This morning's news reported the President has declared the Greensburg, Kansas area a Federal Disaster Area following this weekend's tornadoes in the Midwest. Such a measure is needed in order to put into motion
various Federal assistance programs and emergency assets as required to respond to major disasters.
When the President made his declaration he also mentioned something I found interesting. I do not remember the exact quote, but the essence of his words were that although he was sending aid, there exists in the Midwest a "pioneer" spirit. In those few words, regardless of his detractors, Bush was exceptionally eloquent. Clearly his words were an acknowledgment that although aid was right and reasonable, the pioneer spirit will also go a long way toward helping these folks to face their hardship.
I could not help but see in my mind's eye the election map of the 2004 Presidential Election, and all that vast space in the middle of the nation that is different than the coastal enclaves and urban centers. Different in so many ways. That picture caused me to begin to sing in my mind the words ". . . Got a shotgun, a rifle and a four-wheel-drive. A country boy can survive," from Hank Williams, Jr.'s "A Country Boy Can Survive."
I was amused at myself and the direction my mind had wandered, but it also rings true to me. Now, I'm no country boy. I'm from the Washington, DC suburbs, so a farmer I ain't. But I can hunt and I have the know how to grow my own food. And I am from a Red State. And yes, we Red Staters are different in general, or more accurately, our mindset is different than urbanites. Not better mind you, just different.
We have not lost the vision of what made us a great nation. We still see ourselves as our forefathers did 100 years ago. We are fiercely proud and patriotic, and damn fast to take matters into our own hands as opposed to waiting for someone to respond to our difficulties. Hell, break into my house and I'll call the cops just like you Blue Staters will. Only difference is the cops will be there just to watch the coroner carry out the offender in a body bag, as opposed to trying to apprehend him, as would be the case in Blue States.
When the President made his declaration he also mentioned something I found interesting. I do not remember the exact quote, but the essence of his words were that although he was sending aid, there exists in the Midwest a "pioneer" spirit. In those few words, regardless of his detractors, Bush was exceptionally eloquent. Clearly his words were an acknowledgment that although aid was right and reasonable, the pioneer spirit will also go a long way toward helping these folks to face their hardship.
I could not help but see in my mind's eye the election map of the 2004 Presidential Election, and all that vast space in the middle of the nation that is different than the coastal enclaves and urban centers. Different in so many ways. That picture caused me to begin to sing in my mind the words ". . . Got a shotgun, a rifle and a four-wheel-drive. A country boy can survive," from Hank Williams, Jr.'s "A Country Boy Can Survive."
I was amused at myself and the direction my mind had wandered, but it also rings true to me. Now, I'm no country boy. I'm from the Washington, DC suburbs, so a farmer I ain't. But I can hunt and I have the know how to grow my own food. And I am from a Red State. And yes, we Red Staters are different in general, or more accurately, our mindset is different than urbanites. Not better mind you, just different.
We have not lost the vision of what made us a great nation. We still see ourselves as our forefathers did 100 years ago. We are fiercely proud and patriotic, and damn fast to take matters into our own hands as opposed to waiting for someone to respond to our difficulties. Hell, break into my house and I'll call the cops just like you Blue Staters will. Only difference is the cops will be there just to watch the coroner carry out the offender in a body bag, as opposed to trying to apprehend him, as would be the case in Blue States.
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