I work in a diverse office. We have the usual mix of male to female, young, old and political persuasions. Left, right, liberal, conservative and even mixed into those, different opinions about things, so some are stereotypes when it comes to certain opinions, others aren't. I consider myself a conservative Republican on a lot of things. Not on everything, but enough to know that I will never vote for a liberal Democrat. My hot buttons have always been National Security and the Armed Forces that protect us and I am very pro gun. Aside from those two issues, I will rarely get into an argument on what I feel about economy, health, etc. as I have seen good and bad wrought on both sides when it comes to that. But without protecting our borders and ourselves, we couldn't have the time to argue about everything else.
Now the President of the United States is apologizing to France. For us being too arrogant. Metaphor: pot calling the kettle...
As anyone who has read more than two or three entries of my blog I went to a military school and I am proud of that fact. I knew men and women from all over the word who were just as proud of their country as I am of mine. We had different days to celebrate their country, since obviously we celebrate our freedoms here in the US every day. But I know of none that ever made fun of another from another country. I even had a friend from Iraq. And this was during the time of our hostage situation. We never blamed him as we knew that the reason he was here was that his parents wanted him OUT of that country, at least for a while, while all that crap was going on. Every country has done good and bad.
A few years ago Japan apologized for Pearl Harbor. Honestly, I don't think an apology was necessary. The current government was the not the same one that attacked us. There are no hard feelings. I have read where pilots from Japan have laid wreaths at the Arizona memorial. Probably for fallen comrades and to honor all who lost their lives there, one both sides. No military man who has ever been on one side of the line of fire can say that while they may not like, fear, loath, etc the person firing at them; in the same vein you understand and respect that person, as in another day you might be the one who has the advantage. Someone who fights against you, for whatever reason, has earned that right. I can't really explain it. You either understand or you don't.
But, to have the President apologize; in this case my national pride has been punched. Hey, you don't like America, I am of the opinion, you can leave. Why stay here, in a country that you do not put first? Would you stay in a relationship with someone you didn't like?
I will give any President the benefit of the doubt on things until he proves me right or wrong. In this case he has proven me and other right-he doesn't love the United States. (Letting the libs and the Dems come apart at the seems) There is nothing wrong with being proud of your country. Not A DAM thing. Especially when the US has done all that we have. Have we been perfect? No. Have we done good? YES!
In this article that was sent to me by a fellow Old Boy and a man I respect, this hits to the heart of the matter. And in 4 years I hope and pray that this smear on our history will not be replaced.
Arrogant Americans, Mr. President?
Peter Heck - Guest Columnist - 4/14/2009
As I was sitting in church waiting for the start of the service, my grandpa came walking towards me pointing his finger. No matter how old I get, and no matter how long he’s been out of the U.S. Navy, that’s still an intimidating sight. As he approached me, his voice quivered as he said, “We saved that continent twice...how dare my president apologize for this country’s arrogance.” My grandpa is right. Americans need not apologize to the world for their arrogance; rather, Americans should apologize to their forefathers for the arrogance of their president. Barack Obama’s first foreign trip as President of the United States has confirmed the naiveté so many of us feared during the election cycle. But worse than that, it has also demonstrated that our president suffers from either a complete misunderstanding of our heritage and history, or an utter contempt for it. Neither is excusable.Garnering cheers from the French of all people, President Obama declared, “In America , there is a failure to appreciate Europe’s leading role in the world. Instead of celebrating your dynamic union and seeking to partner with you to meet common challenges, there have been times where America has shown arrogance and been dismissive, even derisive.” Consider that Obama spoke these words just 500 miles from the beaches of Normandy , where the sand is still stained with 65-year-old blood of “arrogant Americans.” Indeed, columnist Mark Whittington observes, “One should remind Mr. Obama and the Europeans how America has ‘shown arrogance’ by saving Europe from itself innumerable times in the 20th Century. World War I, World War II, the Cold War, and the wars in the Balkans were largely resolved by American blood, treasure, and leadership.” But all that appears lost on the president’s seemingly insatiable quest to mend fences he imagines have been tarnished by the bullish George W. Bush. If Obama wishes to continue trampling the presidential tradition of showing class to former office holders and publicly trash Bush for his own personal gain, so be it. But all Americans should make clear that no man – even if he is the president – will tarnish the legacy of those Americans who have gone before us. Ours is not a history of arrogance. It is a history of courage, self-sacrifice, and honor. When abusive monarchs repressed the masses, Americans resisted and overthrew them. When misguided policies led to the unjust oppression of fellow citizens, Americans rebelled and overturned them. When millions of impoverished and destitute wretches sought a new beginning, Americans threw open the door and welcomed them. When imperial dictators were on the march, Americans surrendered their lives to stop them. When communist thugs threatened world peace, Americans bled to defeat them. When an entire continent was overwhelmed with famine and hunger, Americans gave of themselves to sustain it. When terrorist madmen killed the innocent and subjugated millions, Americans led the fight to topple them.This is the legacy that generations of Americans have left. If President Obama seeks stronger relations with the world community, perhaps he should begin by reminding them of these very truths, rather than condemning his own countrymen on foreign shores.This “obsessive need to put down his own country,” has caused blogger James Lewis to call President Obama a “stunningly ignorant man” who has evidently never spoken to a concentration camp survivor, a Cuban refugee, a boat person from Vietnam, a Soviet dissident, or a survivor of Mao’s purges.Unfortunately, I can no longer bring myself to give Mr. Obama that benefit of the doubt. Not after looking at the pain in my grandpa’s eyes...a man who still carries shrapnel in his body from his service to this country.As a student and teacher of history, I recognize that America has made mistakes...plenty of them, in fact. But one of the great things about our people has been their courage and humility in admitting and correcting those mistakes. God willing, they will prove that willingness again in four years and correct the mistake that is the presidency of Barack Obama.
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