Posted on 11/25/2008 7:18:13 AM PST by Fishface
My fellow Americans, it appears we’ve hit a rough stretch. Our economy is barely functioning; unemployment is rising; our stock market is collapsing, our elected leaders are failing us and to top it all off, our fiercest enemies are celebrating the election of our new President. Soon, our Government will tell us they have the answers and ask us to sacrifice freedom for relief. As Thanksgiving approaches, it sure doesn’t appear like we have much to be thankful for.
But things aren’t always as they appear. We have everything to be thankful for because we live in the greatest country in the world. We’ll survive this, and we’ll emerge stronger. Not because of anything our Government will do. No. We will survive despite our Government’s attempt to make us dependent. We will survive because we’re Americans and that’s what we do. We reject failure. We reject the temptation of Government dependency. We embrace freedom, and understand it’s worth more than any Government handout. Yes. We are Americans. We produce. We create. We survive. We overcome. Be thankful America. We live in a country full of Americans.
Americans like my parents. They moved to Massachusetts in 1978 from Rochester, New York because they had three small children and one on the way, and my father could no longer afford to stay put. It was a difficult time. The economy was bad with double digit inflation, high unemployment, mortgage rates around 14% and the top income tax rate at 78%. He was offered a straight commission sales job 400 miles from the only home he ever knew. I know my parents were scared, but they held their heads high, packed up their family and made the move, partially because they believed in themselves, but mostly because the alternative was unacceptable.
It wasn’t easy getting started. The pressure was immense. My father had a young family in a rented home and knew that if he didn’t sell, they wouldn’t eat. But my dad is a proud American, and he viewed this challenge as an opportunity, one that many people in this world don’t have. You see unlike other countries, Americans can improve their life and pursue their happiness. That is what makes this great country so unique. Millions of people around the world are slaves to their Governments, some through force, some through choice. These people simply don’t have the freedom to succeed. My mom talks about those first few months, how she stood in the window every night and watched my dad pull in after a long day on the road. He would look up at her from the driveway and just shake his head: no sale today. Those were dark times for my family. Money was thin, but my parents persisted. My dad honed his skills. He worked harder and smarter, and soon he was able to look up at my mom in that window and smile.
It wasn’t long before he received his first sales award. Things got better. We moved into a new house in a nice neighborhood. My mom stayed at home and cared for her children, kept our family strong and passed down the Catholic values that she holds so dear. My parents sacrificed nice cars and vacations to send us to Catholic school and even though I never had the trendy clothes or fancy toys, I never wanted for anything. Through continued hard work and achievement, my parents were eventually able to buy a home on the Cape, put 5 children through college and pay for two weddings.
My father retired last year after 27 years of selling. I talk to him everyday about how great this country is and how blessed we all are to have the opportunity to choose our own path. It’s more than that, though, this country gives its citizens the opportunity to live fruitful, productive lives and that is what happiness is all about. Government cannot provide that. Only freedom from Government can. Americans know this.
Americans like my in-laws. They began their life together during the same tough economic times. In order to support their 4 young children, my father-in-law followed in his father’s footsteps and started a plumbing and heating company. Anyone who has run a small business knows how challenging it is. Despite these challenges, he’s been very successful, providing for his family and creating jobs for others. He’s endured the tough times and tough markets, and survived through hard work and good decisions. With the exception of my wife (his daughter), I’ve never met anyone with a greater work ethic. He is the consummate American and certainly has taught me a lot about integrity, running a business and raising a family. As their children grew older, my mother-in-law became a Realtor to supplement their income. One day, she decided she could do better on her own. She partnered with the right person and started her own company. Now, over a decade later, that company is among the best in the area. Yes. My in-laws have made the most of their American opportunity. Through hard work and good decision making, they’ve raised 4 wonderful children, run two successful businesses, put their children through college, paid for three weddings (mine among them), built a second home on Nantucket and provided careers for other hard working Americans along the way.
My parents and in-laws are just two examples of the millions of Americans that make this great country work. They ask for nothing more than the freedom to choose their own path and make their own way. Now, it’s true. We are in the midst of an economic crisis, but it’s imperative that we don’t sacrifice freedom for ill-conceived Government solutions. Government cannot get us out of this crisis. Only American resolve and achievement can. So, lace up your boots, politely tell Government to step aside and let's get to work. Because we’re Americans and this great challenge is just another golden opportunity to show the world what that means. Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
“We will survive because we’re Americans and that’s what we do. We reject failure. We reject the temptation of Government dependency. We embrace freedom, and understand it’s worth more than any Government handout. Yes. We are Americans. We produce. We create. We survive. We overcome.”
We? Well, maybe half of us.
Our economy is barely functioning; unemployment is rising; our stock market is collapsing, our elected leaders are failing us and to top it all off, our fiercest enemies are celebrating the election of our new President.
Exactly.
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