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Being an American and a good person can sometimes conflict. Not to say that Americans are not also good people. I am proud of the original idea of our country, but it has since morphed into an entitled and glutinous society. I am still thankful everyday that I am an American, believe me, but I feel angry and confused about a lot of things that go on around me in the name of America.
While I support our troops who have chosen to put their lives on the line for the defense of all we hold dear, I don't always believe that they are fighting for the reasons they're being told they are. I believe that there is (almost) always some corrupt motive behind it and that when it all comes to an end it will just add to our (sometimes deserved) bad reputation with the rest of the world.
While I like to think we are a nation of intelligent people, I see daily, the ignorance of the people around me. The ones who believe they are superior in all respects just because they are from this country, and have prospered from this country, even though they have really done nothing to help their fellow man or contribute anything to the greatness of the country. Our government leads this example by strutting around like the rooster in the coop when it comes to relations with other countries. We invade the space of others to impose what we believe is the "correct" way things should be done and assume that they are less intelligent. Who are we to be so cocky? Our nation is very near it's breaking point and we still cannot admit that maybe we don't always know the right things to do. Instead we play the blame game.
While I believe that big corporate businesses should not be so greedy and not think of only their best interest, I agree with the fact that it is there choice to make and to survive in business you have to look out for your own best interest. I also believe that outsourcing, which is normally blamed on the greed of the business owners, has been caused by our own government trying to strangle them for as much of there profits as possible. When the crap hits the fan the government will make them the scape goat for problems they (the government) have caused.
While I consider myself a conservative, I also have some liberal views which puts me into a category with more and more Americans. Independent. This group is never fairly represented in elections and gets no real news coverage on it's views of the issues. This fact leaves Americans to choose between two bullies in a war with each other over who is going to run the country. Republicans or Democrats? Well, most of us don't want to support either wholeheartedly. That has been made clear with how close the last few presidential election have been. I think if there was a good Independent candidate, that had the same exposure as the others, we would see an election with results that would show we are not as divided we think we are.
While I want to help those who have no means to help themselves, I have been taken advantage of by more than my fair share of people who were just too lazy to help themselves or who were out to get what they could from an easy, generous mark. You don't want to think the worst of people who are in bad situations, but a few bad apples do spoil the bunch. Tough love builds character and that's how I deal with people for the most part. If you show me you are willing to do the work then I will back you up as much as I can, if not, stay in your hole and don't try to drag me in.
So, as good people and Americans how can we be fairly judged when the powers that represent us, don't. As patriotic as I claim to be, the more I think about it, I am patriotic for a country that really doesn't exist anymore. The country of hard workers and modesty. The country where people help each other in a common goal. The country that was happy with having the necessities in life and not all the other crap we concern ourselves with. And most of all, the country who's leaders cared about the people. I tend to think that I'm just naive in thinking that this ever really existed.
