For those readers who do not live in Grand Junction... there is a local story that has been making headlines lately, that has defiantly stirred the public. The story is: a guy was caught after dragging a stolen dog to death, behind his truck. This is a horrific story that has people all over town wanting to drag the suspect behind their own car, to avenge Buddy's (the dog's) death.
The incident has sparked so much interest that somebody started a Facebook account Demand Justice for Buddy that already has 130,000 members (That is more people than actually live in Grand Junction).
The point of my blog post is not really about Buddy though, it is about people. I am an animal lover as well, I have three dogs myself and I would be devastated if this incident happened to one of them. My heart goes out to the owners of Buddy and what they are going through right now. What I find interesting is; how the public is ready to murder a person, in revenge of an animal.
In this country we have a certain "revenge" aspect to our culture that has intrigued me for a long time. Think about the slogans of big events of the past: Remember the Maine (Spanish-American war), Remember Pearl Harbor, Remember 9-11, War on Poverty, War on drugs, or War on Congress (OK, I made that one up).
If something happens in America that actually stirs the anger in Americans, you better watch out, cause you are going to pay. The quotes by Isoroku Yamamoto after the attack on Pearl Harbor, come to mind: "I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve." and "Gentlemen, we have just kicked a rabid dog."
I think that is why so many people want to come to the United States, or are at least envious of this country, because we take care of our own. It is more like a "national community" than a country. If we are attacked anywhere from Florida to Alaska, we will protect our countrymen. We do not fight for nobility or land we fight for each other. That is a national pride that is truly American.
Our forefathers faced many struggles both here and abroad to become citizens of this country. Not to conquer more land or take over a culture. They wanted liberty. They wanted a community. That earned liberty, has made a truly unique American culture, a culture with Americans that will do anything to protect their own. We are fellow Americans that will fight for someone who cannot fight for themselves. We have proved that fact over and over again; from Pearl Harbor to 9-11, or even with Buddy.
We as Americans will disagree about a lot of things, but one thing I think we can all agree on is that we are blessed to be part of the American family.
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