THE OKIE FROM MUSKOGEE (ACTUALLY MERLE IS FROM CA) ASKED THAT QUESTION IN A HIT SONG A FEW YEARS AGO? GIVE ME 20 MINUTES AND I'LL GIVE YOU A HUNDRED THINGS THAT ARE WRONG IN OUR CAPITOL, COUNTRY, CHURCHES, COURTS, CRIME RATES, AND CROOKED POLITICIANS, TEACHERS, BUSINESS AND LABOR LEADERS,AND POLICEMEN.
MERLE ANSWERED HIS OWN QUESTION BY A DEFINITE NO! THIS POST WILL ATTEMPT TO SAY NO,NO, AND NO!
1. Driving by looking in the rear view mirror is dangerous. That is to say it is tempting to always view yesterday as the "Good Old Days." Look around you, most of you have raised mature, stable and self-supporting children. That is a "Good Thing", to quote Martha Stewart. Many of you have achieved a certain amount of career and financial success. To quote the weird -haired boxing promoter, Don King, "Only in America! Only in America!" Many of you have buried loved ones, and/or dealt with major illnesses, and your faith and family has sustained you. Thank God for that!
2. Today many are using your many gifts and talents to help others: Mostly in a volunteer capacity. This is one of the many wonderful things about our great Nation. We know how and will roll up our sleeves to help in all situations.
3. Many of us are still relatively healthy and active. Life is dynamic, active, and ever moving forward. Thankfully, most of us can still do that. Sports, gardening, fitness, and a ton more are still on most of our can do lists. While the future of our health care is uncertain, I believe that in the "land of the free and the home of the brave" will always be the world's leader in all phases of medicine.
4. In spite of huge , and in my view unnecessary, cuts to our national security, we will always have the best and brightest defending us. Do you know a service person? Find one and thank them for their service to America.
5. Our courts and government leaders may make bone-headed decisions; however, it is the best system ever devised by man. I recently heard that in all of human history only five percent of humans have ever lived in liberty and freedom. I am sure glad to be part of that five percent!
6. Our standard of living is the envy of the world. Hard work, sacrifice, law abiding, risk-taking, personal accountability and responsibility have all contributed to our personal and national success.
Like Lee Greenwood, can't we all stand tall, especially today, and say "I'm proud to be an American!" And join in singing the song Kate Smith made famous in WWII, "God Bless America." Just east of Shawnee on I-40 is the rural community of Okemah, the home of Woody Guthrie who left us the great song: "This land is your land, this land is my land.!"
Are the good times really over for good? NO! NO! Ten Thousand Times NO!
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