America - the land of "freedom" & "dreams" - but is it?

**daesmommy** · 09-14-2010, 12:23 PM

Before reading this - please try to remember, this is my opinion

I'm not asking any of you to feel the same way. Lets keep this friendly. Thanks.

I think I’m giving up on America - “The land of freedom and dreams.” More like the land of stolen dreams and lies that keeps our public delusional. Truth be told, this isn’t even “our” land. We stole America from the Indians, and didn’t really compensate them. And if you need proof for that - we are STILL paying for their college.
Growing up, I used to be so proud of this country. But as I get older, I notice more and more things that make me disappointed. How many precious lives have to be taken before we wake up, and make a stand? We are constantly sending our men and women to other countries to fight an acclaimed war on “terror.” I’m so sorry to tell all of you this, but the government causes alot of these problems, and attacks, just to keep the public with a false sense of being “safe.” It has been proven time and again, that America is training, and even aiding the very people they are calling “terrorists.” We are always going around the globe to help other countries, when in fact, its our own country that needs helping. In Detriot alone, almost 200 murders have happened since January. Lets say 400 murders a year, thats more than 1 person a day. They worry about drugs, and other things coming into this country illegally, but they aren’t doing much to stop it here in the US. We are feeding other countries that are too poor to feed themselves, but what about the Americans that are barely surviving? In many states they are arresting vagrants. Which, they say is to help keep down crimes, and them begging. But it takes so little to be classified as a “vagrant.” If you are walking around town, and have no money in your pocket, or less then they think you should have, you could be arrested. If you are homeless, and rumaging garbage cans, and begging for food or money, you could be arrested. Now, imagine that you have a job, and a family, and get caught out, and have no money in your pocket. Are they going to arrest you? A hard working citizen? I can’t not even fathom all of these things. How many working people do you know that are close to being homeless? How many people do you know that find it hard to both feed their families, and pay their bills? They are estimating that we will have payed out $1.03 TRILLION in money for this war by the end of 2010. And yet they wonder why our country is in a depression. *SMH* They sent us to Iraq with the idea that they had weapons of mass destruction - that was false - and none have been found. We have 100,000 + troops in Afghanistan, to help find the rest of the Al Queida members, around 100. Now, do you really think it takes that many to take out 100 people? We have been at war for 8 years, and we keep getting promised that our men and women will come home, but there is no end in sight. Truth be told - this war is never going to end. Its a constant battle for power, and these countries aren’t having it. Are Americans that blinded to believe we have the upper hand? Their armies are trained ATLEAST as good as ours, if not better. And of course they have the upper hand - they are trained on their land.
What happens when our troops get home? Alot of them have mental, and emotional instability, and abuse problems later on, and our own Government isn’t helping them. I’m so aggravated, and truly devastated by the lack of compassion and empathy for those soldiers.

**Advertisement** · 09-14-2010 12:23 PM

**janelle** · 09-15-2010, 04:27 AM

You seem to have listened to the far left too much. Even they won't live anywhere else but the USA. They know we have the best country for freedom.

Our country is the first there to help other countries and send more aid to poor around the world than any other. If our country hadn't answered terrorist attacks with military force I wonder what you would be writing about our country---if any country was left.

Life is messy---yes, we have had to back despots at times but it was a choice of a bad leader or a totally horrible leader. Life does not come wrapped up in a pretty bow.

Our soldiers are being helped but much more can be done. At least they are not coming back to people calling them baby killers, etc. like in the Vietnam era. We have learned to support our soldiers who are mostly kids when sent to war but that is in every war that has ever been fought.

You need to volunteer in some charity that helps the homeless and less fortunate to see the help that is out there or maybe go to another country like Mexico where the poor live in cardboard shacks. You can volunteer for any of these jobs, people are asking for volunteers all the time.

Maybe your pessimism will go away somewhat after you see how most of the rest of the world lives. Our country is there to help but we can't do it all.

**Kelsey1224** · 09-16-2010, 09:44 AM

Originally Posted by janelle

You seem to have listened to the far left too much. Even they won't live anywhere else but the USA. They know we have the best country for freedom.

Our country is the first there to help other countries and send more aid to poor around the world than any other. If our country hadn't answered terrorist attacks with military force I wonder what you would be writing about our country---if any country was left.

Life is messy---yes, we have had to back despots at times but it was a choice of a bad leader or a totally horrible leader. Life does not come wrapped up in a pretty bow.

Our soldiers are being helped but much more can be done. At least they are not coming back to people calling them baby killers, etc. like in the Vietnam era. We have learned to support our soldiers who are mostly kids when sent to war but that is in every war that has ever been fought.

You need to volunteer in some charity that helps the homeless and less fortunate to see the help that is out there or maybe go to another country like Mexico where the poor live in cardboard shacks. You can volunteer for any of these jobs, people are asking for volunteers all the time.

Maybe your pessimism will go away somewhat after you see how most of the rest of the world lives. Our country is there to help but we can't do it all.

Janelle and I couldn't be more polar opposites politically...but I agree with the majority of her post. America is flawed and sometimes it seems like we have lost our way from what our founding fathers had in mind when they came here. However, I believe this country is so much better than anywhere else I could choose to live. Every single day, I consider myself blessed to have been born here. Things we take for granted as simply a matter of right...are denied citizens of many other countries. Just being able to post something as the OP did...is denied in other countries.

