Re: (WAY OT): Volunteer Spirit of America?


<mrdarrett@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1178988767.763483.217390@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
El Presidente made a speech at a college yesterday:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/05/20070511-8.html

"The volunteer spirit of America makes us unique, it represents the
true strength of our nation, and it must constantly be reinvigorated
and renewed."

This is news to me. Really? Is America really the only country in
the world that takes volunteerism to such levels?

I did a google search, and came up with this:

http://www.americantrails.org/resources/volunteer/CommunBandA.html
"Volunteers -- America's Most Unique Resource

Last summer I was asked to meet with a group of Chinese government
officials who were studying in the United States. They were touring
the region and meeting with a number of politicians and government
workers to find ideas and trends that would successfully transfer back
to China. After I briefly explained my job and the facilities I manage
I told them about the volunteer programs at the B & A Trail. As I
finished they were uncomfortable, exchanging glances and whispering
questions to each other in Chinese. The Honorable Dean Johnson, Mayor
of Annapolis, who had preceded me to the podium, got the same reaction
when he spoke about the many active civic groups in the community.
Finally, one of them asked the questions they were all considering.
What is a volunteer and do we require people to take part in volunteer
service? They struggled to understand how Americans, capitalists,
volunteered on such a grand scale. They wrestled with the idea that
citizens freely gave away some of their most precious resources, time
and money. A lively fifteen-minute discussion followed and they began
to grasp the spirit and depth of volunteerism in America.

The sacrifice and generosity of her citizens has dictated the history
of America. We are a nation of volunteers. The common bond and spirit
of groups like the Minutemen and other early settlers has been molded
and refined into a spirit of community stewardship. Today, our
landscapes is dotted with volunteer fire companies, civic
organizations, Little League baseball teams, and scout troops; staffed
by individuals and families that are committed to building their
communities. We can weave their efforts together and see a tapestry of
self-sacrifice and service to others that makes America unique among
nations. Their example sets the standard for future generations. Their
testimony draws a pattern for our lives. Their spirit lives at the
many trail and greenway projects that connect our land.


So, knowing that this group is frequented by citizens of all sorts of
countries, worldwide, I request your input.

Michael

I'd imagine most countries in the world benefit greatly from the voluntary
efforts of their citizens. I'd even suggest the UK would implode if
volunteers at all levels took their bats home.
As an aside though, from my UK perspective the 'volunteering' paragraphs
read like outright jingoism.
The stuff occasionally rears it's head in the Sun newspaper but essentially
died a death about 1916.



--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

.

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