Nuggets Of Optimism

To the Editor:

I spent Independence Day weekend at a ranch in the Adirondacks with 12 friends and family members. We went horseback riding, swimming, boating and played basketball, tennis, ladder ball, and volleyball. We watched beautiful fireworks with 10,000 other Americans, over the serene waters of Schroon Lake, accompanied by a choir singing patriotic songs. We ate traditional summer fare including hot dogs, ribs, french fries, and corn. The food and accommodations were less than we had expected; it didn’t dampen the weekend a bit. It elicited a few comical remarks which will enhance our fond memories. The weather was great, the company was priceless. We had limited Internet access and almost no TV access. Newspapers were locally unavailable; we made substantial progress on books we are reading.

I watched with awe as my growing daughters and their friends and cousins interacted and enjoyed each other, and as my wife continued the creation of her magic relationship with my children. The entire weekend renewed my faith in myself, in my family, and in my country. Despite the ongoing barrage of negative information we are all attacked by daily, no one in our group dwelled on nor even acknowledged the dark side.

We learned of notable academic achievements of our respective children. We learned of new business adventures upon which friends and relatives are embarking. We met and spent time with people from all over the Northeast who spoke positively about life.

The worldwide press, led by The New York Times, generally goes out of its way to disparage Americans about their country. Following are some nuggets of optimism to stem the tide of broadcast misery:

*More than 96 percent of Americans continue to make their mortgage payments on time. Like the S&L mess in the 1980s, the subprime debacle will pass.

*While increased demand and limited supply drive gas prices to $4.50/gallon and beyond, market pressures will deliver new technologies and revisit old technologies to offset this present situation. America will lead the way in this development.

*Though extremely costly, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are part of an overall defense budget that is only about four percent of GDP, about the same as during the Kennedy administration.

*While every life lost is a life-changing tragedy for the families involved, casualties are incredibly, historically low for these wars.

*Regardless of who wins the Presidency, two statements are extremely likely: A) The US will emerge victorious from these regions; B) A US force will be present in the Middle East for many years to come and will thereby ensure stability. We have done and continue to do the right thing in the Middle East.

*There’s water on Mars which increases the likelihood we can send human beings there to colonize it! The US will lead this effort.

From my family to yours, we’re very proud and optimistic to be Americans! Happy belated Independence Day!

Brendan Duffy

4 Chestnut Knoll Drive, Sandy Hook                                July 7, 2008