I was at my son’s hockey game last night and I saw a young child hold his hand across his heart during the playing of our national anthem. It made me proud to be an American and it made me think out what type of nation we’ve become.
There are those who work hard and appreciate all that they have. They understand how lucky they are to be living in the land of the free. Those people will sustain us in the future. Unfortunately, there is a flip side to that coin. We have also become the land of entitlement. Those immigrants who landed here years ago struggled to survive and put food on the table. They didn’t ask for help, they made their own way and found ways to cook the same food several different ways. It was a struggle, but they counted their blessings.
There are still people who struggle, but that hand up has become a never ending hand out. Can someone explain to me how a family who depends on assistance from the government can afford a large flatscreen TV and cable? Kids who receive free or reduced lunch at school wear $200 sneakers and have an I-phone. Note: did you know that some school districts have 75 to 80% of their students getting free or reduced lunches?) We now give people debit cards and the use of those cards are not scrutinized. If there is abuse, there are few consequences.
There is no stigma attached to receiving government benefits, and some who receive them act as if they are entitled to them. We make it too easy for those who can work to stay home and get free money. I find it hard to believe that our founding fathers intended us to end up this way.
People must start accepting responsibility for their actions and they must be held accountable. We must protect the children and support the elderly. If those who can work do, those resources could be directed to those who really need them. We need to get back to the basics and give people an opportunity to succeed. If they pass on that opportunity, that is their problem.
I live in the greatest country on earth, and I’m proud to say I’m an American. In order to have any chance of sustaining what we have, attitudes, perceptions, and expectations much be altered. You are entitled to life, liberty, and opportunity; not a free handout. I have a strange feeling that young child who held his hand over his heart is going to turn out just fine. He gets it while others don’t.
