The whole tragedy in Haiti has gotten me to thinking.

 

How lucky are we that we have building codes? That there are structural AND living condition regulations?

 

How lucky are we that we have a government that, although there are differing opinions of the method, does provide for our basic needs when we need it?

 

How lucky are we that as a citizenship, we are able to assist our neighbors in times of major tragedy and crisis without relying on other nations?

 

How lucky are we that despite our grumbling and in-fighting about taxes, they DO fund the efforts of crisis-resolution in times of natural disaster or man-made?

 

I hate how we all fight amongst each other, when despite every difference, The US has the ability to assist itself, and still our citizens find a way to help other countries.

 

I'm sure this post will be met with many posts to tell me where I'm wrong, but you'll never convince me. We are extraordinarily fortunate. And I wish we all could just realize it.

You've essentially written my thoughts on the situation. That's one reason why I rarely frequent the political forums.

 

I don't mind reading some of the posts, but they're far too predictable and hostile. In the end, you get to vote for whatever you'd like and, although it may not go exactly as you hoped, it'll be alright.

You've essentially written my thoughts on the situation. That's one reason why I rarely frequent the political forums.

 

I don't mind reading some of the posts, but they're far too predictable and hostile. In the end, you get to vote for whatever you'd like and, although it may not go exactly as you hoped, it'll be alright.

 

:thumb:And why I've pretty much quit posting in here as well.

We are very fortunate and blessed to live in the United States of America. I was listening to a song the other day which said, "It's not about having what you want it's about wanting what you have." Thanks for the nice reminder!:thumb:

The whole tragedy in Haiti has gotten me to thinking.

 

How lucky are we that we have building codes? That there are structural AND living condition regulations?

 

How lucky are we that we have a government that, although there are differing opinions of the method, does provide for our basic needs when we need it?

 

How lucky are we that as a citizenship, we are able to assist our neighbors in times of major tragedy and crisis without relying on other nations?

 

How lucky are we that despite our grumbling and in-fighting about taxes, they DO fund the efforts of crisis-resolution in times of natural disaster or man-made?

 

I hate how we all fight amongst each other, when despite every difference, The US has the ability to assist itself, and still our citizens find a way to help other countries.

 

I'm sure this post will be met with many posts to tell me where I'm wrong, but you'll never convince me. We are extraordinarily fortunate. And I wish we all could just realize it.

 

:thumb: Beautifully said.

You've essentially written my thoughts on the situation. That's one reason why I rarely frequent the political forums.

 

I don't mind reading some of the posts, but they're far too predictable and hostile. In the end, you get to vote for whatever you'd like and, although it may not go exactly as you hoped, it'll be alright.

 

:thumb:And why I've pretty much quit posting in here as well.

 

Ditto.

The whole tragedy in Haiti has gotten me to thinking.

 

How lucky are we that we have building codes? That there are structural AND living condition regulations?

 

How lucky are we that we have a government that, although there are differing opinions of the method, does provide for our basic needs when we need it?

 

How lucky are we that as a citizenship, we are able to assist our neighbors in times of major tragedy and crisis without relying on other nations?

 

How lucky are we that despite our grumbling and in-fighting about taxes, they DO fund the efforts of crisis-resolution in times of natural disaster or man-made?

 

I hate how we all fight amongst each other, when despite every difference, The US has the ability to assist itself, and still our citizens find a way to help other countries.

 

I'm sure this post will be met with many posts to tell me where I'm wrong, but you'll never convince me. We are extraordinarily fortunate. And I wish we all could just realize it.

 

True, although it is not lucky. It is because Americans are some of the most hard working, compassionate, determined, and altruistic people on this planet. We are not blessed with great natural resources, but our greatest natural resource is our people, our freedom, and our ideas.

I am thankful every day that I was born in the USA. I'm also thankful for the employment and education our children have received. I'm hoping the economy picks up so the youngest will be able to work full time and receive medical benefits.

True, although it is not lucky. It is because Americans are some of the most hard working, compassionate, determined, and altruistic people on this planet. We are not blessed with great natural resources, but our greatest natural resource is our people, our freedom, and our ideas.

 

The implication is that the Haitians are not hard working, compassionate, determined and altruistic. I would disagree. I think they are all those things, and probably becaus of their circumstances even more so. WE ARE LUCKY.

The implication is that the Haitians are not hard working, compassionate, determined and altruistic. I would disagree. I think they are all those things, and probably becaus of their circumstances even more so. WE ARE LUCKY.

Not at all. Stop putting words in other peoples mouths!!! I said nothing of any other nation, only speaking with great pride about our country. To quote a smart man, "in my experience, there is no such thing as luck". You make your own luck. America is great for a reason, it is not luck.

