Posted on 09/20/2008 7:39:50 AM PDT by dascallie
From HC Forum today:
Today, 06:37 AM Vinnster
(Sept. 20, 2008) A Little Perspective With all the turmoil about the economy it helps to put things in perspective about just how lucky we are to be Americans in the greatest country on Earth and a place where, if you are willing to work you can fulfill your dreams.
When I hear folks whining about how tough things are for them, yet they are holding a $3 cup of Starbucks, I just have to shake my head and think…you really are a spoiled brat that ought be down on your lazy knees thanking God you were born in America. Today, anyone, and I mean anyone can start with nothing and become wealthy and fulfill their dreams if they follow a very simple formula. Work hard (plan to do so for 40 years), live below your means and do not get swept up in the trinkets false success.
The next time you hear a person or a politician whine about how tough things are financially for Americans…remember this story
http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=13836
My Convention Story Quote: By Ben Stein Published 9/5/2008 1:45:08 AM ST. PAUL -- Okay, here's my Republican Convention story. After I did my little tiny bit of reporting work from St. Paul's Xcel Center on Wednesday, I got into a taxi to head back to my hotel. Of course we got stuck in traffic.
I asked my driver, a rugged looking fellow, where he was from and how he was enjoying the convention.
It was as if I had uncorked a bottle of champagne.
"Have you ever heard of Ogaden?" he asked me.
"Yes, it's part of Ethiopia," I said. "Lots of fighting there."
"It is a huge area. Seven million people. Government of Ethiopia gives us no schools, no hospitals, no clinics, nothing. Just poor nomads who want something more. There is oil there and other people get rich from it and we stay poor.
"I was a nomad," he said. "I had nothing. I escaped when they wanted to put me in the army to fight in Somalia. I went to Kenya, then came here. Kenya is a beautiful country but there is no country like the United States.
"I have been here sixteen years. I came with nothing. I have a taxi now. I am in graduate school at the University of Minnesota. I have a wife and three kids. We have a house and two cars and air conditioning. I brought over my two brothers. They were grazing sheep. Now one is a chemical engineer and one is studying English literature. In the United States anything can happen."
I thought to myself, this is the real story of America, not Sarah Palin or Joe Biden. This taxi driver who found his dreams in the Twin Cities.
"Listen, I know people who talk bad about the United States," my driver said. "I tell them, if you work you can accomplish anything in this country. If you don't, there's something wrong with you, not this country. This country is the best country in the world. Everyone," and here he raised his voice and wagged his finger, "everyone in the world wants to come here. And they're right."
The rest of the convention was fine, but I got my lesson from that taxi driver from a war torn hellhole, who found his Garden of Eden in Minnesota. God bless this great country.
Thank you for posting this, dascallie. It’s so refreshing to read a positive piece...and especially from one who really appreciates the opportunity that this country affords all of us....IF we are willing to work instead of expecting crippling handouts.
I really had no idea.
Congressman Billybob
IMO it ought to be against the law and considered treason to attempt to change our Republic into a Democracy (yeah I know.."in your dreams").
I doubt most of the representatives in Washington could tell you what system of governance we are supposed to be heir to. The Democrats continue to refer to our government as a Democracy. Most of those in Washington, DC wouldn't know dreck if they had a mouth full of it.
Our economic largess has been squandered by the self serving boobs in DC who think the money is theirs and the public school systems are brainwashing and indoctrinating our children while not teaching them how to multiply or spell.
If you think your vote is going to change anything, think again, The system is hopelessly corrupt and it corrupts all who go there. /rant
Great read. Great story. Thanks for posting. God Bless America!
God Bless America.
Unfortunately, we live in an “I feel your pain” world when it comes to the economy. Any candidate that doesn’t claim ‘the sky is falling’ risks being labeled as out of touch and does so at his own political peril.”
That’s a nice thing for the taxi driver to say. Most of mine lately have been either sullen, silent Muslims, or art-history PhD types who can’t get a real job and badmouth America for it.
I’ve personally met many such people in the Bay Area. Just last week I met a young man who escaped Cambodia with his parents after Viet Nam fell. Many years ago I had a gardener who was a colonel in the South Viet Nam army and had been captured by the NVA. He escaped, walked out of the country at night hiding in swamps during the day and got on the boat lift out of S Viet Nam. I had a young engineer work for me who escaped in the boat lift out of S Viet Nam and remembers being strafed by NVA planes. They have all become very successful Americans.
I never knew any of their political convictions and have often wondered how they vote — whether with the side of freedom and liberty or the side of oppression, big government and slavery.
“Listen, I know people who talk bad about the United States,” my driver said. “I tell them, if you work you can accomplish anything in this country. If you don’t, there’s something wrong with you, not this country. This country is the best country in the world. Everyone,” and here he raised his voice and wagged his finger, “everyone in the world wants to come here. And they’re right.”
My discussions with Europeans ratify the words of this man. We should thank God every day for America. We Americans should quit wasting energy bitching about everything and just get to work building whatever we want in life. I’ve been at it for about 35 years now and I’ve never been better off or happier than I am today.
USA! USA! USA! USA!
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