Better, Not Bitter: Why We Are Not Divided
In the introduction, Starnes states his premise in no uncertain terms:
What does it mean to be a bitter American?
[...]
The network television reporters like to tell us we are a divided people — that most Americans don’t buy into God and country. But that’s not what I discovered along my journey. I found a nation with a lot more in common than the network news agencies would admit.
Throughout his journey through the heartland, Starnes comes across plenty of examples of Leftists’ egregious undermining of American values. In the book he chronicles:
- The wars against Christmas, the Boy Scouts, and traditional ideas of manhood.
- The elevation of President Obama to virtual sainthood (and even deity).
- The specter of socialized medicine in the United States.
- Schools teaching graphic, “anything goes” sex education while severely limiting students’ food choices.
- The Chicken Little cries of Islamophobia and global warming.
But Starnes also sees rays of hope in people who prove that America’s greatness lies not with her government or her elites, but with her citizens. He tells the stories of:
- Eagle Scouts who are enacting positive changes in their communities.
- Law firms and foundations working to ensure freedom for faithful Americans.
- Miraculous physical and spiritual healing.
- Ordinary Americans standing up for their beliefs in extraordinary ways.
He also interviews conservative heroes like Sean Hannity and Michelle Malkin. Malkin relays the sentiments of so many so-called “bitter Americans” when she says:
In fact, I start every day blessed, with a smile on my face, counting myself among the luckiest people on the planet, to be able to live in this country, exercise freedom of speech and freedom of assembly, and to be able to petition — still — for redress of grievances.
[...]
Most of the conservatives I cover are happy warriors, in the mold of Ronald Reagan. Are we upset? Are we worried? Are we concerned about our kids’ future? Yes.
But ultimately, there are things outside the Beltway, outside the political square, that buoy us. And those include the things a lot of these left-wing reporters do not appreciate or understand — community, school life, and church.
Looks good to me! Better,not bitter! In fact, there no worse of a person that an old bitter liberal-see Nancy Pelosi in your dictionary!
The Left sets the narrative and expects everyone to believe it after they’ve hammered it home for years … nope! That’s how it works (and has worked) everywhere else … but NOT in America!!!!
We are a resilient people with a spirit that cannot be subdued by mere leftist morons.
Nice read, but speaking for me and mine only – we are not bitter because we have an assurance that no matter how wicked it gets, no matter how much government is allowed to infringe, no matter how mocked, or threatened, no matter what is stolen, no matter how bleak the outlook may be…
Government is not our master…and never will be.
No man is a fool who loses what he can’t kept to gain what he can’t lose. And I will live my life accordingly, unrestrained and without fear. And I won’t pass silently.
Well said.
@ #3 Yes, Tex, well said. However, you will have to admit that 0 and his minions are working flat out to take those freedoms away from you. It’s what happens when the Congress passes laws that, “You have to pass this to find out what’s in it.”
The Left acts as if slave ships are disgorging cargo in New York Harbor this very minute and the KKK and neo-Nazis are mainstreamed into the right and that we hate illegal immigrants and women mostly because they are Latino and, well, women.
The Left has the race-based political constructs by way of law and organization and media to back this view up.
In my own personal life throughout the years, I have not indulged in any popular literature, music, film, groups or anything else that would show such a country even exists.
Unfortunately this qualifies me as being a witless recipient of white privilege or whatever moronic concept the Left promotes.
There is no doubt the country could use a break from a political Left that magnifies the smallest thing in America, even obeying the law, into the end of the Bill of Rights as we know it. We could well use a break from the Dems.
when someone says ‘bitter’, in regards to politics, i have to default to the mistress of bitter, nancy bitterbonespelosi. could you imagine trying to drink fresh lemonade while watching her maybe dancing on stage at spring break? i think just threw up in my mouth a little, bitter, by default.
the left is still trying to pawn off that old dead dog racism for more big buck schemes and more special privilege. somebody tell them, that dog don’t hunt nomo. different day. heII, different century, by a couple.
better? could you get worse than what we have now? yes, we could use a break… from not only worrying what madmen across the oceans are wanting to do to us, but having to worry more what our own morons are trying to screw us over with.
The left won’t break us. But what about our kids and grandkids? That’s the left’s real target.
“The quote turned into a rallying cry for Obama’s opponents…” Little good it did.
“•Law firms and foundations working to ensure freedom for faithful Americans.” Other than FIRE and Judicial Watch, Federalist Society, and the Rutherford Institute, who else is defending America values. Compare our short list to the left and the money the left gets and gives to its law firms.
“But ultimately, there are things outside the Beltway, outside the political square, that buoy us. And those include the things a lot of these left-wing reporters do not appreciate or understand — community, school life, and church.”
What kind of understatment is this? The left has virtually destroyed community as it once stood; our public schools are a mess and getting worse; and the church is imploding and will not stand up for itself i.e. the war on Christmas.
“it’s not so much that we’re bitter Americans. I think we have a bad case of indigestion.” Are you kidding? This is the summary-we have indegestion! We have a chronic case of acid reflux. How understated. How about that we are witnessing the destruction of America which may include a civil war in the near future.
Liberals’ name-calling is simply a psychological war strategy to beat Conservatives down.
We know that they lie…constantly, consistently and we know that any proposal that they make will work against Americans and cost us borrowed money, jobs, and opportunities. We know that taxes are soaring, health care will break us, food and gas are soaring, and that there is no end in sight. We have 25 million unemployed that look down the road at another four years of Obama…who do you think they will vote for?
Yeah…I have never bought so much antacids in my life. But I look around at the most beautiful vistas that this country has to offer, enjoy the best quality of life around, albeit a frugal lifestyle, and realize that this fraud will be thrown out. Black Americans have the highest unemployment ever recorded, young people can’t find jobs, older workers are laid off and are experiencing permanent unemployment, plants are closing and relocating overseas with greater frequency, and our state and local governments are trying to provide the same services with fewer resources.
But we will survive…and kick this tyrannical dictating Usurping Fraud out in November. Because we not only cling to our bibles, we ponder on the words…are edified, and realize that thieves and cheats such as Obama have a short shelf life.
No, I’m not bitter. I see bitterness among our enemies, but not among the people I personally associate with.
You want to see bitter? Just take a good look at Obama and Mooch.