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What Being An American Means To Me ...

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Auto & Home & Life Insurance throughout North Carolina

My eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord;

Catchy words, catchy tune ...

As I tweak my mind on this 4th of July (it's actually the 3rd but I'm posting this early), many things come to me.  Many things lay acutely dorment in my soul, awaiting to peek out and experience what it's really like to live life ... for better or worse.

Our nostaglia has a lot to be proud of, as does our present ... and I'm sure ... our future.  We also have a lot of evolving to do, which nostaglia will help relate and we will eventually dictate.  Truth be told, I'm proud to be a human in America.

I waste little breath on cliches or innuendos expressing my 'undying' support for my country.  I'd go to war tomorrow and stand on the front lines ... right or wrong.  Matter of fact, I'd do it because my loyalty supercedes my rational thinking.  Then again, I'd also be prone to being Marlon Brando's character in Apocalypse Now ... I'd do so because I want us to constantly evolve for the better.  I want us to evolve beyond superficial horror, to experience and live and die in the best way we can.  I want us to be warriors, angels, both light and dark ... constantly in the face of the unknowing.  America, to me, isn't just the place I grew up in or learned from (I've read and studied philosophies far and wide and watched an episode or two of Southpark:-) it is the place that just happens to have better attributes than most places on this Earth. 

This Country has done so many great things for this world; it and we have also done many things that are questionable and/or bad.  Nature of the beast, I suppose.  When I get home from work, I turn on the television and see one station explode upon the far right ... another explode on the far left.  It's quite beautiful if it wasn't so dangerous.  The medium, in my mind, is key.  That's an American ... throwing tea to the sea because you've had enough of the powers that be dictating our lives through their motives.  Ventura is right, we need a revolution ... once again.  America is revolutionary.  America is bright.  Amercia is diverse.  (And by the way, I love Jesse but he was a lousy wrestler ... great talker, though)

A newbie into the mortgage industry left me with a very astute thought.  He's Vietnamese.  He's been a student for the better part of his life ... he's now 38 years old.  "China is going to run things, they are already there on most accounts."  For that, Bruce Lee would be proud ... considering he spent a large part of his time trying to substantiate his own existence by fighting against those who would constantly put him and his culture down.  Eventually, he did so.  America didn't find him, but we eventually accepted and appreciated his talents and contributions to our world.   Once again, I'm proud of America.  Yet, Bruce knew what I know and everyone else who practices in life (exists) ... this is much more than being a 'World Power' ... cause I'm pretty sure when our world ends (we die, individually and eventually) that we have greater causes to answer too.  And if we don't, if worms eat our bodies and we are nothing but a distant memory when we pass away ... I still hope we recognize what ethics and freedom are all about.  I'm proud to be an American ... I'm even more proud of being a human being.  I bleed red ... though I hear it is green before it hits the surface:-)

When I rest my eyes this 4th of July, I will think of many great people who happened to a part of a this great country.  Abe, Ben, & all formitable men ...

My eyes have seen the glory ... and assuming we have a Lord ... that leaves us on the doorstep.  Personally, I can hold my Mother or Father's hand as they die ... yet there will be no euphoria, only evolvement and change.  They'll die and a tear will drop from my eye ... because that's life.  As far as the death thing, I don't know how to properly explain all that.  I wish I did ...

We'll bitch, whine, moan, & complain ... but America helps give us that freedom to do all that.  America is like a higher power ...  one that we will constantly struggle with and debate over.

I want to thank each and every guy & gal who has served our Country.  I also want to thank each and every guy & gal who has worked that nine to five job and found out their perspective is that the rest of us don't care.  I care ... probably too much.  But, that's me and this is my Country.

It's yours too.

Happy 4th folks, I'm still looking for a brilliant way to express just that ...

Words are little.

Click here for a neat little song!  Celebrate Freedom & Free Thinking!!

and death ain't so bad either ...

 

Desiree Daniels
RE/MAX Tri County - Robbinsville, NJ

Happy 4th to you and yours my friend.    I would break out into song now but I don't want to scare your readers away <grin>

Jul 04, 2008 01:27 AM
Jason Sardi
Auto & Home & Life Insurance throughout North Carolina - Charlotte, NC
Your Agent for Life

Chris - Have a Happy 4th amigo!

Sardi - Get some gauze and man up!!

Jerry - Why thank you kind sir.  Every day is probably a good day to count our blessings.

Lane - One of my fav's as well.  I've thought about this amazing experiment a lot, my synapses need some rest now:-)

Tony & Darcy - Agreed, though my thoughts aren't always good:-)  Have a wonderful day and weekend!

