Posted by
Conservative Soldier on Tuesday, May 27, 2008 4:58:17 PM
By The Conservative Soldier:
We ventured off across America for Memorial Day weekend. Rather than go on complaining about the airlines, their attitudes and their soaring, shameless new fees, we simply boycotted them for a change. I placed all of my luggage in the back of a mid-sized German SUV, and, gleefully, did not charge myself for the second, third and fourth bags. Liberating, to be sure.
Driving 500+ plus miles from suburban Chicago to Nashville, Tenn., provides a pleasant reminder that gasoline, even at $4.00+ per gallon, is still pretty cheap, relatively speaking. In a mid-sized, 25 mpg German SUV, one can drive roundtrip to Nashville, more than 1,000 miles, for about $250 including lunch stops, or for around $83 per person in a family of three. What am I missing here? Is this excessive?
The real upside of taking to the road is that I am now able to credibly refute what many have suspected all along: that the mainstream/dinosaur/drive-by media has talked America into a recessionary, despairing mindset. According to the news readers and various wrist-wringing social commentators, everyone is “hurting”. The U.S. is a veritable Dust Bowl. Vacations are being canceled. Lives are turned upside down. And why? Need you ask? Because, you religion-clinging nit wits, the federal government and George Bush aren’t doing enough and don’t care about you. About us. All of us.
Out in America, from the farmlands of Indiana, to the rolling springtime beauty of Kentucky, to the vibrant music mecca of Nashville, this despair, this dark cloud, was not what we discovered during the Memorial Day weekend. Just by listening (Hillary, I believe, would say we’d accomplished a Listening Tour), I was encouraged that we are not in the Final Days, merely marking time until the Great Barack and the Empress Michelle rise to power and bring about sweeping CHANGE.
Out there across the fruited plain, I heard:
Local talk radio conversations focused on the gallantry and resolve of our American military, and expressions of great pride about what they have and will achieve in Iraq and Afghanistan and, if necessary, Iran.
Gasoline fueled vehicles zipping past. Transport rigs. Motorcycles. Huge RVs. SUVs. Pickups. America is still moving. Interstate 65 heading south was packed with folks heading to the Indy 500, or beyond, to the splendor of Old Kentucky thoroughbred farms, or to the sprawling Opryland Resort in Nashville.
Great country music, America’s music, performed before yet another full house at the Grand Ole Opry.
A congenial Tennessee-born bellman who said, “God Bless You”, when accepting his tip.
The buzz of hundreds upon hundreds of guests dining (and, yes, overdining), cocktailing, sun bathing, photographing, and celebrating inside the Opryland resort complex. Tickets for Sunday’s nearby General Jackson riverboat luncheon cruise and floor show nearly were sold out when I bought ours.
To the chagrin of the media lefties who desperately want to see our nation on the verge of economic collapse by Fall, just in time for Obamarama ‘08, my report from the road is that Americans are generally fat (frighteningly so) and relatively happy. Is everyone obscenely rich, paying for their fuel by peeling from a wad of 100s, ordering freely from the reserve wine list and partying with Paris Hilton? No. But, as we always do, Americans will persevere, work hard, love their kids and ride out whatever economic dips may come our way.
Why, on the General Jackson riverboat, the mostly average looking, middle class, predominantly senior folks, even applauded heartily for the live entertainment, the Peking Acrobats. I thought we’re all supposed to be honked off at the scheming Chinese for dissing the Dalai Lama and for consuming ever more gas and, thus, driving crude oil barrel prices through the roof?
We’re supposed to be a nation overpopulated by angry, economically ravaged, coupon clipping, war weary people who have canceled all leisure activities and parked our cars for good. Believe the media drum bangers, or treat yourself to a $100 tank of gas and go have a look at what’s really happening out there.