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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4P9M4PAld64
Please Help Spread this on July 4th. No Selling or OPTIN. Just a wonderful Thank You America
By Syrian Born, American Born Entrepreneur Amid Yousef, this piece is thanking America for the wonderful FREEDOM!
Sorry John…I gotta disagree with one thing: the idea that these are “random thoughts.”
You’ve obviously thought long and deep about this subject and it shows…your words were most eloquent. It was refreshing reading them.
Thank you for a wonderful essay and the perfect start to the holiday! Hope yours is everything you hope it is.
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We are fortunate that 235 years ago some men decided to try a new method of government.
I live in a town where it’s legal to buy fireworks – there are tents in many of the parking lots, and Circle K has a small selection, but illegal to set them off.
I have a lot of Mexican immigrants in my area. Many of them go back frequently and bring their own fireworks. Tonight, the show as my neighbors fire mortars into the air will be better than the one a few miles away at the College.
Last year I sat on the roof and enjoyed the show. They come here to build a better life, what could be a better endorsement of the USA than the sheer numbers of people who come here to have a better life?
Reply Sometimes, I nearly fall to my knees when the sheer weight of gratefulness I feel hits me. I’m spoiled, irreverent, too cynical most of the time, and I take too much for granted. But that’s why these holiday matter — wake the hell up and live the life your ancestors would have killed to have. You OWE it to them to embrace your freedoms, and do what you can to make the rest of the world a little bit better during your ride.
Thanks for the note, Terry. Now, go blow something up…
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Here’s something we have in common. The 81 Celica. Ah the stories I could tell in back of that hatch back.
Reply The thing about that Celica was the bucket seats and the dashboard — I’ve never sat so low, so comfy, and never seen another totally bitchin’ spaceship-like array of glowing dials like that.
And it was FAAAAAST. But so damn ugly, you had to prepare people before they saw it. I had girls who drove freakin’ Gremlins refuse to to be seen in my Celica (unless I got them really drunk first)…
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John, this is good stuff, as usual. I, too, miss those crusty old farts hanging out around fires at the horse stables; drinking, cussing, smoking, and getting louder as the night progressed, until Mom would drag me and the brother away from the “madness” that occurred most weekends.
And the “duck and cover” drills were always a thrill; until Kennedy was shot and I decided to find out what the fuss was really about. Thankfully, Ed Sullivan brought us the Beatles, and I was hooked on music, which has made it easier to ignore the insanity of humanity!
My car was pretty cool, though. I started working at the age of 8 and saved it all, then splurged on a used ‘Vette as my first car. Hot cars, girls they attract, and road racing became a way of life. Can’t do that in most countries.
I’m so grateful to live in a place where we can write, say, and do pretty much whatever the hell we want that it leaves me speechless at times, and I’ve traveled enough to know just how good we have it. And we can shoot things and blow shit up at will.
Since my great plan for fixing the problems probably won’t work, I’m living by the motto, “Have hammock, will travel!”
Finishing up some homemade explosives now…
Peace bro’ and keep ’em coming ~ Gman
Your first car was a Corvette? You dog! Pop let me have the family ’62 Impala to drive in high school (long before it became a collector’s item). Man, our school parking lot was crammed with ’55 Buick Specials, ’57 Bel Airs, early sixties SuperSports, Corvairs, Bugs… all of them thrashed and not respected by our elders (who had all moved on to Lincolns, Galaxies and Marquis). Heck, even the fabulous T-Bird got stretched out and turned into a 4-door sedan. Horror!
I’m about to dive into my autobiography, and I can tell ya that cars play a big role…
Thanks for the note, Gary. Damn. A ‘Vette…
Reply Yes sir, John. ’68 blue convertible 435hp/427 L71 w/optional M21 rock-crusher 4-spd. White rag & blue hard-tops. I’ll post a pic on FB. One of 2,898 L71 ragtops built in ’68. Estimated top speed was 172 mph stock, but it started floating over 145 mph, so I’d back off. My brother’s ’65 Malibu was mean too.
