Sorry im ranting got a little upset yesterday..
July 4th 2005, An Op/Ed by: Elizabeth M. Staten
Yesterday I experienced one of the truly most disturbing things of my life. The date July 4, 2005, the birthday of our great country. Moreover, not a single friend of mine thought it was anything but another day to complain about their disappointment in our Government. However, to me, yesterday was still a day that should make every single one of us proud to be an American. Sadly, these days, most of my generation just is not proud to be anything.
I see small children proudly waving flags and “ooh”ing over the fireworks, not really sure what they are celebrating but knowing that Mommy and Daddy are supporting all the fun. I see adults, usually thirty-five and older, crying as the National Anthem plays. Standing swollen with pride, behind their country 110%! I see troops of all ages proudly saluting our flag and our President. Moreover, as I look around I wonder where are all the 20-somethings? Why do I stand here in a peerless crowd? What is it about the ages of 16-34 that makes you stop believing in this country? What is it about the youth of America that allows them to hate or simply not care about a country that has made them everything they are today?
Every single day we take advantage of the luxuries, of the power, of the choices, of the good things that come with being an American. Nevertheless, all I hear out of the mouths of our young people is abhorrence for this beautiful country. When I speak to my friends over coffee, when I stand on the corner waiting for the bus, when I eat dinner with my little sister; all I hear is problems, doubts, difficulties, and revulsion over the injustices we still face today.
Now, I will be the first person to tell you that this country definitely has problems. Gays and lesbians will never serve this country proudly unless they are willing to hide part of who they are. They will never be allowed to marry or adopt while President Bush serves his time. People of color still hear the disrespectful words that will haunt them until someone stands up and declares such hate unacceptable. People with disabilities still find it hard to locate work, to navigate around some public places and are still forced to pay out of the nose for expensive heath care. People are still hurt and discriminated against every single day simply because of their race, creed, and sexual orientation. People are living in poverty or are homeless. Children are living without family and are staying in the system for much longer than necessary. There still is crime, rape, murder, pain, and terrorism. I will not cover those injustices with pretty words or lies. Sadly, these things do happen here in the country that I love so much.
The difference is that American’s realize their downfalls. We know we have come so far, but that our work will never be done. And we are ok with that! As time passes, things change. That is how the world has always been and most likely always will be. We all are working on these problems. The President, Congress, our Senators, our police officers, our Armed Forces, and all of the private groups; they are all striving to make this country a better place for everyone. Giving us all hope, that America is improving every single day.
In addition, it is because of those changes and hope they instill that I wake up every single day and thank God that I was born here in the land of the free and the home of the brave. A country where we can appreciate the small as well as the large privileges that we as Americans share in. Small things like sleeping until noon, eating ice cream for dinner, reading my favorite book, and going to the movies without a proper chaperone. Or big things like being allowed to go receive an higher education, being seen as a Human being first and a woman second, being not only allowed but encouraged to study and worship my own God, and attending Pro-choice rallies. Basically, I am simply thankful for being allowed to choose. Making my own choices, being a strong independent woman of the United States of America.
There are so many great things about this country. I cannot even begin to list them all. And although I do not agree with everything President Bush stands for, or is doing, I can still say that I stand proudly behind our President. And that, my friends, is exactly the point I am trying to make. In what other country can 47% of the population disagree with the President and not receive death sentences or life in prison? In this amazing country you can have your own views, you can stand up on your soap box and preach for lower taxes, better health care, or gay right and hear many joyous voices join yours to make one loud, strong voice that hopefully President Bush will hear and honor. That is just one of the many reason I am proud to be an American.
As I said, I might not agree with President Bush, but I have a strong faith in our election system as well as the power of the people, and I know that he will continue to do what he feels is the best thing for the American population. I may have different beliefs, different priorities, a different religion, and I may even be an extreme liberal to President Bush’s conservative, but as long as he is the President of this beautiful country of ours, I will always respect and stand behind him. I will always cry as the flag flies and the music plays. I will always chock up just thinking about the brave men and women defending this country with their own lives. I will always be “Proud to be an American”!
What I want to know is when will my peers join me? When will they realize that being a Democrat or a Liberal does NOT make you Anti-American? When will they realize that they can disagree with President Bush, or want more than they already have and still be proud to be American? When will they realize that being young and freethinking does not give them the right to take for granted the freedoms upon which President Bush ensures? When will they join me? WHEN WILL YOU JOIN ME?
