Ever since Sept. 11, Americans are rediscovering patriotism. Many people including myself have bought flags, pins, ribbons, stickers and shirts. For some, this is a first. Many former anti-Vietnam War protesters who once burned U.S. flags are now waving them.
But for every celebration, there are party poopers. These party poopers are pessimists from what I will call the "Far Left," who have nothing but bad things to say about America, and treat any pro-American statements as blasphemy. These anti-American pessimists are only a small part of the U.S. population, yet they dominate certain institutions, especially the universities.
Here at the University of Hawai'i, we have a few anti-American pessimists. They include certain university professors, as well as fellow Ka Leo editorialists.
I am waiting for a time when these individuals will at least make a few positive observations about America. Better yet, I'll do it myself.
No one says America is perfect; no country is. But here in America, it is legal to start rallies criticizing the U.S. president, the government and the war the government is engaging in. Opinion columnists in America may complain about getting hate mail, but they aren't being thrown in jail just for the sole purpose of being critical. These types of things are harshly repressed in other countries.
Those who publish critical editorials or hold antigovernment rallies in countries like Cuba, China, Iraq, Lybia or Afghanistan are put in jail and tortured.
In America, the government allows you to practice any religion without interference. It is true that a few ignorant individuals in America persecuted Muslims, but President Bush and Attorney General John Ashcroft have discouraged such religious persecution. Do the dictators of Afghanistan, Lybia, Iraq or Sudan discourage anti-Christian or anti-Jewish hate? Nope — just the opposite. In Afghanistan, Hindus are forced to wear certain badges. Buddhist architecture in Afghanistan was also destroyed by the Taliban.
America has been the birthplace of many inventions. Where did telephones, televisions, record players, steam engines, airplanes, the polio vaccine, traffic lights and the assembly line come from?
Free enterprise has allowed many creative minds the freedom to improve our lives and the world around us. You can't say that about the Communist system of Cuba and North Korea, nor can you say that about the isolationist system of Afghanistan.
The Far Left love to talk about the rich-poor gap in America. But they refuse to put things in proper context. For one thing, all countries have poverty, but American poor have things other poor people don't have.
I've been inside subsidized housing projects like Kuhio Park Terrace, Mayor Wright's housing and Kalihi Valley Housing. The people who live in these places have cars, TV (many times with cable), microwaves, refrigerators, running water, telephones, beds and video games.
The people there might struggle to pay their bills, but that doesn't erase the fact that they have things that poor people in Iraq, Rwanda and many other countries don't have. In fact, for many immigrants from Vietnam and Micronesia, these public housing projects are a step up on the economic ladder.
The Far Left also ignore the fact that many Americans who grow up poor become rich. Master P, rapper and owner of No Limit Records, grew up in a New Orleans ghetto. He is now a multimillionaire. Most poor people don't become that rich, but many do step up the economic ladder.
Many immigrants come to America totally broke, and, within a decade, they're able to open their own restaurants, liquor stores and antique shops. My father was once a shoe shine boy in Mexico, but as an American citizen for more than 20 years, he is now a construction site supervisor. Contrary to the Far Left pessimism, America is a place for economic progress.
The Far Left like to talk about America as a racist nation. But what country doesn't have racism? We do have a long way to go to see that everyone is seen as equal, but that doesn't erase the fact that there has been great progress throughout the course of American history.
The Far Left like to bring up the subject of slavery when discussing U.S. history. American slavery was abolished 145 years ago. Compare that to Sudan, where slavery still exists. Even though blacks are still rudely stereotyped by other Americans, many have achieved great things against great odds. Many of them are moving to the middle class. That's not the case in Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe, or Zaire. This may sound like a denial of problems, but it's actually acknowledging progress.
Immigrants are also rudely stereotyped by some, but any politician who demands that certain ethnic groups be deported in this day and age isn't going to be elected president. In fact, this past summer, President Bush was planning on giving amnesty to illegal aliens coming from Mexico. Compare that to Italian Prime Minister Bersculoni, who said anyone coming to Italian shores illegally should be shot.
American gender relations may not be perfect, but we are light years ahead of many countries. America may have its share of abusive men and feminist male-bashers, but things are improving.
Women like Janet Reno, Condaleeza Rice and Gale Norton all held, or are holding, important offices in the federal government. Women in America have the freedom to be outspoken advocates of their beliefs.
Just look at Dr. Laura, Maxine Waters and Haunani-Kay Trask. Is that happening in Afghanistan right now? No! In fact, in Afghanistan, women aren't even allowed to get an education or hold a job.
America is a great place to be. That's why many Haitians would rather immigrate to America even though Cuba is closer. That is why most Mexicans rather move to Los Angeles than Guatemala City. It is the same reason why many Chinese people risk their lives in crowded ships to come to America.
So if anyone wants to continue to hate America, I suggest you go on a makeshift boat, bring very little money and ride the shark-infested waters to a Third World country. Then you'll understand why millions are willing to trade places with you.
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