As for our soldiers...I understand that many do come back mentally and physically disabled...but I don't think that American citizen's don't appreciate their sacrifice. My husband is a Vietnam vet and he experienced first-hand what it was like to be spit on by his fellow citizens when he returned to American soil. It is a pain that he carries with him today. If America learned anything from Vietnam...it was to appreciate the soldiers who do as they are commanded even though it may not necessarily be what they personally believe in.

I personally don't necessarily support our military effort overseas...but I don't think America is ruined because of it. I also personally believe that we should take care of ourselves, but I am proud that America is the first one to help out when other countries are hit with devastating disasters! I think that is what sets America apart from other countries. We are compassionate by nature! It is part of who we are!

Other countries may hate us...other people may hate us...but in the end, it is our spirit which reaches out and inspires others who want to come to this country. I'm proud to be an American.

**jedmatters** · 09-16-2010, 10:30 AM

I am proud to be a citizen of the USA. Our system may have flaws, but try and find a better one out there.

Our biggest flaw is not helping other countries, nor is it the military that we have on a voluntary basis (which is and has been for a few decades). Our biggest flaw is that citizens believe that they are owed something. No one is owed anything for being born here, but they do owe the country for giving them a chance to have rights, and life here. I am responsible for me and my family. the government is not responsible for my food, shelter, insurance or my desires. That is what my husband and I are for. I am responsible to my country to uphold its laws, and honor it.
We have people who live off of the government for years by choice. People capable of working, but don't. There is no job beneath you, there is no job that will lower you.
Imagine the job you refuse to take.. imagine your life without that person doing that job. I personally could not function without my local gas station attendant, grocery store stocker, clerk, or even that teen at McDs. There are jobs listed in our newspapers that have been open for months, yet our local unemployment rate is 10.2%!
We do not need the government to take care of us. That is a personal job. We need to take care of the government.
I support my military. I may not back all the choices made by the government, but I will support it! I vote, and I do not always get who I want in office; that is the perfect system. I may have been wrong on my vote, or maybe I was right. I like that chance.
But, no one is born into an office or born into a special treatment.
The government did not say please bear more children than you can take care of...
And it never said, please allow me to support your choices, while you refuse to honor mine.
Insteadof being a country of individuals, where no one wants the same outcome: we should be a country of citizens that strive for having the best country in the world.
Again: try and find a better one... you won't succeed.

**iluvmybaby** · 09-16-2010, 07:10 PM

So leave......that is the great thing about america, if you dont like it you are FREE to go

**janelle** · 09-16-2010, 09:13 PM

Kennedy said---"Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." Why has that been forgotten?

It's been proven when unemployment money stops people can find a job really fast. My neice won't take any jobs that pay lower than what she can get from unemployment. I can't blame these people but extending those payments is not the answer to unemployment.

**jedmatters** · 09-17-2010, 04:29 AM

Janelle, I agree fully

**dv8grl** · 09-17-2010, 08:55 AM

I served in the military & as much as I dislike the direction this country is going in, if needed, I would serve again.
I would also leave this country & move to another one in a heartbeat...everyone who says America is the best and that all other countries suck, hasn't been to many other countries. There are alot of countries that do suck, but there are alot of countries that are absolutely awesome,and in some ways better than America.

**Kelsey1224** · 09-17-2010, 04:15 PM

Originally Posted by dv8grl

I served in the military & as much as I dislike the direction this country is going in, if needed, I would serve again.
I would also leave this country & move to another one in a heartbeat...everyone who says America is the best and that all other countries suck, hasn't been to many other countries. There are alot of countries that do suck, but there are alot of countries that are absolutely awesome,and in some ways better than America.

Just because I believe that America is the best place to live doesn't mean that "all other countries suck". It's not either this or that. Of course there are other countries which have good standards of living. I just personally prefer the United States. But, I've not traveled that extensively.

I'm also not one to say, "If you don't like it, then leave!" But, I'm sincerely curious as to why you would leave "in a heartbeat" and where would you move. I'm truly not saying that to be a smart-a$$ but because I'm interested in what other countries you've visited that you think are awesome.

**cathych** · 09-17-2010, 06:05 PM

I am not touching this one with a ten foot pole. To each his own as my daddy would say.

**dv8grl** · 09-18-2010, 09:56 AM

Originally Posted by Kelsey1224

Just because I believe that America is the best place to live doesn't mean that "all other countries suck". It's not either this or that. Of course there are other countries which have good standards of living. I just personally prefer the United States. But, I've not traveled that extensively.

I'm also not one to say, "If you don't like it, then leave!" But, I'm sincerely curious as to why you would leave "in a heartbeat" and where would you move. I'm truly not saying that to be a smart-a$$ but because I'm interested in what other countries you've visited that you think are awesome.

I have visited Turkey, Spain, Argentine & Uruguay and Canada.
It just infuriates me when people who, wouldn't even serve their country say that its the best.., or haven't even travelled outside their county, let alone the country.
Ask most veterans, especially those who served in the first Gulf War how they feel about America, they feel the exact same way I do. I have seen first hand what happens to people who have given themselves to this country, they are thrown away, lied to, and mistreated, yet people who don't give a sh!t about this country get all the benefits of living here. Yes, its what the original forefathers had in mind when they started this country, but I doubt that Thomas Jefferson, George Washington & Ben Franklin would be happy with what this country has become.

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