Thursday, November 09, 2006

“Our choices may display our opinion, but God help us if they also reflect our character…"

November 7, 2006 the American public spoke, and the message was one of change. The result created a shift in power, movement to the left, a return to a Democratic controlled House of Representatives and the promise of Government involvement in every aspect of our lives. Seemingly gone is the American concept of “pulling yourself up by your bootstraps,” and in its place exists a mood that your plight in life is not your fault. We are no longer responsible for our own decisions, but hapless individuals completely existing at the mercy of those whom rule the world.

We no longer teach our children that hard work will help them succeed, or that team work means not always being the focal point. Instead we invent excuses, and empower failure by creating attention deficit disorders and class envy via an “us versus them” mentality.

Deflating even our greatest heroes by denying their accomplishments as little more than luck, we have come to assume the Greatest Generation enjoyed success simply due to the time period. We no longer recognize a generation that transformed a landscape dotted with farms into a Super Power, instead we see through class envy glasses a group of people that acquired wealth with a lucky draw and a good flop.

The American conscious is quick to forget the price paid for success. The lives lain down on a beach with no name, or the marble crosses marking foreign soil forever inhabited by a G.I. Joe. America seemingly has forgotten the immigrants that came to this country with just the cloths on their backs, who with hard work, and a dedication to family quickly pulled themselves up to the middle class and beyond.

Ironic the transformation of immigrants into solid citizen continues today, and yet a cycle of inherited ignorance and perceived poverty prevails across this nation. In a Nation built upon the contributions of immigrants strangely there exists a consciousness that life is not fair, and thus mired in the mud of life I sit destined to go no further.

How strange the energy wasted to establish a minimum wage, as apposed to road mapping a way up. How strange that not only has America forgotten the marble tomb stones, but that not every life sacrificed is due to war. Two generations ago it was a given that parents sacrificed so that their children would succeed. A life spent stooped in a factory enable little Johnny to go to college. Johnny’s generation could then reach for the moon and beyond.

Instead, we have created a generation, or generations that look to others for help before first making the attempt themselves. It is only shy of a miracle that American babies haven’t evolved into a species born arms first, hands out.

Sadly, America has forgotten.

Why can’t America remember that it is okay to hold a belief so dear to your heart that you will lay down your very life to defend its morality?

Why can’t America remember that before success often must come delayed gratification? Or that America was once guided with a moral compass destined for greatness.

Blurred memories are not limited by social status, political party or geographical location. Nor is the ignorance that has seemingly gripped America restricted by religious beliefs, education levels or employment status. The disease killing this great nation is a self inflicted wound festering with the pompous attitude of self entitlement.

The disconnect between what is right and what is easy is killing this nation. Partnered with desires and a total ability loss in determining the difference between what is “wanted” and what is needed.

America needs a leader. No, America needs a generation to lead the way. A generation that is willing to make the tough choices, to sacrifice glory for sustained promise.

America needs a population that is willing to vote their conscious, guided by a moral compass rooted in the belief that the sum of our parts is greater than the individual.

America needs to become a land where freedom’s ring does not represent the right to do whatever, but the duty to do what is right!!!!

18 Comments:

At November 10, 2006 8:25 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Shorter Diego: I miss the days when imigrants were white and Leave it to Beaver was the best show going.

"the disconnect between what is right and what is easy"

er...maybe you should read this one over a time or two. Or maybe just not be an idiot...whichever.

Hugs,
Phil

PS,
Wait a second...CrazyRight is GONE???

Haha...today just keeps getting better.

 
At November 10, 2006 8:36 AM, Blogger Diego said...

For Cranky...his own blog had been deleted and his profile was no longer active...if this was done by mistake, he is more than welcome to come back at anytime.

 
At November 11, 2006 11:35 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Phil--
Uh, you're accusing an hispanic immigrant of missing the days when immigrants were white? Give me a break. That's funny.

The point is, it used to be that you worked or you starved. You relied on yourself and your family in times of trouble--not the government. Now everyone blames someone else for their own problems. Even the "Greatest Generation" has become a group of beggars wanting their Medicare & Social Security.

 
At November 11, 2006 11:47 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Diego,

I agree with the vote your conscience thing. Libs get upset when, for example, Roe V Wade is used as a 'litmus test' for judges. Why? They do it too--no judge is competent who would oppose it.

There are certain moral issues that are absolutely black & white. If you agree that killing babies is OK, then you do not represent me. To kill an unborn child is absolutely dispicable and if you will do that (or allow it to be done), then who can tell what else you are capable of doing. If you embrace what is evil in the eyes of the Lord, then you are seen as evil. The evil do not represent me.

I am first and foremost a "values voter". I first look at the morals of a candidate, and if two candidates are equal, then I will look at their stands on other issues such as taxes, security, and domestic & foreign policy. Luckily, Republicans tend to be on the correct side of each comparison (not always, but most of the time). If we do not have a good and moral society, then what good is the rest? I will have to justify each of actions before God one day. I have to vote for the prolife, traditional marriage & family, God-fearing candidate over voting for what is best for my wallet if there is a conflict.

