(Jay Leno recently read this on The Tonight Show. Snopes.com says Jay Leno only read it, Craig R.Smith wrote it. Sometimes someone says something so well, there’s no need to rewrite it. I did edit it for space.)

The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true, given the source, right?
The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed, and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the president. In essence, two-thirds of the citizenry just ain’t happy and want a change.
“What are we so unhappy about?”
Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week?
Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter?
Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job?
Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time, and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?
Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state?
Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter?
I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough.
Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provides services to help all, and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.
Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family and your belongings.
Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss.
This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents.  Neighborhoods where 90 percent of teenagers own cell phones and computers.
How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world?
Maybe that is what has 67 percent of you folks unhappy.
Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S. yet has a great disdain for its citizens.
They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don’t have and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.
So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans? Say what you want, but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds, it leads; and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner?
Stop buying the negativism you are fed everyday by the media. Shut off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage.
Then start being grateful for all we have as a country. There is exponentially more good than bad.
We are among the most blessed people on Earth, and should thank God several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative.

Of course I don’t want you burn your Delphos Herald or become uninformed citizens who don’t know what is going on in their own country or the world, but I think sometimes we do dwell on the negative because it makes a better story. It’s more dramatic or gripping.
And shocking as it may seem, some news reports are slanted or inaccurate.
We have so many wonderful things going on right here in Delphos that inspire appreciation.
— The Kiwanis just purchased, through the generosity of many of you, and helped installed a state-of-the-art playground system for our children, their children, and so on;
— The Delphos Veterans Council is still working to improve and beautify the corner of Main and Fifth streets;
— Many downtown businesses are taking pride in their buildings and making improvements;
— Our parks are second to none and host hundreds of children for sports and play and the Music in the Park concerts draw hundreds; and
— We have two great schools with hardworking teachers, staff and students who care about their community and its success.
The list can go on and on. Delphos is on the brink of great things.
Make your list and see what you come up with.