Hello Roger & my many ALP friends!
December 7th, in addition to being Pearl Harbor Day, was my maternal grandparents wedding anniversary. They were married many years before the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and after that sad event, where we lost one of my grandmother's brothers who was stationed there, my Nonnie and PePe discontinued anniversary celebrations for years. It took major cajoling to get their permission to hold a celebration for their 75th wedding anniversary. My grandparents are long gone, but I remember with clarity the tears they cried for the many that our nation lost on December 7th, every year.
As a veteran of the US Women's Army Corps (the WAC was dissolved on January 1, 1979 and absorbed into the US Army), I too am not pleased with the direction provided by current government leadership. I am a patriot, I love my country and the freedoms it grants me - the freedoms that men and women have laid down their lives to protect. That does not mean that I must agree with or condone the actions and messages of the current leadership. I have a problem with a President who does not display respect for our flag, nor display pride in just being an American. I fear the general populace was hoping for a savior when they voted this man into office, but are realizing the facade hid the underlying reality - he is not a patriot, he disregards the foundations this country was established on and he slanders and defames the nation that voted him into office. His views as to what is "right" and what is "wrong" are not paralleled by the general US population. My grandmother always said to beware the wolf under the sheep's clothing.... the American Indian saying holds true, "beware the man who speaks with forked tongue...."
This is not a diatribe against any political party. I guess I am as disappointed as many others in our great nation, that a leader was elected based on rhetoric. What really amazes me is that in a nation with as many intelligent, educated, high-functioning patriotic people as we have in the USA - is that Obama and McClain were the best we could come up with as options? Boy, what a sad revelation that is....
As an American, I am bothered by some French leaders who are not grateful for their freedom - which our nation helped to provide them with (would they have preferred speaking German as their national language?). After being attacked by Japan on December 7th, we defeated them, then we rebuilt their country for them with our tax dollars - and let them reign and rule as they see fit (doesn't sound like an aggressionist act to me). I am so tired of the USA being labeled and portrayed as a villain. Funny though, when another country needs help, we are always there... whether for a tsunami, earthquake, famine or to help fend of aggression.
My grandparents on both sides were immigrants to the US - from Italy, France, England and Canada. Each of them loved this country for welcoming them. Three of them passed through Ellis Island... They taught all of us what a wonderful country this is, and that they would forever be grateful for the opportunities they had here. They were patriots. They respected every serviceman and woman for their devotion to this country and preserving our freedoms. I believe the would be quite disheartened with our current leadership.
I have traveled all over the world in my career, and have always felt welcome in the UK (kind of like visiting a cousin) and never experienced difficulty in Japan, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark, and many other countries. I was disgusted by obnoxious behavior and attitudes directed at me due to my US citizenship by the general populace in Paris, but found Normandy and its people to be kind and respectful.
Please don't judge all Americans by the actions and speeches of our political leadership. They rarely reflect the views of the average US citizen, as they seem more concerned with promoting their own political agendas or themselves. As a nation, in general, our people are some of the kindest, most philanthropically focused individuals on this planet.
The best part about being an American is our ability, right and freedom to state what's on our mind and to disagree with our President, Senate leadership and their antics. Our founding fathers saw fit to make it our right to agree to be able to disagree. We also have the right to cast our vote and change the leadership when they don't live up to expectations promised. The 2012 elections will certainly reveal whether the people believe that Obama delivered on his promises..... Maybe he will then realize that no one world over will respect your country if you don't respect it yourself.
God bless the USA and her people.... God bless all other nations.... God bless those who suffer indignities and tragedies throughout the world..... God bless the ignorant, for they know not what they do...... and God bless every man, woman and child - may they stay healthy, be sheltered and fed, and be respected by their brethren... God bless mankind and teach them to love each other and to take care of each other.... and lastly, God please bless all the politicians of the world, for I fear they all stray from Your path more than most....
My apologies for my long winded post....
With hugs, love and respect,
JeanMarie