America of appletinis

Old western films were always my dad’s favorites, but never mine.

More and more though, I find myself watching them for a reason that took until now to materialize.

I find it amazing that those old films can be showing the same ground we live on today.

America has become a powerhouse in the world with its booming, metropolitan cities, filled with some of today’s best and brightest people.

Sure, problems plague us like any other country. But overall, I would say our country is in a good state on the surface.

But that’s on the surface. What is happening to the people of this country?

Forget about the economy. Forget about immigration issues. Forget about the rising price of your cappuccino.

The quandary is one that is developing, day-by-day, inside of all of us.
Here it is: You’re too damn sensitive.

Now, don’t take this term the wrong way. When your mom says, “It’s good that you’re sensitive,” she’s right. It’s nice to have emotions.

I wish I did.

Also, don’t think I want to disregard any humanity. Issues such as racism or women’s rights are issues that one should be sensitive about.

I’m talking about the everyday, little things that people – you and I included – get pissed about.

Someone bumps into you. The bus is crowded. They were out of your favorite muffin at Starbucks. 

One, muffins are gay ... but not gay in the homosexual way. I have no problems with homosexuals, I love homosexuals ... but not in that way ... not that would be a problem or anything...

See? That sentence is the physical manifestation of the problem.

No one in their right mind actually thinks a muffin can have an agenda and be homosexual, even though it is from Starbucks.

The problem is that someone, somewhere, was just offended when I called his or her muffin gay.

I’ll do it again. Your muffin is gay.

That someone is an example of the sensitive people making decisions for the rest of us. One person’s dissenting voice can bring down the whole lot of us. Just because they feel that gay is being used in a derogatory manner, the rest of us have to watch what we say everywhere we go.

Not me. Not anymore.

If I thought I was deeply hurting someone, of course I’d stop. You and I both know that’s not that case though.

America, get it together. What happened to you?

What happened to our leather skin? What happened to whiskey instead of appletinis?

What happened to having fun and worrying about the consequences later?

We need a little more of that old western feel back in our lives. That doesn’t mean everyone needs a six-shooter on them at all times.

But we do need to get our spines back and fight for what we believe in.

We need to get back on the horse and show people that America still has a little Wild West in them, that we still have our balls.

Or ovaries if any ladies are reading.

See?