Later ~ G
I too have friends with political views “all over the map” and I’ve always prided myself with being open-minded enough to at least, by God, give the other fella a shot and listen to what he/she has to say. But I’ll be damn if I will ever go against my true beliefs and cave in to some nutball on a soap box who mesmerizes others with slick talk and smooth ways…it may all “sound great” but I look at what a person DOES vs. what they “say.” Call me callous, but actions speak much louder than words or pictures ever could. Ulterior motives and the seemingly predominant “me, me, me” attitude most people have today gives just cause to be skeptical of just any old S.O.B. that thinks their crap don’t stink like everybody else’s. In summation, I think just like you do: Show me, don’t friggin’ waste my time and everybody else’s by trying to convince me with words.
Reply That ain’t callous, Wm, that’s smart. Action is what truly defines life, not talk. The current crop of politicos love to talk, and know how to feed red meat to the base… but they’re dangerously weak on pulling anything off…
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Well said, John.
We are all more blessed than we may ever be able to realize. Happy Independence Day!
~ Louie
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From over here, across the pond up in ole’ Scandinavia, it’s rather awe-inspiring… just how patriotic some of ya’ll tend to be. I guess in both a good and a bad way. Bad, as in when it borders on propagandic brainwashing. Good, as you’ve expressed it here.
The same kind of love for one’s country isn’t really expressed in the same way over here. I guess our ancient history isn’t quite as glorious as yours. In the middle ages we were sailing viking longships, terrorizing the rest of europe… some scottish (I think) psalms still contain prayers for salvation from Swedish brutes…
Fantastic post, John.
Interesting times, indeed. Looks like it might get even more interesting over the next decade or so.
Cheers,
Linus
Oh, so you were one of those dudes trashing the coasts of Europe in longboats, huh? Good job. You guys turned pillaging into an art form.
I cringe at the term “patriotism”, because it’s been co-opted by scoundrels. And I could happily live in several other countries I’ve visited, and embrace them fully as an ex-patriot. But my life is here, and I’m gonna do what I can do to keep the crazies and the fools from screwing it up. The pen can still, at times, be mighty… but the key is persuasion, not bombast. First, you gotta give the nutballs enough rope to hang themselves, which can take a while. Then, when they’ve exhausted themselves trying to make their dumb-ass ideas work, you maybe have a chance to turn it around. Prohibition was a disaster within the same year it became the law, but it took a decade (and a financial crisis) to turn it around.
Anyway, thanks for the post, Linus…
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Very, very good bro! Wait, you had sex in that Celica? Did Mom and Dad know? Happy Fireworks Day!
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Top notch post, John!
We ARE damn spoiled, ain’t we?
I’m propped on a chaise reading your rant with a toasty laptop while the whole big laughing family splash in the pool outside.
Everyone’s got a full belly and the biggest concern of the moment is “when’s cake?”
The fact that we devote 600 hours of teevee “news” coverage to political peacocking every day in America is a (sad) measure of our overabundance.
Yet, it gives me a fuzzy feeling to know that we’ve (so far) managed to protect our right to spout off these opinions at will.
(Cue Lee Greenwood)
Every year (with the sharpened perspective of age and fatherhood)I get more amazed at my good fortune for being dropped from the sky into this crazy, indulgent, jingoist, and breathtakingly beautiful country of ours.
Even more… I’m increasingly overwhelmed at the idea that men and women much smarter ad braver than me sacrifice all those same comforts to fight (without regard to political reasoning) for our independence.
Nuts.
K-man
Reply Indeed. For those of us who see the humor in every aspect of life (good and bad), it’s frustrating to realize too many others just take everything for granted. Like the dude flying 30,000 ft over the Grand Canyon in a comfy jet on the way to a huge adventure in another city, whose day is ruined — RUINED — because he had to drink Seagram’s vodka instead of his preferred Absolute.
How we get through a day in the modern without our jaw permanently dropped is beyond me…
Enjoy your holiday, K-man…
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John:
Great stuff here.
Just recently read a biography on George Washington. Anyone who thinks that “partisan politics” is something new doesn’t know how Jefferson bitterly hated Hamilton… or how Washington himself was savaged in the press.
It’s a tough game keeping a free country…
… and the biggest mistake would be to demand (in the words of Rodney King) that we all “get along”.
Bullshit. Allow people to say anything they want… spark debate, controversy, riots in the streets if necessary… and trust that the Americans will (in the words of Churchill) eventually do the right thing.
It’s worked so far…
–JimmyCurley
Winston
Reply Of course, the Brits kicked Churchill out of power the minute the Nazis folded. Thanks, dude, and you’re fired.