 
At November 11, 2006 5:46 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm always struck by how willfully ignorant Angel is. Almost make me miss that nutbar breastfeeding woman.

No Angel, the point is, you starved. It wasn't some golden age where hard work always meant success. There has never been such a time...or if there has, it involved hunting and gathering. The point is, the economy works in such a way that success and even survival often has absolutely nothing to do with hard work.

If you're fine with poverty and wealth being left to the vagaries of an opaque market...well, then good luck, you moron.

"If you embrace what is evil in the eyes of the Lord..." The lord? Why don't you cite an invisible pink unicorn while you're at it...

 
At November 11, 2006 8:42 PM, Blogger Diego said...

First off, Angel adds great insight on a continual basis, saying she's ignorant is...(what's the words I'm looking for)...just dumb.

Hard work does equal success, ever heard the slogan, "A little bit more equals success"? I'm sure you haven't but keep in mind you also get back what you put in.

Times change, but people never do, you're comparison of hard work and 'hunting and gathering' is, well...very simple-minded...but exactly what should we expect, obviously nothing more from you, a simple-minded person.

 
At November 11, 2006 10:12 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

It doesn't take a particularly nuanced understanding of economic theory to understand that 'hard work' does not exist in some isolated bubble of non-interference. Externalities exist which create a situation in which the product of one's work (success) depends not solely on the amount of input, but also on marcoeconomic factors such as national production level vs carrying capacity, price elasticity of production material, and aggregate spending. Not to mention international economic issues.

Times may change Diego (just look at congress), but these economic realities do not.

Please stop being so stupid.

Hugs,
Phil

 
At November 12, 2006 2:13 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hard work pays off--if that work is pointed in the right direction. You may work really really hard to be the world's best spit wad maker, but even if you acheive your goal, so what? There's no way to make a living out of it. Effort is great, but effort that produces something (like cash, food, shelter) is what it takes. Don't be silly, Phil. Anyone who wants to be productive can.

 
At November 12, 2006 2:19 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Another thought Diego--

Have you noticed that there was no voter problems, no voting machine problems, voter fraud, hanging chads, lawsuits, etc? That's because at least we know how to take our licks when we do lose.

Dem's lose=Someone cheated
Dem's win=Everything went perfectly.

Phil--I will continue to cite my Lord. Everything that I do and everything that I stand for is based on his word. Does that bother you that I am a female with a post doctorate degree who believes whole heartedly in God & the Scripture? Try it, you will be a happier person.

 
At November 12, 2006 8:40 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Angel,

No. I refuse to repeat myself, so I'll only say that your post-doctorate (no such thing exists) degree was clearly not in economics or a related field, while my post-GRADUATE degreeS definately are.

You can keep citing 'your lord'...just don't expect me to buy your bullshit.

 
At November 13, 2006 1:48 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I am not afaid to admit when I am wrong--I have a post graduate degree. I was combining "doctorate" and "post graduate" in my haste. I stand corrected.

And, no it's not in economics. I wanted to be employed when I graduated. Econ & philosophy degrees were always quite the joke on campus--you either understand why you are unemployed or you can stand around and talk about why you are unemployed, respectively. The rest of us got real degrees so that we could get jobs. Doesn't that tie into the "hard work leading to money" discussion above? Sure, I could get a degree in 18th century French lit, but how would that make me attractive to a potential employer?

As for what I am "serving up", it is the truth, and it is free. You don't have to 'buy' any of it.

 
At November 13, 2006 5:10 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Angel, you do not have a doctorate. Such a thing would be inconceivable. It's fine that you were wrong, but please don't lie.

Economics degrees were laughed at as something that would not lead to a job? ...if you ever actually spent any time on a campus, it wasn't much of one.

 
At November 15, 2006 1:09 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

OK, whatever you say. I'm sure that you know better than the 30,000 students at Mizzou.

I don't lie. Period.

 
At November 15, 2006 1:46 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Oh, well then...if EVERYONE at mizzou says economics and philosophy are useless, then who am I to say otherwise?

Okay, I'll bite...what exactly is your 'graduate' degree in, praytell?

Also, if you know so little about economics, and look down upon those who do, perhaps you shouldn't speak about the economy as if you know what it is you're talking about. Just a suggestion.

 
At November 15, 2006 7:24 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I don't give out any identifying information on these blogs. Sorry.

 
At November 15, 2006 7:26 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Oh, it's not a 'graduate' degree. It's a doctorate.

I didn't say I didn't know anything about economics, just that I don't have a degree in it.

 
At November 15, 2006 9:29 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

No one with a terminal degree writes or thinks as simply as you do.


sure you don't lie...

 
At November 16, 2006 12:50 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

No, I don't.

 

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