Editorial Comment:
Both Ed Feulner's article, and Martha Stevens-David's article Discontented Americans are worth reading as companion pieces to this article by Jack Walsh. - R.P. BenDedek. Originally scheduled for April 24th, I have included it in this, my final day as an editor for Magic City Morning Star news.
Bein that I am a man who has lived in three fine countries on three continents, I'm thinkin that I maybe understand a little of how the world looks at the United States of America, and can appreciate as well, how Americans see themselves.
And if there is one thing that I can say for sure, it is that the way Americans perceive themselves, is not at all how they are perceived.
Not just a few of my overseas friends see America and its people in a very negative light, and I be havin no doubt that if I wrote some of the things that they say from time to time, that I might well and truly end up being lynched by the mob.
But as both an outsider and an insider, I often think it a shame that both those in this fine country and those outside of it, don't sit down and talk together to understand each other.
Now I am goin to put me head in the noose right now and say, that I think the real problem lies in the fact that the younger citizens of this fine United States, are not all that united in their thinkin, and more, that what they practice and what they preach are entirely different.
I think that that Mr. Ed Feulner was right on the nose you see, when he wrote that darlin little article about American Students missin out on History Civics.
If you ask the rest of the world what upsets them most about Americans, they will tell you that we are too boastful about our country. We think we are the best!
But as that Mr. Ed character pointed out, while we may know somethin of our history, we really don't understand the underlyin principles that made America what it is.
So perhaps what outsiders hear when they talk to the average American, is empty boastful rhetoric. Sure enough there is good reason to boast, but a person's words must be connected to their actions. If young people boast about how great America is, while all the while demonstratin principles and values different to those that made these United States great, then what are people to think?
America was founded in a rebellion against tyranny and injustice. I sometimes think that the young only learned about rebellion. They forgot to learn about the reasons for it.
Rebellion is not an end in itself. So many young people today rebellin against authority and the status quo, for no other reason than 'they want to be different'.
Mr. Fuelner wrote that when young people have real understandin about history, their faith and belief in American ideas is strengthened. And if we look at the opposite proposition to that statement, we can see that if kiddies today do not grow up with real understandin of American history, the American ideal is weakened.
And I just wonder if that is not the purpose of so many folk out there in internet land when they incite young people to reject the wisdom of their elders, of tradition, and of history. Perhaps they do want to weaken the USA.
Of course I be Irish, so perhaps there is no need to put much stock in what I be writing. Tradition is a useless thing. Isn't it?
John (Jack) Walsh.
John J. Walsh, a Catholic, is originally from Ireland; went to high school and university in Australia, and later moved to the U.S.A. He lives in the Midwest and is married to an American. He now has a lot of time on his hands and is taking the opportunity to see some of his musings in print. Fearing the hot blooded protestants and not wanting to reach heaven or hell faster than is God's plan, his email address and other particulars are not available for publication. You may however Email him c/-: johnjwalsh_magic @live.com
