A journey to find what it means to be an American

  What does it mean to be an American......


  I'm proud to be an American, It is on bumper stickers, T-shirts and shouted by many but what does it really mean? As an American I see my Government bicker and argue with each other, I feel the impact of the pissing match of the  2 political parties in office and I see my Government making choices that I question over and over again.

When I ask other Americans why they are proud to be an American they say Freedom, But we are not the only free country in this world and even the word freedom seems to be just a word.... There are people who are fighting to have the same rights as others and are being bashed because of who they love. People are being thrown in jail for speaking their minds on how they feel about our poorly run government and everything from what you do or don't do in your home to your car to out in public is having a law created or abolished... Cheating on your spouse during marriage is illegal where I live yet it does not stop men and women from going outside of their marriages. But shouldn't that be a private issue... Why does the government have to tell you not to cheat on your spouse?

A law is being put forth to stop people from smoking in their cars when they have children with them yet another law is being put in place to cease smoking in public places or even in rented homes... People argue that smoking is not good, which it isn't but than again neither is drinking alcohol and driving but still alcohol is served without restriction. You can not fight to end one bad thing if you do not fight to end all bad things.... But where is the line drawn? Soda and junk food can lead to obesity, Some states are now taxing these items but shouldn't we be free to eat what we want to or better yet why tax the people who consume these foods and not tax the businesses that create them... Instead of going after the people who smoke or eat Craptastic foods, Why not go after the creators of such that produce, market and create the people who consume and use  such items? Yet the government regulates the safety of items and foods and we are constantly seeing newscasts regarding items not being safe or foods that are causing sickness....

So Tax items for consumers that are not "healthy", but say nothing to the businesses that create such Items and foods,  Make laws that tell people things they should or shouldn't do in their homes, cars and marriage but fight against some people having the same rights as the general public based on who they love...

School shootings, Instead of going to the cause of why these tragedies happen and coming together to make sure resources are provided to end the violence unto others by others we, as a society have made it into a yelling match over " I have a right to bear Arms and defend myself". Such a sad lot we are when innocent children are being murdered and the sales of guns increase and instead of joining together to end the violence we are creating violence with our verbal attacks on each other. The Government is forming a committee regarding video games instead of saying we need to look at why people feel the need to pick up a gun to resolve their anger, frustration or what is troubling them and make sure there are services and resources for them.

Cause we all know Video games, Rap music and Movies cause people to kill and losing your home or job or being bullied has nothing to do with people feeling despair and anger. 

I see people fighting on who created the earth yet few fighting to save it. What political party someone voted for seems to be important than who someone is anymore. The bible and God are used to create Hateful words and actions. Health care, education , jobs and the military are always the first  to feel the negative impact of our bickering government, We as Americans have had to make sacrifice after sacrifice and our Government is still throwing parties, enjoying expense accounts and their salary remains untouched even though their performance as leaders is poor. Performance Pay for our Government might get them to do their jobs, don't you think or perhaps we should have them work for minimum wage? 

The list goes on and on.... and yet I am made to be a traitor by questioning what it means to be an American.... Once upon a time we had leaders who put their countrymen first not in words but in actions. We as a society have come a long ways from slavery and racism to  Women rights but yet we are so far from being a society that can be proud and we either don't realize it or want to see it and I don't know which is worse.


So instead of wallowing in these feelings I will embark on a personal journey to find out what it means to be an American and I hope that this journey will show me the beauty and good that has been hidden and when someone asks me why I am proud to be an American I can answer strongly with a list of reasons. I want to fall in love with my Country.....