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February 3, 2005
Can't please everyone
Gerry, a commenter seems to think that I am being rather chauvinistic in my 100 Things About Me list:
It's a nice list, and enjoyable to read, but I must make a criticism. You are on the internet, a.k.a. the WorldWideWeb. People in other countries can read what you say.
When I read that line, I thought, oh, gee, I've insulted someone because I mentioned that my husband is hung like a horse or because I divulged the fact that I lost my virginity at age 19. But no, that was not his beef.
The last line of #100 is complete BS. You may be happy to be a US American, and that is fine. The USA is a fine country. But there are a LOT of other places in this world where "someone can work hard and get what he/she wants".
Just for reference's sake, this was #100:
100. My life is incredibly wonderful. I look at other people and I think about how fortunate I have been - how God has watched over me through thick and thin. I've been poor and now I'm rich (well, I'm rich to me, anyway - don't belong to a country club or anything, but I am richer than probably 99.9% of the rest of the people on earth). I have everything I ever dreamed of (except for a clean house on 100 acres!). Only in the United States of America can someone work hard and get what he/she wants.
I respectfully disagree with Gerry's comment. No other country allows individual citizens to have the freedom and opportunity that this country does. Nowhere else on Earth is there such an entrepreneurial spirit as there is here. Think about it - I have done many things - cleaned houses, managed a convenience store, been a social worker, sold jewelry, sold waterbeds, did retail management, been in a call center, help desk and now I am technical consultant. I stayed home with my son until he was seven, and I was still able to make a brand new career for myself when I had to go back to work because I was divorced. I have done more than I ever dreamed I could.
If Gerry is right, then why do people desperately want to come to the United States? Our economy is strong, our opportunities are nearly endless.
Gerry, show me another country where the poorest citezens still have television sets, stereos, automobiles and an obesity problem. Show me another country where people can decide to create a business and just do it without all kinds of government interference. Show me another country where home ownership is as common as in the United States. Show me another country where the freedom to worship as one chooses is as free as it is here.
There is no other country with the freedoms we have, with the opportunities we have - where an individual can grow up and do what he or she wants and succeed.
And by the way, I'm well aware of the fact that people from many other countries read my blog and my husband's blog. I may live in Kansas, but I am no rube.
Okay, okay, okay - UPDATE!!
Australia is pretty damn close - but we get to keep more of what we earn here in the USA and we get to have our guns here. I really want to visit Australia some day.
I do NOT want to lose Amanda as a reader - I love her blog!
And I'll have to send her some Ranch dressing.
Posted by Beth at February 3, 2005 6:29 AM
Comments
Powerful post Beth, I second every point you have made. I've been around the world and starting at the end of the year I'll be going around again.
I can truly say, beyond a shadow of a doubt, the United States is the only country that has the freedoms, the opportunities, where a person can succeed even beyond their wildest dreams.
God Bless America
Posted by: BeeBee at February 3, 2005 6:59 AM
Well, ya'll said it all, so I'll just 'DITTO' that! ;)
Posted by: pam at February 3, 2005 7:25 AM
Well, actually, Australia has all that as well.
Posted by: Amanda at February 3, 2005 2:32 PM
To an extent, Amanda. And it certainly used to have a lot more of it.
But, as an example, you can't have our basement in Australia. Just a single data point - but in some respects, a telling one.
Posted by: John of Argghhh! at February 3, 2005 3:00 PM
hmmm.. maybe I'm a bit sleepy still.. umm.. John by basement do you mean the bottom part of a house? It's true, we don't tend to have basements in our houses, but we don't need to. What am I missing here?
Also, what do you mean by "And it certainly used to have a lot more of it" Which bits did we lose?
Posted by: Amanda at February 3, 2005 3:08 PM
Hey, it's your blog, your feelings, your belief! I happen to feel the same way you do; I've travelled extensively and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else!
Posted by: Michele at February 3, 2005 3:58 PM
Hi Beth. I loved the list; very well written and honest. I think though, what you might have meant is no other country rewards hard work as much as the US. The only real difference between US and Australia, in terms of work, is probably taxes, which are higher here. Still, people that work hard do very well, most people own their own home (around 70%, from memory) and there's plenty of opportunity. Unemployment in the cities is so low that some economists are worried. There are two cars in every garage, and a swimming pool and BBQ in every backyard. Happy, smiling faces everywhere! (starting to exaggerate a little ...)
BTW, Michigan looks beautiful.
Posted by: Brian at February 3, 2005 4:40 PM
hehehe, no chance of losing me Beth!
Posted by: Amanda at February 3, 2005 7:05 PM
Well, I'm here first since she asked... Amanda about the basement... John collects guns - lots and lots of guns and gun stuff - this all lives in their basement. Quite, quite cool. I'm not sure if that's allowed or not in Australia. Is any kind of gun ownership allowed? Just wondering since I really don't know at all!
However, I have always said that if I HAD to leave the US and live in a different country - Australia would be my first (and likely only) choice. Y'all are the most like us in so many ways, but you have such an interesting country to explore too!
Posted by: Teresa at February 3, 2005 11:15 PM
Hi Teresa,
The following site on Australian gun laws is pretty good for an outline. Basically non self loading guns are allowed, but the self loading ones are restricted. Beth was saying earlier to me that she knew some Aussies who know about gun stuff and most of what they own wouldn't be allowed.
Posted by: Amanda at February 3, 2005 11:26 PM
Damn, the link didn't post, anyways, here's the address to the site I mentioned:
Posted by: Amanda at February 3, 2005 11:28 PM
Amanda - my apologies, I replied as if you were a regular reader of my blog. The basement of our home is home to "The Arsenal". If you pop over to my place, click on the Castle picture in the left sidebar, all will be made clear in that regard.
For all your gun laws, you do have one quirk I like - it's still legal to own fully-functional artillery down under, I have a friend down there who owns all four variants of the 25pdr howitzer, which they go shoot into the ocean once a year.
There's an Lithgow-built Vickers machine gun in the Arsenal, btw!
Kewl!
Posted by: John of Argghhh! at February 4, 2005 5:39 AM
I'd say that the U.K has greater freedom to worship than the U.S.
If you're an Islamic leader spouting hatred of the West.
Sadly.
Posted by: Sally at February 5, 2005 5:26 AM
I think Beth is right, and shouldn't be criticised for what she said...it is what she feels about how it was possible for her life to become what it is.
I would suggest though that much of what she loves about America, being a land for opportunity and all that, is also true of Canada. Yes, I know that a lot of John's collection would be problematic here (though not really, since he started it before the laws went nuts and he would thus have a grandfathered Prohibited licence). But other than the guns, Canada is a place where you can prosper and live well.
Posted by: Dr_Funk at February 11, 2005 7:08 PM
Just interested that you don't mention healthcare, or education, or many of hte other things where most of Australia has it over USA. There are parts of our country where things are bad, and parts of yours where they are too- I suppose it's not so much the gratitude you express that grates on people like me, but the assumption that USA has no flaws and all others around the world would love to swap with you. There are plenty who would not. Peace be with you.
Posted by: Trisha at May 8, 2005 7:13 AM
Actually,
the healthcare in the USA is probably the best in the world - and no, it is not free - as for education - if it is so bad here, why do so many people from other countries come here for college?
Australia has too many gun laws - that is enough for me to never wish to live there.
Posted by: Beth at May 8, 2005 2:11 PM