''What are we so unhappy about?"...

[Henry Hawk]

This is from an e-mail circulating around....I'm not sure if I beleive it is from Jay Leno......but, I really don't care WHO the author is....it is very good...and I 100% agree with every word of it.........please take a minute and read...it is something good to read at this time of Thanksgiving...


Somhow it seems strange that someone in the usualy far left
entertainment industry could have writen this.
M L Swartz

Jay Leno makes a point...........and a lot of good,common sense

I hope you will all read to the end. Jay Leno puts it into
perspective and makes us think about the pathetic negativity. That's
right, Jay Leno !!

Jay Leno wrote this; it's the Jay Leno we don't often see....

"The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some
poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true, given the
source, right?

The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 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's of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change.

So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, ''What are we
so unhappy about?''

Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7
days a week?

Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the
summer and heating in the winter?

Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job?

Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time, and
see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?

Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the
Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we
move through each state?

Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along
the way that can provide temporary shelter?

I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from
around the world is just not good enough.

Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up
and provide services to help all, and even send a helicopter to take
you to the hospital.

Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home.
You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire,
a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top
notch equipment to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family
and your belongings.

Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a
burglar or prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun and a
bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against
attack or loss.

This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias
raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90 percent
of teenagers own cell phones and computers.

How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we
enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world?

Maybe that is what has 67 percent of you folks unhappy.

Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the
world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S., yet has a
great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what 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.

I know, I know. What about the President who took us into war and has
no plan to get us out? The President who has a measly 31 percent
approval rating? Is this the same President who guided the nation in
the dark days after 9/11? The President that cut taxes to bring an
economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been
called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the
spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks?

The Commander-In Chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there
defending you and me? Did you hear how bad the President is on the
news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so
unhappy you couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the
good things and be glad?

Think about it...are you upset at the President because he actually
caused you personal pain OR is it because the "Media" told you he was
failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day.

Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have
volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your
freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't
have to go.

They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a "general"
discharge, an "other than honorable" discharge or, worst case
scenario, a "dishonorable" discharge after a few days in the brig.

So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent
of Americans? Say what you want, but I blame it on the media. If it
bleeds, it leads; and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will
watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids
selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media
outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells, and when
criticized, try to defend their actions by "justifying" them in one
way or another. Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O.J.
Simpson to write a book about "how he didn't kill his wife, but if he
did he would have done it this way"...Insane!

Stop buying the negativism you are fed everyday by the media. Shut
off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom
of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as a
country. There is exponentially more good than bad.

We are among the most blessed people on Earth, and should thank God
several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative.

"With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides,
flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to
another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, "Are
we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of
Allegiance?"

[Henry Hawk]

http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/hitnail.asp...ya gotta love snopes...........it is NOT Jay Leno....but, doesn't change the point of the message....it is still very, very good...imo...

[awol]

gotta ask though, if they lied to lend credibility to the argument, why did it need credibility?

propaganda.  what are they trying to get you to feel, and who benefits from you feeling that way?

[bevis]

jeez louise!  you got it good, so just don't think about the bad!?  is that what we've come to?  that's certainly dumb enough to be from the melon of jay leno.

[Henry Hawk]

gotta ask though, if they lied to lend credibility to the argument, why did it need credibility?

good question...........personally, it doesnt make any difference who wrote......it was the content that I liked....

what are they trying to get you to feel, and who benefits from you feeling that way?

i think it is a good reminder of how fortunate we are.......and how we have becom "brats" among the rest of the world....and, as far as anybody "benifitting" the way "I" feel........i guess, I wish everyone could grasp the "truths" that I feel are spoken......I don't really get the "mona lisa" but...it sure is popular....

[Henry Hawk]

jeez louise!  you got it good, so just don't think about the bad!?  is that what we've come to?  that's certainly dumb enough to be from the melon of jay leno.

forget jay leno........he has nothing to do with it............and it IS THANKSGIVING time.........not........."UNTHANKSVILLE GIVING"..time......maybe we should start a new holiday.......and we can sit around and bitch about how screwed up things are..

[Y]

Can anyone say "False Dilemma"?   

[Palehorse]

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copie s than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete....

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

*attributed to George Carlin, but I won't swear to it.

[Henry Hawk]

http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/paradox.asp...SNOPES Check.............it turns out false for George Carlin.........

but, PH, it does not take away the content of the message.........it is very well written with a lot of truths in it....

thanks,...HH

[Y]

But it does take away from the content.  Why try to lend authority to the content by attaching a celebrity's name to it if the content of the message was strong enough to stand alone?

One of the first indications of propaganda is when an attempt is made to lend the message authority/credibility through means other than the content of the message itself.   

[Henry Hawk]

But it does take away from the content.  Why try to lend authority to the content by attaching a celebrity's name to it if the content of the message was strong enough to stand alone?

One of the first indications of propaganda is when an attempt is made to lend the message authority/credibility through means other than the content of the message itself.   

you are such a conspiracy theorist.......... ..............again, let it go, and just read the content................who gives a flip who wrote it?..........that has NO impact on it's meaning....propaganda?...........maybe it is, mayb it isn't...........it is STILL interesting...........take it for what it is worth............if you don't get anything out of it...........fine............I beleive most people will get something from it..........imo...

[Dexter Morgan]

you are such a conspiracy theorist.......... ..............again, let it go, and just read the content................who gives a flip who wrote it?..........that has NO impact on it's meaning....propaganda?...........maybe it is, mayb it isn't...........it is STILL interesting...........take it for what it is worth............if you don't get anything out of it...........fine............I beleive most people will get something from it..........imo...

I think whoever wrote it hit the nail on the head. One thing I might add....Americans are hard working, we earn the materialistic things we have. A lot of the other countries condemn us, but when they have a natural disaster, they have their hands out, and expect us to give til it hurts. If the tables were turned, would there be the same results? Don't think so. We do complain too much that's for sure.We don't take the time to reflect, on everything we've got to be thankful for. 

[awol]

contentment breeds complacency - sheeple.

you never hear anyone say "i want just as much for my children as i had".