ALL:

TallPockets just received this chain email from a MOST KIND SOUL that he RESPECTS and LIKES very much. One he KNOWS to be of only GOOD heart and soul. With that caviat, he continues:
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*EMAIL MEMO CIRCULATING THE INTERNET*
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This is attributed to Jay Leno.
I don't know if he actually said this but whoever said or wrote it is
right on.

Jay Leno on President Bush

No matter what your political convictions are this is eye opener. What
a thankless people we are!!! Jay Leno on President Bush (Surprising)
it's the Jay Leno we don't often see....

As most of you know I am not a President Bush fan, nor have I ever
been, but this is not about Bush, it is about us, as Americans, and it
seems to hit the mark. The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine
and came across some Poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must
be true given the source, right? The Newsweek poll alleges that 67
percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is
headed and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance
of the President. In essence 2/3 of the citizenry just ain't happy and
want a change. So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking,
"What are we so unhappy about?''

A.. Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7
Days a week?

B.. Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the
summer and heating in the winter?

C.. Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job?

D.. Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time
and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?

E.. Maybe it is the ability to drive our cars and trucks from the
Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present
identification papers as we move through each state?

F.. Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find
along the way that can provide temporary shelter?

G.. I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from
around the world is just not good enough either.

H. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show
up and provide services to help all and even send a helicopter to take
you to the hospital.

I.. Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home.

J..You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a
fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use
top notch equipment to extinguish the flames, thus saving you, your
family, and your belongings.

K.Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a
burglar or prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun and a
bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against
attack or loss.

L.. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or
militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90%
of teenagers own cell phones and computers.

M.. How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we
enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world?

Maybe that is what has 67% of you folks unhappy.

Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the
world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S., yet has a
great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most
blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we
don't have, and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the
good Lord we live here.

I know, I know. What about the president who took us into war and has
no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31 percent
approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in
the dark days after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an
economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been
called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the
spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks? The commander in
chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me?

Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did
this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't take a
look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad?
Think about it......are you upset at the President because he actually
caused you personal pain OR is it because the 'Media' told you he was
failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day. Make no
mistake about it.

The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in
many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft
in this country. They didn't have to go. They are able to refuse to go
and end up with either a ''general'' discharge, an 'other than
honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a ''dishonorable''
discharge after a few days in the brig.

So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of
Americans?

Say what you want but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds it leads
and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with
blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner?

The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations.
They offer what sells, and when criticized, try to defend their
actions by 'justifying' them in one way or another. Just ask why they
tried to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book about how
he didn't kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this
way......Insane!

Turn off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the
bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as
country. There is exponentially more good than bad. We are among the
most blessed people on Earth and should thank God several times a day,
or at least be thankful and appreciative.' 'With hurricanes, tornados,
fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms
tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of
bird flu and terrorist attacks, 'Are we sure this is a good time to
take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?'

Jay Leno

Please keep this in circulation. There are so many people who need to
read this and grasp the truth of it all

END MESSAGE ABOVE ……….
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TallPockets REPLY to above message:

FIRST: This Chain Email is NOT from Mr. Jay Leno. Just like the ‘numbers’ of similar Chain Emails that proliferate the internet are not usually what they ‘claim’ to be or state.

FACTS often seem to go by the wayside in such chain emails. Yet, GOOD folks with GOOD hearts and GOOD intentions, continue to circulate them without even QUESTIONING them. WHY, I humbly ask?

To be FAIR, I see such chain emails from BOTH sides of the ‘political’ aisle. Being an INDEPENDENT, it strikes me how EACH side just takes THEIR email viewpoint sent their way, passes it around to all, and never seems to question IF EITHER side of the ‘argument’ has ANY valid points in the debate, as it were.

WHY, I again, MOST respectfully ask ALL of BOTH sides who FORWARD these emails along without such thinkings before hitting the SEND button?

To ME, this BELOVED American nation of OURS, gets itself into TROUBLE when it TOTALLY gives NO credence to the OTHER’s views. THAT, to me, is NOT in the BEST overall interests of a POSSIBLE BEST America. Which we ALL should want, I would think?

TallPockets grew up in the ‘Vietnam War’ era. The most often used slogan during those days was, “America, love it or leave it”.

I took that statement to be a ‘false’ choice THEN and I STILL think it to be such regarding the above email chain forwarded letter that makes the rounds (faster than trips to the bathroom after eating one of TallPocket’s home cooked meals!).

