What a great country

I watched the two journalists freed from North Korea return to America this morning.  I had the TV muted, no talking heads or commentary.  I watched the faces of the families, friends, employers.  I saw the smiles and tears of joy as Laura Ling and Euna Lee exited the plane and descended the stairs, and I thought what a great country the United States of America is.

No other country would do so much to get two of their citizens home.  No other country represents freedom like America does.  I know that North Korea got something out of this, behind the scenes, and we may not know for a longtime what we gave up for these two women.  We say we don't negotiate with terrorists, but ...  

We do know that Al Gore offered to go to North Korea as did Bill Richardson, probably that 'school girl' Hillary Clinton, and who knows how many others.  But Kim Jong Il would not settle for them, he wanted photo-ops with a President of the United States and that's just what he got with Bill Clinton.  Then and only then was he willing to grant a "special pardon" the two, grant them "amnesty" for their crimes.

We recently obtained the release of Roxana Saberi, an Iranian-American journalist from Iran, what price we paid for her release is still unknown to the general public, but trust me -- it was huge.  Just this week Iran captured three more Americans, Joshua Fattal, Sarah Shourd, and Shane Bauer, caught hiking and accidentally crossing the border into Iran.  What will Iran demand for their release.  It won't be pretty.

American stands for freedom, we value life, entrepreneurship, open and honest media, all the things our Founding Fathers stood, fought and died for.  It's a real shame when those freedoms are being threatened.  But we good people will continue to stand, we will fight and we will die to maintain all things that make this such a great country.   

Today we have an administration that is asking it's supporters to "report" or "flag" anyone who does not agree with their policies, specifically health care.  We're doing them one better, we are reporting ourselves.  We are sending in letters letting Obama know exactly what we think, what we do not agree with in his health care proposals, and why we think he is wrong.  Don't ever say Americans are not cooperative.  For samples of those letters/emails, see Miss Beth's Victory Dance, and Cristi Li, and check out  Rahm Emanuels Brother is Ezekiel Emanuel: Peter Orszags Medicare Plan at Maggie's Notebook.

No America's not perfect, but we're as close to that as any country has ever been.  Sure we have problems, yes we can always learn and grow.  But America is great.  The United States of America, just the words can send chills of respect, joy, fear into the hearts of others around the world.  Just looking at all those smiling faces in California this morning with Laura Ling and Euna Lee.  No commentary was necessary.  They love this country and so do I.

Comments

[Faultlin USA]

Yes we do live in a wonderful country. By the way I am cross-posting any letters to Obama's Enemie's list such as Miss Beth's fine letter. And the good news is that Sen John Cornyn has come out swinging on this
http://faultlineusa.blogspot.com/2009/08/sen-john-cornyn-attacks-obama-enemies_05.html

[Debbie]

Faultline USA/Barb: Thanks for that link, works perfectly with my next post. Sent you a trackback.

I heard a bit of Cornyn on Fox, but your post is great.

[Cristy Li]

Yes we are truly blessed, often to the point where we take our freedoms for granted.

[MK]

Great to hear that they're back safely now, but.....

"I know that North Korea got something out of this, behind the scenes, and we may not know for a longtime what we gave up for these two women."

That's what worries me.

[Justin]

We're a great country because of our democracy.
We value life, choice, freedom of religion, and equal rights of all citizens.
Whether black or white, Asian or Latino, gay or straight, tall or short, skinny or fat, Christian, Jew, Muslim, or Hindu... we stand together in the United States of America.

[Debbie]

Justin: Excellent comment.
Thanks everybody. Sometimes we dwell on all that is wrong, or going wrong presently, and we need to stop and remember how lucky we are to live in America.