The United States Government
In a time when it is popular to bash the United States Government, I think people should think about their freedoms and try and remember everything the United States does to help around the world. We are extremely lucky to be living in a country that allows its citizens to speak however they choose about their elected officials. We are extremely lucky to be able to demonstrate for causes that are important to us. We are extremely lucky to be able to vote for the candidate of our choice without fear. There are many people around the world who do not have, what we consider, basic freedoms. These freedoms are not known to people in Iran, North Korea, Cuba or other communist countries around the world. Cuban people were just now able to get cell phones in April of 2008.
The United States is one of the most generous countries in the World. The United States provides hope to suffering people throughout the world. Soon after the tsunami hit Indonesia in 2006 the United States had more than 150 personnel on the ground participating in the relief and reconstruction effort. The United States has given $950 million dollars to support the people and reconstruction of their country after the tsunami hit.
The United States, by 2010, will have doubled the amount of monetary assistance given in 2004, to 8.7 billion dollars to help fight HIV/AIDS and malaria in Africa. Hundreds of thousands of new textbooks have been given to the children of Africa to help with their education. In the last eight years the United States has more than doubled its development assistance to Africa.
These are just a few examples of why we should be proud of our government. Is there any wonder why people risk their lives in small boats or rafts to try and make it to the United States? We are a long way from the “Perfect Union” our founders talked about but we continue to try and get there.
3 comments:
I agree to disagree with "The Liberty Eagle" in their argument in "The United States Government." I'm proud to be an American, but I don't have to agree with everything that they tell me. When you actually put it into perspective the government gives us rights and freedoms that they want to enjoy themselves. Government policy has to be tempting in order to win over the masses. It's great that the United States is a generous country and that they are doing alot to help other countries, but what about their own people. Approximately 1% of the United States population experience homelessness each year. The devastation left by Hurricane Katrina showed perpetual ill judgement on the United States government. The government's disaster relief efforts were ridiculous. Several of the people affected by this tragedy are still suffering today. I believe that the govermnet's generosity should start at home first. The United States needs to tend to domestic matters before they take on the obligations of foreign ones(i.e the "so-called" War on Terrorism).
In his article, The United States Government, Preston Flood writes that as Americans we should remember the great things America does and let go of the negativity aimed at the government.
Conservatives think that it’s unpatriotic to be liberal and especially to challenge the administration or government - that liberals have no appreciation for our great country.
The truth is that the people who continue to challenge, criticize and scrutinize the government are the real patriots, actually, no matter if their hearts are red or blue. Those patriots know exactly what America stands for – what it is about the Constitution and American heritage that makes the US a country to be proud of. Those patriots do not take that greatness for granted. Quite the opposite – they fight to protect what is great about our country fiercely. They stand up every day to make note that the US stands for freedom and no one, not even our own, will take that from us. They stand up and say that the US has the resources to make our country and even the world a better place and demand that our government does the best it can for everyone. They get up every morning and are thankful for where they live.
If they took it for granted, they wouldn’t fight. They wouldn’t care. They wouldn’t give it a second thought. They’d say, “Ah well, for now I’ve got mine, so the politicians can do whatever they want.” They would accept the system to be as perfect as possible and never question it again. Blind Faith.
That Americans continue to challenge and rebel is the essence of the United States. Instead of reminding the liberals who do the “Bush bashing” that America is great, the country would be better served to remind those who do nothing that apathy is un-American. It doesn’t matter if a person is conservative or liberal, Southern Baptist or Unitarian Universalist - whatever the cause, whatever the beliefs, to step up and fight for a cause, to continually check that which might be wrong, to question, protest and shout for what is right - that is America.
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
- The First Amendment of The United States
I could not imagine a time when these rights were taken away from me, when I was not able to freely speak about my government as I pleased.
In a recent article by The Liberty Eagle titled "The United States Government", the editor speaks of the audacity of "bashing" our government. I feel that I could not disagree more. I believe that there is a fundamental difference in speaking out against your government, and hating it. The leaders of our democracy have recently seemed to believe that our way of government is the only true form in which other countries should have to follow as well. I believe that it is not only our right, but it is our duty to speak out against the atrocities being performed by our government through the Iraq War in the name of democracy.
"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we."
—Washington, D.C., Aug. 5, 2004
It is for this reason that the citizens of this nation speak out against it. We have a leader who for one does not seem to know how to speak, and who seems so careless and ignorant about the lives of this nations citizens.
There is no doubt that this country has done plenty to help other countries in times of need, but does that mean we are perfect? In 1994 when the Rwandan Hutu's committed genocide on the Tutsi citizens did we help? No. During Hurricane Katrina did we have aid ready for the aftermath? Again, No. When President Bush admitted to defying over 750 laws since he took office did we do anything about it? Once again, No. So I find it a little hard to just sit back and accept that our Country has done a few good things in it's time, but not be upset when people say that I should not speak badly about my government when it is clearly making some major mistakes.
References:
http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/about.aspx?item=about_firstamd
http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/blbushdumbquotes2.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rwandan_Genocide
http://www.truthout.org/cgi-bin/artman/exec/view.cgi/59/19450
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