Mana - You have more experience in this world than I, so I more than respect your thoughts on this.  It's hard to compare when you have little to compare 'it' too.  The fact remains, I'm pretty lucky ... for all intensive purposes.  Like (name your celebrity here), if too many people write in Mickey Mouse on the ballot ... I'll move to Italy or somewhere south of Antarctica:-)

Gary - I still think you'd be good for political office.  It may take the 'political' out of the office ... which won't be a bad thing when it's said and done.

My Jennifer - Gosh, we are mutually possessive, eh?  Psst, I love ya gal!  Tell you what, my vow to you stands ... walk behind me because you never know where those landmines may be:-)  You are smarter than I in most regards ...

Suzanne - To you and your family as well!

Hugh - Thank you, back at ya.  As far as the weather, kind of lousy ... dismal in a stormy type of sense.  No matter though, rainbows appear after most every storm.  Despite my philosophical piece when I was at the tender age of 22, a rainbow probably isn't the devil smiling ...

Neal - The video is nothing and stagnant.  But, click here!  Sure, I'm predictable every once in awhile.

Saunders - Yep, I'm calling you by your last name now ... I hope I don't offend.  That's actually a compliment, of sorts.  From what I've read, you are a smart guy ... we don't agree on some things but that's fine.  Frankly, you probably could teach me a lot.  I wasn't familiar with Wishbone Ash until now ... I'll do some legwork.  As far as the clip, I watched it in its entirety.  Behind 'The Doors' ... 'The Who' is one of my favorite bands of all time.  Have a good weekend and in case I didn't mention it before, not to be all sappy and stuff, but I think I like you:-)

Shaun - You as well amigo!

Jul 04, 2008 01:45 AM
Jason Sardi
Auto & Home & Life Insurance throughout North Carolina - Charlotte, NC
Your Agent for Life

Dez - Scare away, hell ... it's not like I hold much back on these things.  Happy 4th hun!

Jul 04, 2008 01:47 AM
Mike Saunders
Retired - Athens, GA

Jason - I will take that as a compliment. Ok, I won't get too sappy, I like you also, in a very manly, deep voiced, beer drinking, NASCAR watching (oh wait, I don't watch NASCAR) I am secure enough in my heterosexuality to wear pink shirts (but I refuse to wear magenta or purple) kind of way.

My wife and I dont agree on many things, but, we still get along and are staying together, happily I might add.

Jul 04, 2008 02:10 AM
Nancy Larson
I am a licensed referral agent in NJ - Hutchinson Island, FL

Jason I enjoyed your post as always. For such a young guy, you got it together. Happy Fourth!!!

The ultimate gift you can give this great Country is that you would be proud to defend it.

Jul 04, 2008 03:26 AM
Jason Sardi
Auto & Home & Life Insurance throughout North Carolina - Charlotte, NC
Your Agent for Life

Mike - No worries, I don't watch NASCAR either.  And I shouldn't even go into the pink undergarments that my closet has going on:-)

Nancy -  Happy 4th to you!!!  Thank you and I have a long way to go.  I'm not as young as some think (32 pretty soon), that's just a lack of grammatical correctness on my part.  Sometimes I just write like I should be in Romper Room.

Jul 04, 2008 10:29 AM
"The Lovely Wife" The One And Only TLW.
President-Tutas Towne Realty, Inc. - Kissimmee, FL

Sardi...

Part of an email I sent you said something about your ability to express yourself. You surely do a great job at it. I came over to see what cha been doing. Lo and behold. You're expressing yourself so well I can't think of a damn thing to say. And no I'm not drinking...Yet...Maybe I should be :)

If I had to do the six for you it would be something like this: "Just riding the waves of life" :)

TLW...ROAR!

Jul 04, 2008 10:52 AM
Jason Sardi
Auto & Home & Life Insurance throughout North Carolina - Charlotte, NC
Your Agent for Life

Surfs up, TLW:-)

Jul 04, 2008 11:09 AM
"The Lovely Wife" The One And Only TLW.
President-Tutas Towne Realty, Inc. - Kissimmee, FL

:)

Jul 04, 2008 11:16 AM
Mike Saunders
Retired - Athens, GA

Sardi - pink undergarments?  Unless you washed your clothes with something red that's TMI

Jul 04, 2008 12:07 PM
Kathy McGraw
CELLing Realty - White Water, CA
Riverside County CA Real Estate

Hi Jason- Happy 4th to you.....another profound post, and am waiting to see your 6 that you pick :)  So many of us do not realize what we do have, we really do have many many freedoms that others don't.  That's the opinion of a pretty patriotic albeit realistic citizen :)

Jul 04, 2008 12:11 PM
Ruthmarie Hicks
Keller Williams NY Realty - 120 Bloomingdale Road #101, White Plains NY 10605 - White Plains, NY

Happy 4th Jason... I wish I shared your optimism.  We have a lot of work to do to pull our country back from the precipice we find ourselves on.  But we need to be decisive now to spare us falling into the abyss.

