Toughen Up America and Quit Whining

Be Grateful


Jay Leno wrote this; it's the Jay Leno 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 2/3s of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change.

So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, ''What we
are so unhappy about?'' Is it that we have electricity and running
water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? Is our unhappiness the result of
having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter? Could it
be that 95..4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job? 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?

Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the
Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as
we move through each state? Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe
motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary
shelter? I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from
around the world is just not good enough. 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.

Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a
home. 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. 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.

This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or
militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90
percent of teenagers own cell phones and computers. 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 percent 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, an ''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 O. J. 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!

Stop buying the negativism you are fed everyday by the media.
Shut 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 a 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, tornados,
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?"

Jay Leno