The Orion Online

Issue date: 11/12/08 Section: Opinion

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Click here to read Chris Thompson's counterpoint
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Do you know why you are proud to be an American?

You better, or I suggest you leave.

We live in strong structures, drink clean water and eat uncontaminated food. We enjoy constant electricity and gas that provide great comfort. We are protected by trustworthy police officers and a fair justice system. Firefighters will arrive at your home if a fire ignites and paramedics with modern medicine arrive immediately after alerted of their necessity.

If you think your current situation is "not good enough," go somewhere else and find a better system. But before you jump ship, consider a few comparisons.

In America, buildings are engineered to withstand disaster per location so that occupants have a chance to exit. In China, the earthquake in May commanded a death toll of nearly 70,000 people, with more than 18,000 missing.

In California, the Northridge earthquake of 1994 may have destroyed structures beyond repair but there were only 57 fatalities.

The 2004 tsunami in Indonesia killed 122,232 people, with 113,937 missing, because the government did not properly prepare its citizens. Even though Americans think Hurricane Katrina was handled poorly, the death toll was only about 1,300.

In a moment of crisis, Sept. 11, 2001, the Twin Towers were flattened and 2,752 died. In Sudan, the terror between its people has resulted in an ongoing genocide, which has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives in that part of the world.

Furthermore, about 88 percent of all disease-related deaths in the world are caused directly by contaminated drinking water, inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene, CNN reported. In America, the water quality flowing out of your kitchen faucet is the same as some of the water bottled for sale in the stores.

Also in America, electricity is constant, if the bill is paid you may use as much as you want. Our situation is much better, in comparison, than a lot of other countries around the world.

During today's economic crisis in which many in America are deathly afraid of total meltdown, we must remember that our stock exchange directly affects the world markets. However, Americans still account for 42 percent of the world's billionaires and 37 percent of the total wealth, according to Forbes.

When you compare our country and the "problems" we have with the problems of the world outside our borders, it is apparent that we live the good life. Even our poor live better than 99 percent of the rest of the world. So, anyone who lives in America is in the top 1 percent of the world.

Can it really be that bad here? Can you stop complaining because the gas prices were so high? Be grateful and proud. You have the privilege to buy gas to put in your car. People in many countries do not have cars. Think about that next time you down talk America. Think about how good life is here and how privileged you are to be here living in luxury.

I am a Republican who voted for Sen. John McCain. What does that matter when you look through the eyes of an orphan in China? Not much. But for everyone on either side, my new president-elect, Sen. Barack Obama, is your new President Obama. I will support him wholeheartedly, because that's what it is to be an American.

Not only have I always been proud, but I will always be proud to be an American.

Ryan Rigsbee can be reached at
ryanrigsbee@gmail.com

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