We have the laws to protect this country…just use them! Go after those who would harm us and jail them, ex presidents included. No one is above the law
I have always had mixed feelings about July 4th and other "American" celebrations. But as the wife, mother and daughter of Military veterans, I love this country, even when it didn't and often doesn't love us.
As usual you have seen the situation as it is in reality and described it succinctly.
I was born in the UK in 1946 and lived there for my first 22 years. I then moved to Australia for the following 45 years and now live in Mexico. In my early years I was impressed by the US and many things American. The birth of the Nation was the same as many, others full of injustice, violence and theft. Most earlier formed nations can be credited with the same, and even worse. But relating to newer countries the US in my view has progressed very little in many ways from its birth to the present day.
Apart from the Civil War it is at its most divided right now. Some will say how advanced the country is - “ the greatest nation on the planet”, but the reality is now far from any truth those words may have held in the past.
Sadly I have the view that it is now not just a shadow of any previous greatness, but becoming “ so small it the only shadow it casts is a gloomy stain. I don’t say these words with any sense of cheer.
A nation, as you have often stated, is the people but the position of those in Government have a great influence on how the People think and act. It seems consecutive Governments irrespective of which side of politics they are have created and delivered a period in time that highlights how far behind the rest of the World the US is, and acknowledged to be by the rest of the World.
In some areas it is not as bad as many countries, but the high visibility of the US globally, together with its constant proclamation of its self greatness reveals the reality of hypocrisy, violence, hatred, racism, sexism, greed, manipulation, lies and corruption.
Even just focusing on recent events, the position now on Abortion and Gun laws reveals how divided the Nation is and how hypocritical and is the thinking is on both. Protecting unborn children at any cost yet allowing murder on a grand scale every week. Just those two issues alone reveal the non-progressive attitudes of many Americans.
Add to that the consistent lack of progress in the areas of Racism, tolerance of different views, together with incompetent Governments who fail to work for the People, who don’t do the job they have been elected to do, who fail to create a unified nation, and who have no long term vision of anything other than their own well being and you have a nation that is in turmoil and regressive.
In talking about areas where the US trails other nations in its “ livability”, the US infrastructure is failing. Rail transport and Airports/ air travel are light years behind Europe. Health Care continues to be one of, if not the worst in the Developed world. Not befitting the “Greatest nation on Earth” title. It is punitive and regressive despite having some of the best facilities and Practitioners in the field. The Justice system is not accurately named given its performance and retrograde thinking. So in summary, and just skimming the surface, these issues alone do not represent a progressive and unified Nation.
A country that at times could be called great is now not worthy of that word. Consecutive Governments who make little progress in their Term of Office, only to be replaced by another Government who chooses to try to undo anything that may have been achieved and continues to achieve little degrades the Nation and belittles its achievements.
Finally, but by no means comprehensively, the constant creation or involvement in War is reducing the strength of the US and allowing other nations such as China to become “Tge Greatest Nation on Earth” despite its own shortcomings and injustices.
I am sure my thoughts, words and opinions will not be received well by many.
Thank you Mr. Rather & Mr. Kirschner. You’ve helped me see that our country is still a work in progress and as scary as recent times have been we can be grateful for lessons learned & cautious but hopeful for our future.
Dan, I left Austin after 30 years and much of that was the political pollution that has flowed there following the GQP governors. I'm not in much of a patriotic mood these days: gun violence, loss of rights for women and girls, the changing of text books to "reflect" the history the GQP wants taught, black men still being gunned down, gay rights now up for potential overturning, and the final straw was the GQP's new slogans that came from their Texas party conference. And I had hoped Texas would be purple but gerrymandering will keep it red. It was a grand old state when I got there in 1990, but those day are over. And more dead on July 4th with a white dude and an automatic rifle blowing away people because he could. I stay home now, don't go to movie theaters or outdoor concerts. This is no way to live but this is our NEW America.
Thank you as always, Dan. As a woman with a daughter-in-law and nieces, I feel robbed of a fundamental freedom while weapons of war are in the hands of citizens. I swing between rage and despair and in any case, could not celebrate this year. I hope to NEXT year. If Democracy survives what a celebration that will be.
As a human, a woman, a compassionate being, I was so upset by this country that I didn't read this until today. Thank you for the perspective. Food for thought.
Even though I am not one to get too excited about holidays, it is really shameful that a community cannot even have a parade without one of our almost daily shootings.
I agree with this point of view. We can appreciate what was begun and accomplished in the past years, while we feel other emotions about what is. I feel ashamed of what America looks like to the world, but we can always keep trying to make our country more like our forefathers wrote. Don't give up, hold the line, move the line forward for the betterment of all humanity. Steady folks, steady!
You can celebrate because you haven't had your freedom to choose your life yanked away by a shriveled-up old white man who quoted a judge that burned women as witches. I stayed home. But, you can be dang sure I will not stay home in November!!!!!!!!
Missed this, so Loving it today and posting it today!
We have the laws to protect this country…just use them! Go after those who would harm us and jail them, ex presidents included. No one is above the law
I have always had mixed feelings about July 4th and other "American" celebrations. But as the wife, mother and daughter of Military veterans, I love this country, even when it didn't and often doesn't love us.