Average people, put in a position of power through an election, are appalled at becoming punching bags and targets for all the frustration of the folks who know what they don’t like, even if they’re dismally weak on how to solve anything.
The best politico’s are either people who truly feel the drive to make a difference… or they’re drop-dead psychopaths with a blazing smile and a need for greed.
Constant vigilance. That’s the price of our ticket…
Thanks for the post, Jimmy…
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I’m reading Mark Twain’s autobiography… bitching about politicians, grumbling about needing money, worried about copyright laws in order to help create a living for his daughters after his death (in case they didn’t marry well), and a sense of overwhelm and frustration at not getting more done.
It’s a fascinating read… but more so because though times are MUCH different than 100 years ago… they really ain’t that much different. It’s the same game.
Except… us gals don’t have to rely on daddy’s book sales anymore. =)
I love this country. The big dysfunctional family makes me feel right at home… and it’s nice to know it’s always been there, and always will be. God bless America!
Thanks for the post… and the chuckles…
Lisa
I gotta read that autobio, Lisa. Twain blazed his own way through the American business landscape as we went from agriculture to the Industrial Age (headed for The War To End All Wars), much like you and I and the rest are on the front lines of this strange new movement through the Info Age straight to the Tech-Dependent Age.
Interesting times, Lisa. Always happy to provide a few chuckles…
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What a great reminder just how disgustingly spoiled we all are, and how much we love it! And how lucky we are to be here, and in these times…
I wouldn’t trade my freedoms here (or beautiful California weather) for any other country. Though I’ve enjoyed all 7 or so I visited,some on taxpayer dime in haze grey for brief moments, some on my own for longer stretches.
This blog is damn good-it even distracts me from youtube, which is a feat in itself! Loving writing, I savor the posts almost as much as the best chocolate-and chocolate is the one essential food group.
These posts had better be in that autobiography. Or a book themselves. With a new edition coming out every year or two.
I also love that I’m probably the baby of this whole group-been a little while since I’ve felt that! 😉
Reply I spent the first part of my career as the “young punk at the table”, and my job was to piss off the older clients. Now I’m the oldest guy at the table, and that pisses ME off.
So enjoy your youth, Devin. You’re on the right track, for sure. Just remember that, as fun as the ride is, it takes some unforeseen turns as you age…
Thanks for the post, man.
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Great post John.
I just read a great quote today, “The best way to predict the future, is to create it.” -Peter Drucker.
Yeah, we have to pay attention to those in charge and keep them from going to far. But at the same time, if we just take care of ourselves, focus on our goals, and do the right thing, everything should work out. If we just weren’t so worried about what everyone else was doing, we could get on with our lives.
As bad as we think it is sometimes, and as frustrated as we get with “the man,” we still live in the GREATEST country in the world. Sometimes I think the problems we face are caused by us taking for granted the things we have and becoming complacent.
When the politicians get out of line too far, the American people always seem to stand up and fight for what’s right. Let’s hope that spirit lives forever.
We live in the only country that people are willing to die trying to get here… let’s keep it that way!
God bless America!
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I gotta say – I love it when guys tell stories about their cars. Is your car your first love – or what??
My first car was a VW Bug – we called it the “bondo bug” because my oldest sister smashed the thing up – and it became a family project to piece it back together – with bondo. (And it had the greatest gas heater that you could turn on without starting the car.) I used to forget to turn the lights off – so I’d park on a hill, shove off to get rolling, pop the clutch, and go.
Then…(and some of you guys are going to be jealous)…my Dad (a school teacher by day, insurance adjuster by night) bought me a “new” used car…I had my sights on a cute soft blue Dodge Colt I saw advertised…but Dad took action and brought home an AMC Javelin that he picked up from one of his body shop buds. It was black with silver stripes down the hood. The envy of every cool guy…In Minnesota winters we used to take it to the State Fair parking lot and spin wheelies, because it had such a light rear-end. I also was chased down the freeway by truck drivers on several occasions. Power, rear-wheel-drive, 3-on-the-floor, and a sleek design…
Eventually traded it for…a new Plymouth Horizon…I know – disappointing! See – chicks love their cars, too!!
The dysfunctional family forced to co-exist at a perpetual holiday dinner is a dead hit…brilliant man. Makes me think of the Simpson’s episode where they call take their attorney’s to Thanksgiving dinner.
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