Nay-sayers Revisited

In response to my previous blog post, I was disappointed to get a response that was three times longer than my original post, and that severely detracted from my message. If you have a reply to a post that is a book, post to your own blog. Also, as I used to tell my fourth graders when I was a teacher, if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.

I spoke of nay-sayers in my other post. By those, I did not mean people who have valid input and suggestions that may be corrective in nature. I meant people who tear down other's ideas and without due consideration assume that a plan will not work; people who constantly see the negative in the world around them; and people without a shred of the spirit of gratitude.

The thing that I don't understand, and will never understand, is the people on this site, and others, who do not see the good in America. Let me shed some light on this subject. First, the industrial revolution.

The industrial revolution has had many detrimental side effects like poor working conditions for the poor, pollution, and urban sprawl, but what was life like before? Walk through a graveyard sometime and tell me you don't see hundreds of little headstones with dates disturbing close together. Childhood mortality was so high as to scarcely be imagined by moderns. A woman was literally taking her life into her hands in giving birth to a child, and that child was not even very likely to survive. Modern medicine is one result of the industrial revolution. Part of being a nay-sayer is not looking at your beautiful children and grandchildren and thanking God for the blessing of modern medicine and instead complaining and whining about your health insurance and wanting the government to give it to you free.

What about indoor plumbing? What about transportation? Nay-sayers will whine from sun-up to sun-down about the cost of gasoline and that it pollutes the environment, but what if they had no car? What if we were back to horses. Watch out for the manure! I personally will be grateful I can walk down a street free of crap and sit on a flushing toilet instead of an outhouse.

What about this site? We can criticize the President and Congress and their policies and we are free to do it. What is wrong with having a little gratitude for that? Does that mean we are Nazis? No! It means we are grateful we are not Nazis. There is nothing wrong with well-placed nationalism. Only nay-sayers would have us believe otherwise.

We don't live in a perfect society. Wow! How about we join the rest of history and quit whining? We have problems to solve and crosses to bear just like every other group of people since Adam. No one has ever had a perfect world. There is no excuse for being cynical and bitter when we owe so much to the problem solvers who came before us. Bitterness and cynicism never helped a cause and never will. If you count yourself among the nay-saying crowd, I suggest you take a look at the positive side for a change and you might find a new perspective on life.

Tags: gratitude, nationalism, patriotism

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Comment by Bridgette Burbank on August 3, 2008 at 5:27pm: Cheryl, I haven't heard one way or the other about the petition and Congress's recess. Someone sent me an email saying that the Republicans wanted to stay, but the Democrats didn't. The Republican house members had a sit-in and ordered pizza.

Comment by Bridgette Burbank on August 3, 2008 at 5:04pm: Gregory, thanks for your comment. I'm assuming you are talking about the petition when you talk about getting something done at a national level. We do need action there. I am disappointed that it doesn't look like the President is going to call a special session. No toes stepped on by you, I hope the same can be said on my part.

Comment by Gary Jorgenson on August 3, 2008 at 9:47am: The Nay-sayers have always been around no mattter what the topic. A heated debate was present when society was converting from whale oil to kerosene in the 1800's. Switching from steam power to internal combustion engines was another debate as the industrial age gained traction. When electricity came around AC vs DC was hotly debated. Beta vs VHS video tape, Apple Mac versus PC, HDDVD vs Blue ray all have supporters and detractors. Today we need to move forward again and move off the hydrocarbon energy. Small steps and a transition plan as T Boone proposed are the path forward.

Comment by Gregory L. Smith on August 2, 2008 at 12:17am: I see a lot of sides, but the real issue is getting something done at a national level. Who will you send to do that? Hopefully one who understands the issues. which currently neither national candidate shows they understand. In regard to the Blog, look at the whole comment and criticize them if you can find flaws. How else will they learn? I admit to being long-winded. Sometimes, the question deserves a long answer. But this one just needs reality to sink in. You do need to monitor your blog. Hope I didn't step on your toes. Gregor Smith gregors@att.net

Comment by Kathy Lee Hart on August 1, 2008 at 9:02pm: Short & sweet this time Bridgette - right on - right on -right on. Without informed optimists nothing would ever get done. Keep on bloggin'.

Comment by David Smith on July 31, 2008 at 2:55pm: I signed the Make Them Stay" by MRW petition a few days ago. MWR new they would leave without helping us.

Comment by Bridgette Burbank on July 31, 2008 at 2:32pm: I agree. The pressure from the people must be felt. Have you signed the petition? I got one from Richard Bibb earlier this week. It utilizes a blog post called "Make Them Stay" by MRW. If you are interested in signing, here is the website:

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/STAY08/index.html

Comment by David Smith on July 31, 2008 at 1:26pm: Political drones are those who do not respect a diversity of opinion. I truly believe our participation will make a difference.

At the same time if the congress decides to go on vacation without taking action, those who vote to adjourn must feel the pressure of angry citizens when they are home. I have worked all aver the globe so I understand how great this nation is, we are a bastion of freedom in a sea of tyranny. However, we must hold the politicians accountable for their actions.

Comment by Bridgette Burbank on July 31, 2008 at 11:50am: I am now moderating comments too. It is unfortunate because I wish I could let anyone freely enter the debate. There have been many on this site that I disagree with, but we are respectful to one another and help one another to see the other's point of view. There are some really hateful people out there though. I wish they could discipline themselves to communciate more respectfully. Thank you for your friendship Cheryl.

Comment by Bridgette Burbank on July 31, 2008 at 11:09am: I agree David, but in the same vein, there is much good about our political system. Politicians are many times accused of being flip-floppers, when actually it is important for people to be able to change their minds when exposed to new information. I am, like many, frustrated with Congress right now, but I still think our system works and our way of life works. Some don't, and I think they are wrong. Our letters, petitions, and activism do make a difference.

When I wrote this post, I was a bit hot under the collar. Now that I have cooled down a bit, I realize that what I am upset about is not the people who portray this view, but the attitude behind it. It is counterproductive to believe there is nothing to be done and then try to stop others from doing it. I am trying with these posts to combat the attitude, not those who espouse it.