Wrapping Myself In The Flag
Monday, February 22nd, 2010 by Mark | Posted in Unconventional Thinking | Comments
In conversations over lunch, in media interviews, in discussions with so many with whom I come in contact over the course of a business day, I find myself–for the first time in my life– having to defend America.
I would expect this were I attending a conference overseas. The US has always been a lightning rod, an easy target, among those who resent our greatness, our exceptional history and even our un-rivaled charity. So it comes as no surprise to me when the French and the Germans take me on as an “American” as they did during my speech at Siemans global CEO conference in Berlin.
The slings and arrows are common to me now, so I brush them away with the same indifference I have for rude little brats whose parents let them run their mouths without fact or respect.
But the enemy within! Where did this come from? Why do I find myself defending America from Americans. Almost everyday and on nearly every front.
Calvin Coolidge’s statement that “The business of America is business,” has always captured me. Truthfully,
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February 22nd, 2010 at 12:56 pm
With our government in total dysfunction, it is NO WONDER that most Americans despise the country when the government fails to do basic functions such as healthcare, etc.
Discontent with the U.S. will contnue to increase until the dysfunction is removed from our government.
February 22nd, 2010 at 1:08 pm
Q: How did we get here?
A: Education. Since the 1950s, we’ve been taught all about our country’s warts and exceptions to the rules. We’ve been taught, especially in our universities, that capitalism is unfair, greedy and destructive, despite all evidence to the contrary. In short, we’ve intellectualized idiocy.
February 22nd, 2010 at 7:42 pm
Mark,
Thank you for this. As a “child of Reagan”, I too look on in wonder at what our government and our culture are trying to do to the productive members of our society.
Perhaps we will see the waters recede in November.
Ron
February 23rd, 2010 at 10:35 pm
Got to tell you Mark…I have really enjoyed these last couple of posts. They have come at a time I really needed them. I’ve begun to loose faith more in more lately about the direction of my country. I am exhausted with never ending barrage against what I hold so dear. I love my country. It’s not perfect, but it is the best. I love capitalism & the free market. It’s not perfect, but it is the best.
Just wanted you to know there are some out here who need to hear what you are saying. Keep up the great work…
March 1st, 2010 at 9:39 am
Perhaps it doesn’t matter that Calvin Coolidge never said nor believed that:
Enough people think he said it and history has been defined as: “Lies agreed upon.” I’ve read that the Dutch grew tired of being asked the location of the statue of the brave little Dutch boy who put his finger in the dike and thus saved his country from the sea. Finally — they erected a statue of the damned kid.
April 15th, 2010 at 9:00 am
This post brought tears to my eyes. Mark, the America you describe — our America — DOES still exist. Those people in “mid America” (who Nixon called: “The Silent Majority”) are Tea Party demonstrators and those who simply withdraw their support of this overbearing government. The question is: can we organize fast enough and be cohesive enough to defend against a well-funded, organized enemy bent on our destruction?