Yesterday I experienced one of the truly most disturbing things of my life. The date July 4, 2005, the birthday of our great country. Moreover, not a single friend of mine thought it was anything but another day to complain about their disappointment in our Government. However, to me, yesterday was still a day that should make every single one of us proud to be an American. Sadly, these days, most of my generation just is not proud to be anything.
I see small children proudly waving flags and “ooh”ing over the fireworks, not really sure what they are celebrating but knowing that Mommy and Daddy are supporting all the fun. I see adults, usually thirty-five and older, crying as the National Anthem plays. Standing swollen with pride, behind their country 110%! I see troops of all ages proudly saluting our flag and our President. Moreover, as I look around I wonder where are all the 20-somethings? Why do I stand here in a peerless crowd? What is it about the ages of 16-34 that makes you stop believing in this country? What is it about the youth of America that allows them to hate or simply not care about a country that has made them everything they are today?
Every single day we take advantage of the luxuries, of the power, of the choices, of the good things that come with being an American. Nevertheless, all I hear out of the mouths of our young people is abhorrence for this beautiful country. When I speak to my friends over coffee, when I stand on the corner waiting for the bus, when I eat dinner with my little sister; all I hear is problems, doubts, difficulties, and revulsion over the injustices we still face today.
Now, I will be the first person to tell you that this country definitely has problems. Gays and lesbians will never serve this country proudly unless they are willing to hide part of who they are. They will never be allowed to marry or adopt while President Bush serves his time. People of color still hear the disrespectful words that will haunt them until someone stands up and declares such hate unacceptable. People with disabilities still find it hard to locate work, to navigate around some public places and are still forced to pay out of the nose for expensive heath care. People are still hurt and discriminated against every single day simply because of their race, creed, and sexual orientation. People are living in poverty or are homeless. Children are living without family and are staying in the system for much longer than necessary. There still is crime, rape, murder, pain, and terrorism. I will not cover those injustices with pretty words or lies. Sadly, these things do happen here in the country that I love so much.
The difference is that American’s realize their downfalls. We know we have come so far, but that our work will never be done. And we are ok with that! As time passes, things change. That is how the world has always been and most likely always will be. We all are working on these problems. The President, Congress, our Senators, our police officers, our Armed Forces, and all of the private groups; they are all striving to make this country a better place for everyone. Giving us all hope, that America is improving every single day.
In addition, it is because of those changes and hope they instill that I wake up every single day and thank God that I was born here in the land of the free and the home of the brave. A country where we can appreciate the small as well as the large privileges that we as Americans share in. Small things like sleeping until noon, eating ice cream for dinner, reading my favorite book, and going to the movies without a proper chaperone. Or big things like being allowed to go receive an higher education, being seen as a Human being first and a woman second, being not only allowed but encouraged to study and worship my own God, and attending Pro-choice rallies. Basically, I am simply thankful for being allowed to choose. Making my own choices, being a strong independent woman of the United States of America.
There are so many great things about this country. I cannot even begin to list them all. And although I do not agree with everything President Bush stands for, or is doing, I can still say that I stand proudly behind our President. And that, my friends, is exactly the point I am trying to make. In what other country can 47% of the population disagree with the President and not receive death sentences or life in prison? In this amazing country you can have your own views, you can stand up on your soap box and preach for lower taxes, better health care, or gay right and hear many joyous voices join yours to make one loud, strong voice that hopefully President Bush will hear and honor. That is just one of the many reason I am proud to be an American.
As I said, I might not agree with President Bush, but I have a strong faith in our election system as well as the power of the people, and I know that he will continue to do what he feels is the best thing for the American population. I may have different beliefs, different priorities, a different religion, and I may even be an extreme liberal to President Bush’s conservative, but as long as he is the President of this beautiful country of ours, I will always respect and stand behind him. I will always cry as the flag flies and the music plays. I will always chock up just thinking about the brave men and women defending this country with their own lives. I will always be “Proud to be an American”!
What I want to know is when will my peers join me? When will they realize that being a Democrat or a Liberal does NOT make you Anti-American? When will they realize that they can disagree with President Bush, or want more than they already have and still be proud to be American? When will they realize that being young and freethinking does not give them the right to take for granted the freedoms upon which President Bush ensures? When will they join me? WHEN WILL YOU JOIN ME?