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Are they clueless?
Out of respect, Americans have always placed our right hand over our hearts when repeating the Pledge of Allegiance. That makes this picture look a little strange.
(No, this isn't a mirrored image. Both have their wedding bands on the correct hands and his suit coat is buttoned correctly.) Is this their form of protest? Why hasn't the press picked up on this?
Either way, it's a slap in the face of every American to have elected a clueless president or one who demonstrates, over and over, his disdain for our country!
Clueless? Doubtful.
The clueless are the ones who voted for him, and still defend him!
We're hated but we're the first ones there
By Rich Luongo
A good part of the world hates us (if not the majority of the world), that part that doesn't hate us is jealous of us (including so-called "friends"), and there are those who despise us simply because of what we stand for as Americans (terrorists, perhaps?). Our president bows and curtsies to world leaders and apologizes for all the things we've done "wrong" (which is only in the eye of the beholder).
And there are nations who are trying to undermine the American dollar because of all the "bad" things we have allegedly done. They want to punish us by no longer making the American dollar upon which all other currencies are linked. They want to make the dollar less valuable than, let's say, the Russian ruble? They want our troops to go home and stay out of their business and don't try to tell them what to do.
Until Haiti. All criticism and hatred of America has gone out the window. That poverty-ravaged nation was virtually destroyed by an earthquake and an estimated 100,000 people have been killed. America is there in force with troops (who were cheered by the populous as they walked down the streets that are clogged with debris) and with equipment and medical aid and food and water and a U.S. Navy medical ship. And the hated Yankee dollar in millions is on its way to help the needy. And American medical people have volunteered their time and expertise to save lives.
America, by default, has taken over the recovery process. The Haitian government can't because it is inept and the other nations who are down there are helping out but there is not enough of them.
The Haitian crisis proves that America — however "rotten" and "despicable" and "mean-spirited" we are as a nation and however "self-centered" we are as a people — is the first one to help at the scene of a disaster with money and medical personnel and food and water and medical provisions. And the people welcome us with open arms and with tears of joy and smiles.
But when things are back to relative normality, we'll be hated again. But don't fret. We'll be back if you need us.
We're Americans and that's what we do.
This eliminates getting to the airport 2 hours early, but you still have to take off your shoes.