Jul 04, 2008 07:13 PM
Jason Sardi
Auto & Home & Life Insurance throughout North Carolina - Charlotte, NC
Your Agent for Life

TLW - Six words, eh?  That's a tough one.  I've left plenty on that post ... yet here's another for what it is worth ... New Man, Same Man, Twice Re-born;-)

Saunders - I guess I just went J. Edgar Hoover on ya ... my apologies.  All snide and joking remarks aside, it was a pleasure speaking with you.

Kathy - Late in my mutual affection, but Happy 4th to you as well!  "That's the opinion of a pretty patriotic albeit realistic citizen :)"  Well said, aren't we all, or most of us ...

Ruthmarie - I hope you are doing well, as I hope your family is.  As far as optimism, I've found it's not shared as much as it is catchy ... like a bad case of (damn, this is public so I'll be good:-)  I do understand where you are coming from and I doubt the answer will come in the upcoming election.  It will come from us, though.  I'm very confident when the people speak ... life tends to listen.

 

Jul 04, 2008 09:00 PM
Paul McFadden
Responsive Pest Control - Seattle, WA
Pest Control, Seattle, WA.

Thanks, Jason. I hope you had an incredible 4th! America is the one nation where opportunity is always present. It's amazing to me how many other nationalities move here to start a better life. We are so lucky! Thanks again for the post!

 

Paul

Jul 05, 2008 02:21 AM
"The Lovely Wife" The One And Only TLW.
President-Tutas Towne Realty, Inc. - Kissimmee, FL

Sardi...

I don't think the day will ever come when I don't want to hear what is going on inside that brilliant young mind of yours :)

And for the record...There was a time I didn't 'get you' either. I used to make jokes about that as I'm sure you recall. Should I be frightened by the fact that I actually get it now? :)

TLW...ROAR!

Jul 05, 2008 11:45 AM
Jason Sardi
Auto & Home & Life Insurance throughout North Carolina - Charlotte, NC
Your Agent for Life

Paul - Thanks man, I hope you had a wonderful 4th!  I should stop by soon to read you, ya seem to be a good man.

TLW - Shoot, you may retract that if/when you read my latest post ... six words.  That comment was the second highest compliment I've been given from you.  Grazie.  Don't be frightened, let's disagree on something real soon, ok?:-)  And I miss the jokes .... sort of;-)

Jul 05, 2008 12:14 PM
Jeff Belonger
Social Media - Infinity Home Mortgage Company, Inc - Cherry Hill, NJ
The FHA Expert - FHA Loans - FHA mortgages - USDA loans - VA Loans

Jason... I haven't moved in about 4 years now... I had a few boxes still left over at my parents house. Some things that I might pass down to my nephews, if I don't ever have kids...  but I thought I misplaced a box with like 4 photo albums. Well, I found them and I did some reminecing... in regards to some of my old army pictures... it brought back some memories... and after 911, I almost thought about joining again... I had strong thoughts.  Some good thoughts... thanks for sharing them.

jeff belonger

Jul 05, 2008 02:56 PM
Carol Lee
Dilbeck Real Estate - Oak Park, CA
Realtor - Agoura, Oak Park, Westlake CA Homes

Well written-hope you had a great Fourth.  My son came home from his first trip to Europe on July 4.  We went out to dinner with another family whose son was on the same trip.  Both boys agreed it was great to travel, but America is the greatest country in the world!!  I second that.

Jul 08, 2008 07:16 AM
Jason Sardi
Auto & Home & Life Insurance throughout North Carolina - Charlotte, NC
Your Agent for Life

Jeff - Sometimes I forget that you served this Country yourself.  Hope you had a wonderful 4th man!

Carol - Thank you and I hope you had a wonderful 4th as well!!

Jul 08, 2008 07:25 AM
Daniel J. Brudnok, REALTOR
Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Fox & Roach, REALTORS - Exton - PA License #RS-225179-L / Delaware License #RS-0025038 - Downingtown, PA
SRES, e-PRO,ABR,GREEN,CSP

Jason,

I missed this for the 4th, I hope it was good for you.

Nicely written, thank you for sharing.

Jul 10, 2008 02:58 AM