Back and to the left
Thank you. I had woken up that morning conflicted about how to feel/celebrate the day,
when by chance my boys and I ended up attending and supporting a protest in a local parade. It was a reminder that we are out there. We can not let the struggle overpower our voices. The day should commemorate the change in country's course and remind us of our rights to continue that course in our fight for freedom. https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0SKR254ag8MNUSVG9m8jFECnb2a3hnBM14d3ddrMhxABX62hMsXnqVFNQ19YAP9Bnl&id=827524519&sfnsn=mo
Hello Dan,
As usual you have seen the situation as it is in reality and described it succinctly.
I was born in the UK in 1946 and lived there for my first 22 years. I then moved to Australia for the following 45 years and now live in Mexico. In my early years I was impressed by the US and many things American. The birth of the Nation was the same as many, others full of injustice, violence and theft. Most earlier formed nations can be credited with the same, and even worse. But relating to newer countries the US in my view has progressed very little in many ways from its birth to the present day.
Apart from the Civil War it is at its most divided right now. Some will say how advanced the country is - “ the greatest nation on the planet”, but the reality is now far from any truth those words may have held in the past.
Sadly I have the view that it is now not just a shadow of any previous greatness, but becoming “ so small it the only shadow it casts is a gloomy stain. I don’t say these words with any sense of cheer.
A nation, as you have often stated, is the people but the position of those in Government have a great influence on how the People think and act. It seems consecutive Governments irrespective of which side of politics they are have created and delivered a period in time that highlights how far behind the rest of the World the US is, and acknowledged to be by the rest of the World.
In some areas it is not as bad as many countries, but the high visibility of the US globally, together with its constant proclamation of its self greatness reveals the reality of hypocrisy, violence, hatred, racism, sexism, greed, manipulation, lies and corruption.
Even just focusing on recent events, the position now on Abortion and Gun laws reveals how divided the Nation is and how hypocritical and is the thinking is on both. Protecting unborn children at any cost yet allowing murder on a grand scale every week. Just those two issues alone reveal the non-progressive attitudes of many Americans.
Add to that the consistent lack of progress in the areas of Racism, tolerance of different views, together with incompetent Governments who fail to work for the People, who don’t do the job they have been elected to do, who fail to create a unified nation, and who have no long term vision of anything other than their own well being and you have a nation that is in turmoil and regressive.
In talking about areas where the US trails other nations in its “ livability”, the US infrastructure is failing. Rail transport and Airports/ air travel are light years behind Europe. Health Care continues to be one of, if not the worst in the Developed world. Not befitting the “Greatest nation on Earth” title. It is punitive and regressive despite having some of the best facilities and Practitioners in the field. The Justice system is not accurately named given its performance and retrograde thinking. So in summary, and just skimming the surface, these issues alone do not represent a progressive and unified Nation.
A country that at times could be called great is now not worthy of that word. Consecutive Governments who make little progress in their Term of Office, only to be replaced by another Government who chooses to try to undo anything that may have been achieved and continues to achieve little degrades the Nation and belittles its achievements.
Finally, but by no means comprehensively, the constant creation or involvement in War is reducing the strength of the US and allowing other nations such as China to become “Tge Greatest Nation on Earth” despite its own shortcomings and injustices.
I am sure my thoughts, words and opinions will not be received well by many.
Regards, Paul Valon.
Thank you Mr. Rather & Mr. Kirschner. You’ve helped me see that our country is still a work in progress and as scary as recent times have been we can be grateful for lessons learned & cautious but hopeful for our future.
Dan, I left Austin after 30 years and much of that was the political pollution that has flowed there following the GQP governors. I'm not in much of a patriotic mood these days: gun violence, loss of rights for women and girls, the changing of text books to "reflect" the history the GQP wants taught, black men still being gunned down, gay rights now up for potential overturning, and the final straw was the GQP's new slogans that came from their Texas party conference. And I had hoped Texas would be purple but gerrymandering will keep it red. It was a grand old state when I got there in 1990, but those day are over. And more dead on July 4th with a white dude and an automatic rifle blowing away people because he could. I stay home now, don't go to movie theaters or outdoor concerts. This is no way to live but this is our NEW America.
Thank you as always, Dan. As a woman with a daughter-in-law and nieces, I feel robbed of a fundamental freedom while weapons of war are in the hands of citizens. I swing between rage and despair and in any case, could not celebrate this year. I hope to NEXT year. If Democracy survives what a celebration that will be.
As a human, a woman, a compassionate being, I was so upset by this country that I didn't read this until today. Thank you for the perspective. Food for thought.
Even though I am not one to get too excited about holidays, it is really shameful that a community cannot even have a parade without one of our almost daily shootings.
I agree with this point of view. We can appreciate what was begun and accomplished in the past years, while we feel other emotions about what is. I feel ashamed of what America looks like to the world, but we can always keep trying to make our country more like our forefathers wrote. Don't give up, hold the line, move the line forward for the betterment of all humanity. Steady folks, steady!
Simply, Thank YOU! This helps me.
Thank you.
You can celebrate because you haven't had your freedom to choose your life yanked away by a shriveled-up old white man who quoted a judge that burned women as witches. I stayed home. But, you can be dang sure I will not stay home in November!!!!!!!!
They have a pretty complex plan. It's frightening.