David Letterman wrote this; it's the David we don't often see....
'As most of you know I am not a President Bush fan, nor have I ever been, but this is not about Bush, it is about us, as Americans, and it seems to hit the mark.'
'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 2/3 of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change. So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, 'What are we so unhappy about?'
A. Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 Days a week?
B. Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter?
C. Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job?
D. 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?
E. Maybe it is the ability to drive our cars and trucks from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state.
F. Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter?
G. I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough either.
H. 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.
I. Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home.
J. 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.
K. 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.
L. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90% of teenagers own cell phones and computers.
M. 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% 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!
Turn 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?'
-David Letterman
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/the_big_picture/2008/11/geffen-on-obama.html
12 comments:
I was drafted in 1966 at the age of 23. I think every male should experience this. Our society is
filled with spoiled adults and
people who have collected welfare and social security all their
life. They think the government is here to take care of them.
I will say again , get ready for the revolt , it going to be a big one!( I'm ready)
7:48, the revolution has come and gone---on November 4, 2008. America spoke at the voting booths, and their voices were heard. Dmeocracy is coming back to America; it's the end of Bush's dictatorship, the end of the good ol' boy plutocracy.
anon 7:48 AM
I commend you for your service.
"I was drafted in 1966 at the age of 23." (wonder why it took so long)
I'm ready for the revolt too but probably not in the same way you are.
You see I was drafted in 1965, at the age of 19, and was fighting a war when you were drafted.
I'd be willing to bet you were delighted to not be sent where I was because if you were you'd know most of us that were there view things a little differently than you.
We both were drafted but the distinct difference is that I experienced the tragedy of war and obviously you didn't.
If and when the "Revolt" comes, be assured you and I will be on opposing sides because I don't believe, " Our society is
filled with spoiled adults and
people who have collected welfare and social security all their
life."
Why don't you just shit and fall back in it.
WHEN AS BIG A LIB AS DAVID LETTERMAN WRITES SOMETHING LIKE THIS i THINK ITS TIME WE ALL REEVALUATE OUR PRIORITIES
Letterman's comments certainly put things in perspective, don't they?
Why didn't Letterman speak up with his ideas BEFORE the election? He bashed Bush with all the other Democrats! Another covert way a lib trying to get everyone to see things their way. Does he think this will get all Republicans to support Obama? Not! I will treat Obama with the same respect that the Libs gave to Bush.
Yes, we are not nearly grateful enough for our bounty of good things.
However, we are not spoiled brats for thinking that all the good things are fleeting. Just how hard is to lose everything?
One dictator in the Saudi kingdom could throw us into turmoil easily by shutting off the oil flow. Or have you forgotten the Arab OilEmbargo of the 1970's?
On Dave's list "C" indicates the unemployment rate is 4.5% Try 6.5% and climbing, hopefully, temporary.
My job was exported and I went from an exorbitant $12/hr to $8/hr with no health insurance and suspicions of an enlargening prostrate.
Merely five years ago, a working couple with modest incomes could afford a new house in a development on Deal Island Rd for $80,000. What about now?
The food situation is still great but with more and more of our food being imported, the risk of disruption increases.
We are not spoiled brats for thinking the country is headed in the wrong direction. There is nothing immature in thinking our blessings are endangered.
Anon 8:58
Wow how nice you are to a fellow comrad. Just because he was not where you were does not mean he did not experience the tragedy of war. I am a veteran...not of the vietnam or korean..but Iraq and Afghanistan. I to did not see what you saw i am guessing as well...so does this mean i did not experiance the tragedy of War? I did and for you to put down a fellow soldier shows me how ignorant you are. He was there with you and he could not control when he got drafted. I joined on my own will and wanted infantry. So i got it and went to the 10th Mountain and was an M240B machine gunner. I agree with Anon 7:48 all males should experience the military and maybe then they wont whine all the time and have some discipline. I am now a police officer and have to deal with alot of punk kids who have no respect for anyone...not even their parents...so yes i would love for a Drill Sergeant or Instructor to get his hands on some of them. Anon 7:48 deserves respect just like you and me....so show it.
And yes the world is FULL of spolied brats.
Yikes...Letterman that's pretty deep for him, yet he is so right.
Anon 8:50 you have the balls of an elephant to speak to another vet of your era in such a manner. I suggest you didi on down to that rat hole you just peeked out of and reflect awhile.
Signed,
Another Vet from your era.
I think this is one of those "internet writings" that is well written and attributed to nearly everyone. I have seen this as written by "Jay Leno" too
Letterman didn't write this.
Jay Leno, who was first alleged to write it...didn't write it.
Craig Smith wrote it.
Here is the snopes.com link, if Joe will let it through.
Folks, we are often not grateful, but I'm not going to sit and take Phil Gramm's "this is just a nation of whiners" crap, either.
I've got EIGHT, count 'em EIGHT friends working TWO jobs now. And I'm going to make the group NINE in another two weeks, so no more reading blogs for me.
We all work our asses off for our families. "R" had to be on govt. assistance for a short while during his health recovery, but other than that, we all work our balls off. And have slid backwards in the last few years.
God Bless America, but there's no reason why we can't improve. My buds and I sure have worked for it while the rich kept getting richer.
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