muslim buddy can claim Muhammed is his, and a Jew can go to synagogue, and no one will get blown up for it.
I don't have to wait for the cops to protect my family.
If I'm hungry, I go to the fridge. If the fridge is empty, I can be at the grocery store in ten minutes. I can even choose what I have for dinner.
When I'm bored I can play a videogame, go to a movie, go shopping, see a ballgame, put on one of 500 channels on cable, watch one of 200 movies I own, go for a ride in my car, or read a book.
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13 | biliruben
ID: 111542413 Fri, Feb 20, 2009, 18:28
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Probably a few, now that I've passed the commish mantle off onto another! I don't have to worry about slurring; not that it stopped me before.
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14 | nerveclinic Leader
ID: 05047110 Sat, Feb 21, 2009, 01:46
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But when you said tastiest beer in the world, I know you weren't talking about Bud Light.
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15 | Wilmer McLean
ID: 8157197 Sat, Feb 21, 2009, 04:52
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...that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
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16 | WiddleAvi
ID: 361157177 Fri, Mar 13, 2009, 00:49
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Was not sure where to put this and figured this was the best place. We need more people like this (Not just the CEO but all the employees as well)
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17 | walk
ID: 181472714 Fri, Mar 13, 2009, 11:53
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This is great.
I would say a lot of what others have said about freedom of expression, religion, capitalism, and the pro's consumerism. I think some of these have con's, but I realizet that is not the focus of this discussion. I also appreciate the incredible diversity within our country and the hugeness of it which affords much beauty, geographic differences, climate choices and sub-cultures. We have a pretty excellent university choices. We have a country that can shift gears politically to a point where we go from one extreme (Bush) to another (Obama). We have much better TV choices and Hollywood (I am a movie buff!), and we have excellent sports options (although I wish soccer were also huge here). I guess I'll stop there; others have made many good observations.
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18 | Tree
ID: 61411921 Fri, Mar 13, 2009, 13:26
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that's a great article, and a GREAT story Avi. thanks for posting that.
reading that reminds me of various stories i heard about this country during WWII - when people banded together and did their part.
in a way, this is a similar situation, in that we are definitely facing a threat in this economic maelstrom that is greater than most - if not all - of us have faced in our lifetime.
working together is how we need to fix it, not working against each other.
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19 | Boxman
ID: 3821468 Fri, Mar 13, 2009, 16:47
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reading that reminds me of various stories i heard about this country during WWII - when people banded together and did their part.
If people did their part; i.e. not take on more mortgage they could afford, buy luxury cars with home equity, and run up credit card debt the size of Mt. Everest then this wouldn't have happened.
It's too bad that our country is still focused on the reactive and not the proactive.
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20 | Perm Dude
ID: 1520138 Fri, Mar 13, 2009, 16:49
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Talking about what people did in the past is the definition of reactive, Boxman.
There is plenty of blame to go around.
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21 | biliruben Leader
ID: 589301110 Fri, Mar 13, 2009, 16:54
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I repeat: this is not supposed to be a thread to whine and complain, Boxman. This is what is "Great!" about America!
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