We are forunate, but the difference is that some of us speak of limiting government. We do not oppose all things that the government does. Yet I wonder if the government was not there to help that the slack would not be taken up by individuals and private groups. During the 1997 flood that almost wiped out Falmouth, the church I attend became a distribution center for food, clothing, cleaning supplies and a myriad of other items and services. All of it was donated by individuals, groups and businesses. Disney World even sent a truckload of t-shirts to be handed out. A town that had been hit by the Mississippi flood a couple of years earlier returned Pendleton County's kindness by dropping off several truckloads of materials for PC. People from all over Pendleton and Campbell Counties came to get what they needed to get by and clean-up after the waters went down.

 

Many of us believe in the power of the American individual, while there are those who believe only the government can do it. The vast majority of situations call for individual effort. Only when all individual efforts have been exhausted, then we turn to government. Many of us will try many times before turning to government, while an increasing number of Americans want to turn to government after limited effort to do it theirselves. There is a place for a helpful, but limited government.

True, although it is not lucky. It is because Americans are some of the most hard working, compassionate, determined, and altruistic people on this planet. We are not blessed with great natural resources, but our greatest natural resource is our people, our freedom, and our ideas.

 

As individuals we are lucky to live where we do. However, what made this country such a place to live was not luck.

Not at all. Stop putting words in other peoples mouths!!! I said nothing of any other nation, only speaking with great pride about our country. To quote a smart man, "in my experience, there is no such thing as luck". You make your own luck. America is great for a reason, it is not luck.

 

You can't make the suggestion you did "that Americans are among the most hard working . . ." without comparing it to someone. "Most" is a comparative word.

 

The 5 year old boy who was pulled from the rubble after a week is resilient and a survivor. Are you suggesting that he "chose" to be born into a country that is ravaged by poverty and instability. That he should have chosen to be born somewhere else. My 12 year old son and 8 year old have nothing to do at this point with how this country is run, and frankly I have little to do with it myself. I am LUCKY to have been born, my son is LUCKY to have been born here and my daughter is LUCKY TO HAVE BEEN THE FIRST REFERRAL that my wife and I saw when we adopted her from Guatemala. She did not make her own luck. She was one of the lucky ones.

 

I am all over that we are a great country, but we are great because of the system that was set up some 200 + years ago by some very smart men. They also made some mistakes, but for the most part they got it right.

 

But to move from there to suggest that we are harder working and more altruistic than our brothers and sisters in Haiti or Ethiopia or one of the Eastern European countries is just not true. Their system is just different than ours and it is the system that may generate opportunity or the lack thereof.

 

FWIW the system can also be harmful, i.e. our health insurance system. But the GREAT and LUCKY thing is that we can work to change it.

You can't make the suggestion you did "that Americans are among the most hard working . . ." without comparing it to someone. "Most" is a comparative word.

 

The 5 year old boy who was pulled from the rubble after a week is resilient and a survivor. Are you suggesting that he "chose" to be born into a country that is ravaged by poverty and instability. That he should have chosen to be born somewhere else. My 12 year old son and 8 year old have nothing to do at this point with how this country is run, and frankly I have little to do with it myself. I am LUCKY to have been born, my son is LUCKY to have been born here and my daughter is LUCKY TO HAVE BEEN THE FIRST REFERRAL that my wife and I saw when we adopted her from Guatemala. She did not make her own luck. She was one of the lucky ones.

 

I am all over that we are a great country, but we are great because of the system that was set up some 200 + years ago by some very smart men. They also made some mistakes, but for the most part they got it right.

 

But to move from there to suggest that we are harder working and more altruistic than our brothers and sisters in Haiti or Ethiopia or one of the Eastern European countries is just not true. Their system is just different than ours and it is the system that may generate opportunity or the lack thereof.

 

FWIW the system can also be harmful, i.e. our health insurance system. But the GREAT and LUCKY thing is that we can work to change it.

 

Oh but yes he can.

You can't make the suggestion you did "that Americans are among the most hard working . . ." without comparing it to someone. "Most" is a comparative word.

 

The 5 year old boy who was pulled from the rubble after a week is resilient and a survivor. Are you suggesting that he "chose" to be born into a country that is ravaged by poverty and instability. That he should have chosen to be born somewhere else. My 12 year old son and 8 year old have nothing to do at this point with how this country is run, and frankly I have little to do with it myself. I am LUCKY to have been born, my son is LUCKY to have been born here and my daughter is LUCKY TO HAVE BEEN THE FIRST REFERRAL that my wife and I saw when we adopted her from Guatemala. She did not make her own luck. She was one of the lucky ones.

 

I am all over that we are a great country, but we are great because of the system that was set up some 200 + years ago by some very smart men. They also made some mistakes, but for the most part they got it right.

 

But to move from there to suggest that we are harder working and more altruistic than our brothers and sisters in Haiti or Ethiopia or one of the Eastern European countries is just not true. Their system is just different than ours and it is the system that may generate opportunity or the lack thereof.

 

FWIW the system can also be harmful, i.e. our health insurance system. But the GREAT and LUCKY thing is that we can work to change it.

 

Semantics, and never suggested such. If you are going to quote me, quote me corrctly. Americans are some (not only) of the most hard working, compassionate, determined, and altruistic people on this planet. Next... :walk: