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'Winging It
by Stan Smith
It's common. If it's not asked outright, it's considered in large circles. "What's wrong with America?" I'll ask the opposite.
Who went to war with itself to end slavery? There has been a war against slavery for a long time, but America actually went to war to put an end to it ... in America. That's dedication to a cause.
Who defeated the Axis, who planned to take over the world? During World War II, Americans lost 292,000 of its own in combat deaths with a total of more than 400,000 total military deaths fighting to keep Europe and America free. These numbers are just the beginning. America spent the equivalent of trillions of dollars in this fight. The American people themselves put up happily with shortages and rationing to support the fight. Mothers went to work to build weapons. Children helped gather things to assist in the effort. As a country America gathered in a national sacrifice of comfort, time, money, and lives to fight for freedom.
Who turned back the North Koreans and the Chinese when they tried to overrun South Korea? Between 1950,1953America once again threw themselves into the breach, standing between North Korea with their Chinese allies and freedom-loving South Korea. During that conflict, America suffered nearly 110,000 casualties, including 27,000 deaths. Another 50,000 Americans died defending South Vietnam against North Vietnam. What other country has expended so much time, effort, money, and lives defending others?
There are many outside and inside America that would like you to believe that we're a bad country. We're not generous enough. We're arrogant. We're wasteful. We don't take care of our own. We're a bad country. But you have to ask yourself, "How many countries in this world have a flood of illegal immigrants willing to break the law to get in?" Estimates are someplace in the vicinity of 10 to 20 million people are currently in this country illegally. They apparently don't understand that this is a rotten country. They are apparently deluded into thinking that this is a place where people are free, living better lives than wherever they came from. In fact, how many countries even need an immigration policy? A few, I suppose, but no other country has to regulate the influx of legal immigrants wanting to cross our borders like we do. That is a powerful contradiction to our naysayers.
But it doesn't stop at that. Where do the brightest university students in the world go for their further education? While many complain that Americans are falling short of advanced education, students are coming from all around the world to go to American colleges and universities. We're so used to it that we don't think about it. These countries -- countries like India and China -- all have colleges and universities. Why is it, then, that their best students want to leave their homes and come to the United States for the best education they can get? It would seem that it's not because we have a poor educational system, is it?
And it doesn't stop there. When the tsunami struck Asia in December of 2004, who showed up with the fastest and largest assistance? Who was first on the scene with aid after the Haitian earthquake of 2010? In disaster after disaster, we've been there to help, to render aid, to give assistance. We've fed, clothed, medicated, and housed people around the world. They weren't Americans, but we were there for them. Even when disasters aren't happening, it is largely American charities that are hard at work in hungry nations feeding hungry children. It is America that is spending the most money to fight AIDS, cancer, and other medical conditions that plague the world. Did you know that there are more Americans than any other nationality that have won the Nobel Peace Prize? If you think about it, beyond the Peace Prize, Americans have practically invented the world. Oh, sure, that's an exaggeration, but think about it. Most modern conveniences are American technology. We have been on the forefront of technology in most fields for the longest time. That's part of America.
No country is perfect, and America is the perfect example. No country is without its problems. To deny that would be foolish. Yet, with all our problems, there is still no other country on this planet that can claim for itself all of the good that is the United States of America. No other country gives as much. No other country enjoys such freedoms. No other country is as prosperous. We need to fight for our country. We need to solve our problems and country our failings. On the other hand, it is important that we remember with pride and gratitude on this 236th anniversary of our declaring independence that we are a wonderful country. Don't let them tell you otherwise.
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I'm married with four grown children and (currently) four grandchildren. My wife and I live in sunny Phoenix by choice. I hope to encourage people with my words and to share with others what God has shared with me.
For more writings you can see my blog at birdsoftheair.blogspot.com.
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