Amazing accomplishments

The accomplishments of the people who have lived, worked and built the USA and Canada over the last 200 years are truly remarkable. In this short period of time these two nations have grown into the envy of most of the world. Our standard of living is second to none when you measure against other countries of our size and populations. The innovation, resiliency, work ethic and patriotism have set these people apart from any other in history. While the Roman empires of the past, and others like them had many of the same characteristics, their societies did not contain the basic freedoms and human compassion of those that are prevalent in North America right up to today. It is then such a shame that these things are not celebrated as they should be. Instead when you pick up a newspaper or turn on the TV news the ratio of positive to negative is generally 90% to 10%. Of course the news industry is now a business and the lofty ethical standards that once drove their reporting have now been replaced by the proverbial bottom line. Certainly the crime and relative “bad” things have to be reported, but is this all that has to be brought to our attention? Instead of feeling proud of ourselves, our country and our accomplishments instead you get the feeling that we are all going to “hell in a hand basket”. The op-eds are worse as they have free rein not only to criticize but to denigrate and destroy as well. The generations before us have laid the groundwork for every individual in our country to have two most desired and precious things. They are not government entitlement’s, they are not free health care or any other handout. These two things are freedom and opportunity. With these two things the generations before us built a strong and vibrant nation. Sure we have problems and we will solve them but let’s not address them through fear, guilt and negativism and let’s always be proud of what we, as a people made up of many cultures, have accomplished.