Are we giving up on America?

As the eighth anniversary of the September 11th attacks has passed, it is more important than ever to  to point out why America is great. As each year passes, we fear that Americans are forgetting the events of September 11th and their true meaning.  The blind rants about how “America’s chickens are coming home to roost” and that America deserved to be attacked have become tiresome. For the last 8 years we have been droned out with conspiracy theories of staged attacks and claims that the US has reaped what it had been sowing.  It needs to stop. 

The United States is the most humanitarian, generous country in the world.  It’s a place of opportunity and individual freedoms.

Yes, America has her faults- whenever there is freedom there is also the unfortunate freedom to abuse that right.  But the exaggerated American faults are becoming old, and the blame America game for the world’s ills is even sadder.

Here’s Proverbial Koolaid’s Ten Reasons why America is Great, (there are so many more).
1. Democracy
The Constitution’s self evident truth that “all men are created equal…with the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” rings loud and clear in the 21st Century.   The Founding Fathers got it right.
2.  Free Market Economy (Capitalism)
America’s free market is efficient and productive.  Free markets are the pathways to wealth and independence. 
3. First Amendment
The First Amendment protects freedom of speech, press, religion, assembly and petition; the corner stone of our personal freedoms and the basic tenets of a democratic society.
4. Social Mobility
America offers more opportunities for social mobility than any other country.
There is no caste system in America.  Anyone can climb the ladder of social mobility if they are willing to work hard.
5. High Standard of living
Compared to other post industrial countries, the United States ranks high in per capita income, quality of life and job security.  Over 65% of Americans own a home.
Our access to consumer goods ranks even higher.  (Consumer goods are not evil- goods range from cars and appliances to clothing, gasoline and food).
6. Immigration
America is the number one global destination for immigrants.  In 2008 alone, over one million people were naturalized as U.S. citizens.  Immigration makes the United States the most diverse country in the world. 
7. Free Emergency Health Care
Walk into any Emergency room and you will be treated. The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act “require hospitals and ambulance services to provide care to anyone needing emergency treatment regardless of citizenship, legal status or ability to pay.” There are no reimbursement provisions. So regardless of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, age or disability, hospitals accept patients for emergency room care.

Don’t Drink the Koolaid Alert!
Despite what you have been hearing about the American healthcare system these days, almost 85% of Americans have some form of health insurance.
8. Separation of Church & State 
Expanding on the First Amendment, Thomas Jefferson’s “wall of separation between church and state” protects minority religions and prevents majority religions from using the state to push their agendas on others.  In America, you can worship whomever or whatever you want.
9. American Generosity
Americans donate to more causes both domestically and internationally than any other nation.
The World Banks states that in 2006, American donations from private charity, religious groups, corporations, and foundations directed at international concerns topped $70 billion.  Domestically in the same year American generosity topped out at $295 billion. Coupled with yearly donations averaging $1000 per family, almost half of all Americans do some form of volunteer work.
10.  American Foreign Policy (and American Benevolence)
Just imagine if America did not save the world from Nazism and fascism.  Can we even imagine if the Russians won the Cold War?  Would Hitler have been as benevolent as the American effort to rebuild Europe and Japan?  

One Example:
In December of 2004 a tsunami struck Southeast Asia, South Asia, and East Africa killing 231,000 people.  Aside from the monetary aid that America offered the affected nations and the United Nations, America sent the USS Abraham Lincoln to participate in Operation Unified Assistance to provide search and rescue efforts and humanitarian relief.  According to the US Navy, The USS Lincoln and her strike group delivered 5.7 million pounds of relief supplies during the operation and 90,000 gallons of fresh water daily.  The 17 helicopters attached to the group flew 1,747 relief missions along the western coast of Sumatra. After the departure of the USS Abraham Lincoln, the US Navy sent the hospital ship Mercy, a 1,000-bed ship to continue to the relief effort.

 
You don’t  have to believe everything you read, and remember – Don’t drink the Koolaid!
-atlantis