I received this email, a letter apparently from one of Drag Racing’s forefathers, Don Garlits. Agree with him or not, he’s always stood for what he believes in, both in politics and in racing. That’s something we are seeing less and less, as the backbone of our sport is replaced by politically correct gargon.
As most of you know I am a Republican for lack of a better party; I came from a Democratic family that supported the Democrats for over 50 years. We all thought it was wonderful when FDR signed Social Security Act into law. Today the Democratic Party has been hijacked by the lobbyists inside the “Beltway”, the Republicans have fell into the same trap.I voted for Bush and would do it again, although I don’t support his open border agenda.But this is not about Bush, me or the Democratic Party; it is about us, as Americans, and it seems to me we have been very ungrateful for all our blessings.
Newsweek magazine had a poll that I found had to believe; It must be true given the source, right? The Newsweek poll says that over 60 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 2/3 of the citizens were not happy and want a change in Government.
So I asked myself just what is America unhappy about? Is it that all our homes have electricity and running water 24/7? Is our unhappiness the result of having our homes between 72 and 76 degrees 365 days a year? Could it be that most of us have a job, if we want one? Maybe we would rather be on welfare, or some kind of entitlement program! Maybe it is the ability to go into any grocery store at any time and see all the shelves full of nice fresh food! Also we can pull into any gas station and “fill her up”? Maybe it is the ability to take a trip anywhere in the United States without having to show our “papers”, remember Nazi Germany? I guess not, it was a long time ago. Are we unhappy about the thousands of nice safe clean motels and hotels we would find during this trip? We could then stop at any number of fine restaurants with varying food to suit our taste. Are we unhappy that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up to take us to a hospital, and even send a helicopter, if necessary! Maybe you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home, does this make you unhappy? Do the firefighters respond quickly enough if you have a fire? Is their equipment in top notch condition?Isn’t it nice to be home watching a big screen TV, knowing that it is very unlikely that you will have a home invasion? And even if you do, an armed policeman will quickly come to your home to protect you. However the majority of us live in neighborhoods free of bombs, militias, raping and pillaging the residents. Most of our children have cell phones and computers! I had one pair of shoes at a time! We have complete religious, social and political freedoms. You can even chain yourself to the prison fence any time they get ready to put a murderer to death, which is very seldom I might add.
We are the envy of everyone in the world! Nobody is trying to escape America ; all are trying to get in! Is it the above that makes America unhappy? We are the largest group of ungrateful, human beings the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S. , yet hates its citizens. 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 we live here.
What about President Bush who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Don’t you realize this is the same president who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? President Bush cut taxes that brought the economy out of a recession. This is the same President who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all of us safe from terrorist attacks? The commander in chief has an all-volunteer army that is out there defending America . Take a good look around for yourself and see all the good things and be happy! Think about it……are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain? OR are you unhappy because the ‘Media’ told you he was failing in his job. Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan are an all volunteer Army, they all agreed to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country, maybe there should be if you are so unhappy. Why then all the discontentment in the minds of over 60% Americans?
Say what you want but I blame it on the mass media. They specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch a TV show about the Boy Scouts on a Jamboree? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations, plus they all have an agenda. Remember when the Fox News had the Republican debates? When Ron Paul won the debate, Fox News openly said that he did not and wouldn’t give Ron Paul the time of day! With “fair and balanced” coverage, Ron Paul could have been the Republican Candidate. The mass media offers what sells, and when criticized, try to defend their actions by ‘justifying’ them in one way or another.
I have turned off the TV, burned Newsweek, and canceled the New York Times and Washington Post. Try being a little grateful for all we have as country. There is a lot more good than bad. We are the most blessed people on Earth and should thank God we live in America. One last thing, we had better never take God out of America , this would be our downfall for sure!
Please keep this in circulation. There are so many people who need to read this and appreciate America as it is, we don’t need change!
Jay Leno was credited with a similar piece, but snopes said he didn’t write it. I wrote this one and I approve the message.
–Don Garlits [email protected]