TallPockets LOVES America. UN-CONDITIONALLY. MOST folks he knows of ALL persuasions, also, LOVES America.

I liken it to being a PARENT. In charge of the WELFARE of one’s CHILDREN. They LOVE their kids, UNCONDITIONALLY. That goes without so saying or stating PUBLICLY daily. It’s a GIVEN.

Yet, while raising their children, TRUE parents ATTEMPT to make their own child’s lives the BEST they can be from THEIR perspectives and life experiences. They also ADMIT to their children's FLAWS and make the effort to correct them when found. DENIAL of such, serves no real purpose to this old man's thoughts and views. It is a dereliction of parental duty if such occurs, in my humble view.

In NO way, whenever they try to ‘correct’ their children, or make their children BETTER, should it EVER be taken as a sign of DIS-RESPECT.

In fact, it should be taken as a TRUE sign of LOVE. PURE love for a child they VALUE in ''immeasurable'' terms, but would give whatever they own and even their lives to assure they pass along to THEIR children the BEST circumstances that are POSSIBLE.

“Politics’’ of these times, to this DUMB old man, are either ALL “WITH” us or ALL “AGAINST” us. WHY, I humbly and MOST respectfully state and ask? WHY?

Can one not LOVE America and SPEAK UP about it’s NOT so good points as THEY see them to be?

“I” LOVE America. In MY area, I know of NO ONE who does NOT.

The Declaration Of Independence, The Bill Of Rights, The Constitution are EACH and ALL things I REVERE, in fact.

*** Yet, EACH had their ‘flaws’. SOME folks were 3/5ths of a citizen/person at ONE time in OUR nation’s history.

SOME folks, WOMEN, had NO right to VOTE or own land at ONE time in OUR nation’s history.

Over time, BECAUSE enough Americans SPOKE OUT and SPOKE UP about the INEQUITIES of what THEY saw, things CHANGED in America. For the BETTER, MOST would AGREE, looking back.***

Women to this day, STILL make LESS than MEN do for the SAME work.

*** YES, America IS a MAJESTIC country. Without doubt.***

*** YES, America is a standard bearer of the world.***

*** YES, America is the BEST experiment in democracy yet seen in the world to date. ***

*** And, YES, America not only CAN become EVEN better, and MORE fair to MORE of it’s citizens, but it MUST in order to continue it’s UPWARD curve into history.***

For, to this dumb old man, whenever we take anything for granted and do NOT try to IMPROVE on it, things STAGNATE and even REGRESS.

What THIS dumb, old, Grumpy TallPockets WISHES for HIS America, is that the HIGHEST amount of it's citizens at least have the EQUAL chance to obtain their best possible circumstances.

Through EFFORT and HARD work, of course. NO hand OUTS, but LOTS of HANDS UP to HELP. I find that SO SIMPLE to me. Yet, I find SO many folks seem to discount it. WHY, I humbly ask?

We are NOT all BORN EQUAL or into EQUAL circumstances.

Being a 'spirtual' person myself, I see things like the MILLION DOLLAR ''Crystal Cathedral'' in California for it's worshippers, yet next county over, folks try to find MEALS daily. HOW can this be GOOD for AMERICA?

So, what do you say, GOOD folks of ALL views and persuasions of America? Can WE, The PEOPLE, AGREE that OUR America IS a WONDERFUL place but is also a place that can be made EVEN BETTER?

Let’s attempt, at least, to have some much needed ‘balance’ in America. Those who LOVE it should not simply buy the ENTIRE process without making sure it’s FLAWS are soon corrected. For the BETTERMENT of America.

And, those who also LOVE it, should not simply COMPLAIN about the ENTIRE process and it’s FLAWS without giving PROPER DUE to what America does WELL.

Coming upon the verge of another MEMORIAL DAY holiday weekend, where SO many have given SO much, to not only KEEP the America we ALL LOVE, but to ALLOW the America we ALL LOVE to GROW even more, I leave those who read my commentary with this:

In the words of an old song from TallPocket’s generation:

“C’mon people now ….
Smile on your brother ….
Everybody get together ….
Try to love one another right now”

(SONG: GET TOGETHER - BY: THE YOUNGBLOODS).

“America, LOVE it AND make it EVEN BETTER” yours,

TallPockets - 2008