My baby, as a toddler with our awesome dalmation dog, "Free Press", may he rest in peace.
Last night I was reading the first couple chapters of Fannie Flagg's novel: Standing in the Rainbow. So far, it's good. Nice summer reading, if you need something! Nostalgic, too. In a good way. Chapters are just right, and the cover? It's rather cute. I'm shallow like that. I like a good cover.
ANYWAY.
ANYWAY.
It's a story based on the years just following WWII and it's from a young Missouri boy's standpoint. A couple of paragraphs from this stood out at me because of what we are celebrating this weekend. Here they are in part:
Well, even though I wasn't born until a couple decades later, Bobby's America is the America I love and remember.
I thought it'd be fun to share the passage with you; I thought it was some good writing. I know it might seem corny, but I wanted to ask what it is you appreciate about America, why you feel lucky to have been born here.
It doesn't matter what our problems are, and the socialist state we are being dragged (kicking and screaming) toward.
In my heart, I know we are still the America that Bobby knew and loved.
~WE ARE STILL A GREAT COUNTRY~
Before you click off this blog entry, would you leave a comment that says what it is YOU love about your COUNTRY?
"To Bobby...life itself was exciting.
He lived smack dab in the middle of the greatest country there ever was or ever would be. Our girls are the prettiest, our soldiers the bravest, our flag the most beautiful. People all over the world have a fit to come here, and who could blame them? Bobby felt sorry for anyone unlucky enough not to be born here.
We had John Wayne, Betty Grable, Mickey Mouse, Roy Rogers, Superman, Dagwood and Blondie, The Andrews Sisters, and Captain Marvel. Buck Rogers and Red Ryder, BB Guns and the Hardy Boys, Miss America, cotton candy. Plus Charlie McCarthy, and Edgar Bergen, Amos 'n Andy, Fibber McGee and Molly, and ANYBODY could grow up to be the president of the United States.
We were bigger, better, richer, and stronger than anybody, but we still played by the rules and were always good sports. We even reached out and helped pick up and dust off Japan and Germany after we had beaten them...
Here, life was just about perfect.
After all, we had invented everything in the world that really mattered. Hot dogs, hamburgers, roller coasters, ice cream cones, electricity, milkshakes, the jitterbug, baseball, football, basketball, barbeque, cap pistols, hot fudge sundaes, and banana splits. We had Coca-Cola, chocolate covered peanuts, jukeboxes, Oxydol, Ivory Snow, oleo margarine, and the atomic bomb!"
Well, even though I wasn't born until a couple decades later, Bobby's America is the America I love and remember.
I thought it'd be fun to share the passage with you; I thought it was some good writing. I know it might seem corny, but I wanted to ask what it is you appreciate about America, why you feel lucky to have been born here.
It doesn't matter what our problems are, and the socialist state we are being dragged (kicking and screaming) toward.
In my heart, I know we are still the America that Bobby knew and loved.
~WE ARE STILL A GREAT COUNTRY~
Before you click off this blog entry, would you leave a comment that says what it is YOU love about your COUNTRY?
15 comments:
We still have our freedom to worship as we wish, eat just about anything we want and I'm loving that I can say what I feel without reprisal from the government. I love this country. It's not the same as it was when I was growing up. Change happens. God bless America and all my friends, wherever you may be!
Stop by my blog and see my Memorial day post.
Our Freedom to worship God with out harassment. Our ability to make choices on where we can live and how we make a living.. So many things make this a great country... I love the USA!
I love our freedom the most! And nothing in the world compares to the USA people's generosity!
BTW, thank you for sharing that passage! I love a good Fannie Flagg novel and hadn't heard of that one.
Freedom! Freedom to worship where and when we want to. To give and care for others. Choices to decide what we eat where we go etc. I love so much about this county I can't begin to list it all. My dad entered the service at 17. He said he was 18 because his family had no money. He sent money home. I've seen pictures of him at 17. It changed him and changed his life. Seeing to much at a young age was to much for him. There were many others like him. A great price was paid and I am thankful for each day I enjoy our freedom.
