Frustration - overcomes my other feelings these days. I am not registered with any particular party and don't care to be. I vote for who I think will do the best job for our country. At all times I am patriotic and respectful of this country. It was the way I was brought up. It seems today maybe because of the media, corporations and special interest that we have become a nation of frustration. Everyone wants to be heard but they don't want to listen. I am not always happy with our choices in politicians but at all times I give them respect and a chance.
In my everyday interactions with people I get this overwhelming sense that they are not thinking for themselves or exercising their minds. It is almost like whatever news channel they listen to is now the views they possess. They here a tidbit of information and it now becomes their thought.
I wonder how other countries peoples view us. Surely we do not respect our leader now and in the past administration so how can we be respected in the world? Yes we do not always agree with what is going on and wonder how these politicians got to where they are.
As a child I remember our flag pole in the front of the house. My Father, a navy man would put up and take down the flag. One day I asked if I could help and I was taught a lesson in patriotism and respect at that moment, one I will never forget. A simple and quick lesson by a Father to his child. We carefully took the flag down and I was told "do not ever let it touch the ground." To this day a piece of material, our flag is the most respected item in my house.
What does that mean? That flag is a representation of all who have sacrificed to make this land what it is today. Lack of respect for our country whether we are happy or not is like letting that flag touch the ground.
After 9/11 there was an overwhelming sense of patriotism, flags were bought and flown - why do we need a catastrophe to feel it? Maybe just a thought- if we felt that way everyday regardless we would open our minds, regain our sense of pride, think about the sacrifices and gather the strength to make and demand change.
If everyone took one moment out of their busy day to create that moment I experienced as a child and after 9/11 maybe some respect would be restored and created in both the parent and the child. A simple lesson in respect can make a difference and a change in many aspects of our lives...
