Ashamed of Success
Reader comment on item: Hating America's Success

Submitted by Smith Kinney (United States), Oct 13, 2004 at 15:42

Why is that many Americans are ashamed of the United States and why are we hated by the French and Germans? All we have done is been successful. Successful in business, religion, the arts, manufacturing, medicine...everything! At one point in history France and Germany were the pinnacle of modern manufacturing and culture. They had the best food, the best fashion, the best hospitals, the best films, the best manufactured goods. They had it all. Not any more. America is now the leader in almost all medical, cultural and business practices in the world.

So what happened?

America came of age. It went to war in foreign lands to support its new friends, showing everyone that it was willing to help people fight for freedom. It became the poster child for freedom in the modern age. But most importantly it began importing the most important commodity of all...people. People who wanted to make their dreams come true. A free mind is a powerful tool. Look what happens when you give a patient clerk with out any advanced education a little freedom. America lived up to the statement on the base of the Statue of Liberty. People gave America their Tired, Poor & Hungry and it let them become Rested, Rich and Successful.

The key word there is "Let". America "lets" everyone do what they want to do. They want to go to school...it provides free education. They wanted to practice their religion...it made laws making it a crime to prevent them from doing so. They want to earn a good living...America provides them with opportunities and laws to help insure that they have the best chance and the least resistance in finding a job. And until they find one, it will help provide for their families with food, housing, education and medical care.

You just watch how many Iraqis and Afghans will come to the U.S. in the next few years. These people will come here, get educated, get a job and contribute to the continued success of America. They won't be the ones you see protesting against the Government for invading their country and freeing them...they will be to busy working or going to school for the first time to actually practice their new found rights. It will be the middle to upper class losers who have had everything handed to them, have never had to work for anything or had just never had the desire to take advantage of the opportunities that their country provides them. They would rather protest than contribute. What is ironic to me is that many of the students who protest the government on college campuses are receiving government scholarships. Can you say hypocrisy?

Let's face it, there will always be "haves" and "have nots". But if you live in America and consider yourself a "have not" do me a favor...go talk to a recent immigrant and ask them what their life was like before they came here. Not a European immigrant, one from one of the countries where our military is right now. If you still think you've got it bad and that America is such an evil place, feel free move to Europe because your just taking up valuable space in this country. Space that would be better filled by someone who would appreciate everything that is offered them on a daily basis.

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