I LOVE that passage! Thanks for sharing... and even tho I don't seem to have enough time in the day to do the things I really love to do... like read, and garden, etc., etc.... I must find that book! With and entry like that, how can I not!?
What do I love most about this great country? Our freedom to believe, do, work, share, speak and live how we wish to. That this country has given me a life that many would die to have, and many have died so I can have it still... that I get a lump in my throat when I hear our National Anthem... and when I see a uniformed military young or old person who is or has given their all to defend the USA - instead of feeling afraid as is the case in many other countries... that there never has been nor ever will be a greater nation... that Americans give and give and give... God Bless America~ xxxVicki
Clarification... that last sentence may sound like the fearful feeling in many other countries is of our military... NOT what I meant... I meant that others are fearful in their own country when they see a uniform. In this country we're proud of our armed forces! (:
I'm loving the fact that we still have the freedom to express our feelings on the internet and I fear that this freedom along with a lot of others are going to be taken away by a runaway government.
Having been a military spouse, we have traveled to many places around the world. I cannot even begin, to tell you how much, "I love this country" and yes, there are to many reasons to list. I do know, that we need to join together to save what we have left. It seems that there are many people who do not care that our President is not a U.S. citizen, that he is buring us alive. Our freedom may be a thing of the past, If we don't stand up for what we believe in. I say, there should be no such thing as free hand-outs. Those of them that can, should have to do some sort of community service for a welfare check, medical services, food stamps. I say, if you cannot afford your house, sell it to someone who can, "even if this means letting it go for a little less" as least you wouldn't walk away with nothing.
God and Country...Walked through the cemetary in my home town this afternoon. It always leaves me emotional. The flag waves over my Dad's grave, a veteran of WW11.
It struck me that in our little town, there are so many flags that fly over the graves of these brave people. God Bless them All
John Wayne says it best!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQM1oLnMLNU
Our country is the greatest because of the people who live there. We respect the rights of individuals. My husband is a veteran of 21 years in the Army and the young men and women who serve and protect us make us great.
Our States' Charters all say something to the effect that we're a nation under God Almighty, we're to tell about the Gospel of Christ...essentially, we're a CHRISTIAN nation!
There are those attempting to re-write history and they are WRONG! When BO says we're not a Christian nation, he is WRONG and him saying we're not, doesn't make it so!
Freedom! Even though we've lost some freedoms over the years (permits/rules/regulations for so many things these days), we still have more individual freedom than many other countries. I am excited about the Tea Party movement and the fact that a group of loosely-knit individuals can and will make a difference.
I loved the passage; will have to get a copy of that book. I was born in 1945, so remember most of the things listed in the passage.
I also love your blogs and read them every day.
I love that our founding father's were men of faith. That they passed on to us the freedom OF religion, as opposed to freedom FROM religion. I love the land from sea to shining sea... the freedom to make of ourselves what we wish to be because the opportunities are everywhere. I love that Ronald Reagan grew up here, the son of a poor Irish man, who taught him to appreciate the pursuit of excellence. I love that Reagan inspired us then and still does today. I love that we can look up to men like this and to our next door neighbor if we choose, because our founding fathers knew all men are created equal... I love that we are free to choose our own heroes. I love that a group of people, the Tea Party Patriots have enough spunk to stand up to those who would be the ruling class, and tell them, you are not kings; you work for us! There is so much to love about this country and I am so glad people are waking up to realize we have to be VIGILANT in our FIGHT for our continued freedom. I love that many of us believe in the God of the Bible, who granted us our rights.
And I love the rugged individualists who make this country work. The cowboys, the homeschoolers, the doctors and nurses, builders, rescue workers, people of morals and ethics who work hard, don't whine, help each other out, and make sacrifices to provide for their families. People who are generous of spirit. People who do difficult things, just because they can and for the joy doing your best brings. I love moms and dads who know their most important job EVER will be raising their children to appreciate the blessings they've been given as Americans and to gaurd our freedoms so that they can pass them down to their children and grandchildren. Thank you for this post.
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