Taxation Without Representation, Suck Our Dicks
241 years ago, something awesome happened. A group of folks sent a message to an empire that the sun never set on~> “Taxation without representation is a bag of bullshit, and you can suck our dicks, we’re breaking up.” Since that moment happened, this land has become the symbol of hope our world needs. Last week I was on a vacation on an island in the middle of the Caribbean Sea, “I dream of the day I can go to America,” was something said to me from all the locals. That flag that we pledge allegiance to as kids, and STAND and face while the national anthem is playing, is the picture of hope that folks from around the planet hold on to. It always has been. Sometimes amongst all the main stream media’s bullshit rhetoric it’s hard to remember that humans are not perfect, therefore no country is perfect. We have some terrible things that have happened in the past, every country does, but I firmly believe that this country is light years ahead of where we were, with some obvious work that needs to be done. America is a country that no matter where you come from you can chase a dream. You can be a comedic genius from Chicago or a long haired legendary commenter, if you work your ass off you can become a member of a podcast that reaches millions of people a week. You can be a Jewish fella from Boston, with a vision and chase that fucking thing down until a richer guy pays you off and moves you to Manhattan. You can be from the roughest of neighborhoods and join the 1% if you can avoid all of the immense distractions. Or you can be the son of a truck driver in Pittsburgh, kick a ball, drink some beers, and live a life where your family’s only new found worry isn’t the collector anymore, but whether or not their youngest son is going to live past 40.
Negativity hogs publicity, it’s the world we live in. But for every negative thing said about our country, I can find a 100 women or men doing something incredible for themselves and their community. These 50 states and all of the people in it are special. We can’t forget that. if you’ve never traveled the world, I hope one day you do. My last job afforded me the incredible opportunity to see how folks live on almost every continent. Every time I travel, it solidifies my passion for our country and our people as a whole. Even though a lot of ungrateful fucks with blue check marks want you to believe that our people are terrible, Americans are the most hospitable humans on earth. I will stand by that forever. I got a chance to golf with a legend from a very humble, blue collar town in Arkansas, while we were golfing I happened to ask, “Why do you love America JD?”… “I love America cause I’m free to start any business I want on my own. I love America cause we are a country that comes together better than any other country in the world when a bad crisis happens. We have a sense of unity for a time being that is the most beautiful thing on earth. I love America because we have citizens here who sign up willingly to protect our freedom and our land. There are about a million other reasons I’d love to get into, but I have to make this putt. Basically, I just love being an American.” John Daly hit the nail on the head.
The love of this country isn’t something is brainwashed into folks, it is something happens while experiencing life here. The ability to do whatever the hell you want for a living, the ability to say anything you want (not necessarily without consequences), and the ability to become anything you want isn’t an option that’s available everywhere. People forget that.
When I was going thru the process of retiring, I had to tell a lot of my really close friends that I’d no longer be working with them. One conversation was tougher than a lot of the others. I had only known this man from Colorado for a few years, but we had traveled the globe together. From London to Japan and towns across this nation. I had watched this guy grit through leukemia, and had learned about his life. He gets criticized a lot, as he should, he’s an NFL head coach. but he’s one of my favorite humans on earth. Just a genuine, good hearted man. I asked him, “Why do you love America?” This is what Chuck Pagano texted back.
“Why do I love America? It has afforded me and 320 million other Americans the opportunity to live a DREAM. The path paved by our founding fathers and countless men and women of our armed forces who have sacrificed all so that we may live out that dream. I am fortunate enough to coach the greatest TEAM sport in the world. Only because of those who serve and protect our very freedom hour after hour, day after day. Those who have given their lives so that we can have FOOTBALL. I am blessed to say that I’m still here today because of the great care that I received in our great country by amazing doctors, nurses, and caregivers where most would not have a fighting chance anywhere else.
Lastly, I love our flag and all that it represents. Best colors, best design, best meaning. It represents all that we hold dear. We have the freedom to choose whether we stand or take a knee. I choose to stand because of all who have given much more than any of us can comprehend so that we can live this dream and call America our Home!! #GODBLESSAMERICA”
Now obviously his old ass doesn’t know that hashtags don’t work in text messages, but his passion oozed thru the phone. This country and our people are beautiful, and will survive anything. It doesn’t get talked about enough, but back in the day when some assholes in the warmer climate states of ours tried to hijack our country and not live by the “every man is created equal” mantra, men from above an imaginary line went to war with them. A lot of people lost their lives so this country can keep being awesome. We will always be the land of the free, because of the brave. Let’s keep marching forward and being a pillar of fantastic. Happy Independence Day beautiful people. Let’s enjoy the hell out of our freedoms today. It’s #StoneColdSZN. Cheers.
#AmericaIsTheGOAT. Get the shirt ~>
