6 Good Reasons to be Thankful to my country

Yesterday being Thanksgiving Day, I began reflecting on the blessings we receive from our country, the good ole U.S.A. The U. S. have given me plenty of things to be grateful for. With the economy being worst than it has ever been in a long time, life is a bit are difficult for so many people. But even in these hard times we all have much to be thankful for.

1) First of all, the country is beautiful and amazing. Beauty is all around us. It doesn’t matter if you are in Alaska where the magnificent glazers are located, and where a most impressive wild life is; in addition to the stunning mountains. I don’t think anyone can walk away and not feel the wonder of it all. You can visit the Redwoods in California, or the Florida’s Everglades National Park and have that same sense of wonder. And of course there is the most spectacular Grand Canyon with its awesome rocky depth in Arizona, and considered to be one of the wonders of our natural world. Or simply go driving along the many beautiful country sides and enjoy the wonderful scenery.

2) We have an awesome military. Our military is second to none. The troops work hard to keep the country safe. They protect and serve us from all corners of the world. Our men and women in uniform are deprived of family time and make a very personal sacrifice protecting our freedom. Their lives are in danger during war, and many have lost their lives while fighting for our country. I am Thankful that the troops are all leaving Iraq and are coming home after ten years of service in that country.

3) We are a generous nation. The U.S. provides aid to many nations in the world, including economic and military aid. There is also humanitarian aid to improve global health which fights against diseases such as HIV/Aides, infant mortality, and maternal health. There are also a number of private organizations such as Save the Children, who support humanitarian relief. This aid goes to foreign countries for food, clothing, fresh water and school supplies. What an awesome thing our country is doing to improve the economic well being and health and education for many nations across the world.

4) We have a safe atmosphere and environment. I know there has been a lot of talk about our outdated infrastructure lately, but the fact is, I still feel pretty safe and comfortable when I am driving along our highways. Some people also complain of government regulations. I agree that there are some regulations that can be done away with. But thankfully because of regulations, we can drink the water without worrying about getting diseases or diarrhea. The food industry is carefully monitored and products are immediately recalled if proven to be tainted with bad bacteria or virus. Likewise, the air we breathe is largely protected.

5) We have a democratic government. Perhaps the most important thing concerning our democratic government is our constitution and the Bill of Rights. It guarantees us freedom from an oppressive government. Because of it we have free speech, freedom of religion, the right to bear arms, and host of other freedoms granted to us by our democratic government. Thankfully, we also have the right to participate in our government through the voting process. Unlike many nations in the world, we have the privilege of electing our leaders, and voting on issues affecting our communities.

6) The economy is stagnating but all hope is not lost. With unemployment at 9% and a higher than usual amount of foreclosures occurring every month, A lot of us are feeling the pinch of hard times due to our current poor economy. The economy’s growth has been slow. But the good news is there have been signs of slow progress. Before the economy went south more than 3 years ago, I suspect many of us were living above our means. If nothing else, the poor economy has taught me and others how to get along in life with less, and to be grateful for the things we have. Someone once said: “Tough people last, but tough times don’t.”

I’m sure there are other reasons I’m grateful to my country. I think I’ve covered the most important ones here. Perhaps you can even name a few more of your own. I hope this Thanksgiving season has been a truly blessing for every one….for love , for family, and for peace and happiness.