jay leno's perspective! have you seen this?
By matlgal
@matlgal (1686)
United States
August 30, 2007 4:15pm CST
AMEN, AMEN AMEN !!!!
This is very powerful and worth reading to the end.
Subject: Jay Leno's Perspective
Date: Fri, 10 Aug 2007 14:50:50 -0700
Jay Leno wrote this; it's the Jay Leno we don't often see...
The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some poll
data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true given the source,
right?The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of the country is
unhappy with the performance of the president. In essence 2/3s of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change. So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking,''What we are so
unhappy about? Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter? Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job? Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery
store at any time and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year? Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state? Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter? I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough. Or could it be that when we wreck our
car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family and your belongings.
Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes , an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof
vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90 percent of teenagers own cell phones and computers.
How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world? Maybe that is what has 67
percent of you folks unhappy.Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world
has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S. , yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have,and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord welive here. I know, I know. What about the president who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks?
The commander in chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me? Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you
couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad? Think about it......are you upset at the President because he actually
caused you personal pain OR is it because the "Media" told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have
volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go.
They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general' discharge, an ''other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario,a ''dishonorable'' discharge after a few days in the brig. So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans? Say what you want but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds it leads and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for- profit corporations. They offer what sells, and when criticized, try to defend
their actions by "justifying" them in one way or another. Just ask why They tried to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book about
how he didn't kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this way......Insane!
Stop buying the negativism you are fed everyday by the media Shut off the TV, burn Newsweek , and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as a country. There is exponentially more good than bad.
We are among the most blessed people on Earth and should thank God several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative.""With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding,
severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, "Are we sure this is a
good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?"
Jay Leno
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I for one agree with what he has to say, but it's OK if you don't. Because I live in a land that allows me to say this and share this. I thank GOD everday I can do that.
What do you think?
2 people like this
5 responses
@xfahctor (14118)
• Lancaster, New Hampshire
30 Aug 07
I have to give this piece a standing ovation but I somehow have a hard time believing it was put out by jay leno. this just isn't his type of thing and he is most unlikely to be seen or heard praising the president. Great piece though, echos a lot of what I feel when I hear whining from with in my own nation about my nations state of affairs. Thank you for posting it.
2 people like this
@matlgal (1686)
• United States
30 Aug 07
http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/hitnail.asp
Awwww man your right!!! I am so dissappointed and I certainly should have looked it up before I posted this.
I apologize to the MYLOT community for not doing my homework on this one. I do however with what is written and applaud the originator who appears to be someone name craig smith. I will futher research this.
Again I am sorry I didn't get all the facts next time.
1 person likes this
@theprogamer (10534)
• United States
31 Aug 07
Don't worry about it. Sometimes its not who said it, but what is being said.
I agree with this. Yes I have disagreements, but don't ever mistake me for some brat. I'm grateful for the overall structure of the country and wouldn't want to be anywhere else. Could it be better, in a few ways yes. Could it be much worse, you bet your rear it could be. Just look at other countries (not just Darfur since all the empty-flapping heads love to buzz about that).
I don't agree with the overall thoughts and actions of our elected officials, but I have the right to dissent about that. Still, we are very free. We don't have to worry about getting killed by invaders (yet...), we don't have to worry about food and water, we have a lot of employment, we at least have an education system (could be better in some parts). Heck even some of the poorest of us are somehow making out like bandits (yea having a large TV, 2 trucks and a house but are still in poverty... that rarely exists outside the US). And I do agree some people complain just because they are bored or because of party dogma.
2 people like this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
31 Aug 07
"Stop buying the negativism you are fed everyday by the media Shut off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage." Now that is some advise we can all take. The media has a way of getting our spirits down. We need to find ways to lift ourselves up.
We do live in a country where freedom of speech is our way of life. But, so is the freedom to choose. I for one am thankful.
Great post. Thankful to you for sharing with us. Big huggers to you.
@theprogamer (10534)
• United States
31 Aug 07
Heh, I'm sort of with you there, I can see what you are saying. Personally the alphabet soup news is worthless. There is free speech (ironically under attack by alphabet soup, politicians and others) but still some of this stuff can get rather dry real fast.
1 person likes this
@matlgal (1686)
• United States
31 Aug 07
I am rapidly approaching a boiling point with the media as a whole. I believe they have poisoned us over and over and over with their views, and interpretations. I believe that we are a smart people and given the choice we prefer to hear of the good things not tainted with their own feelings or "one-up-man-ship" looking for anchor of the year or whatever. We are a competitive society and we magnate to the worst not the best, the blood and the gore not the sweet and the innocent, and so on. It's under our control what we hearm see, say, allow. USE IT to our own advantage. Quit allowing the negative- it seems simple doesn't it?
@AskAlly (3625)
• Canada
1 Sep 07
I have been outside of the media loop for the better part of 5 months. I don't feel deprived one bit for not having read a newspaper or not watching a news cast.
What I just read here is very profound and so very very true. Media gives such a "generic" view point.
I don't think I'll bother with "news" in general, but will continue to live the good life and support those causes that I feel are worthy from my own stand point..
1 person likes this
@matlgal (1686)
• United States
4 Sep 07
Ally- How nice to see you again. THanks for coming by. :)
I agree with your way of doing it. I just find myself so angry or disgusted all the time when I stay up on it. I used to watch it for 1 hour every morning before work; so by the time I left for work I was in a bad mood or fit to be tied about something or other. It was such a mood-Ring for me I have to agree that maybe less exposure is the answer.
Thanks for sharing!
@oscarbartoni (2581)
• United States
31 Aug 07
We live in a country where my ancestors land was stolen from us and had us put on reservations that were thought to be worthless pieces of property. But when gold or other valuable things were found that sand was stolen from my ancestors again. We are doing somewhat the same thing in Iraq, stealing (or trying) their oil and other valuables. Yes I do enjoy many creature comforts that I would not have if the country were not in the way it is now but is it really a better way of life than my ancestors were living before the illegal immigrants come over and stole it from us?
2 people like this
@matlgal (1686)
• United States
31 Aug 07
I disagree with what we are doing to Iraq.I believe we can do good there but we are paying the ultimate price for that with our sons and daughters, husbands and wives lives. The Indians that you refer to needed guidance to better prepare themselves for advancements in society. But I will leave that one alone. I agree your ancestors were treated umfairly.
@theprogamer (10534)
• United States
31 Aug 07
I agree with a lot of it. Yes there is free speech and people that want to complain are free to do so. Ironically some of these complainers want to mute others who disagree but that's for another time. I know this wasn't the work of Leno, but the message is still pretty good. In some places it could be better, but the overall picture is decent.
1 person likes this