Leno - NOT!

I received a commentary piece via email attributed to Jay Leno. It was lamenting that we Americans are spoiled and really have nothing to be depressed about; We should be thankful for all that we have here in the USA. Agreed - this is still the greatest country on the planet. (I would just like to see it stay that way.)

This commentary was not written by Jay Leno. It was written by Craig R. Smith in an ezine called Worldnetdaily. It was first published in 2006 under the title, "Made in the USA: Spoiled Brats."
Jay Leno did during a monologue say, "As you know Hurricane Rita is headed toward Florida, Texas, and Louisiana. Another hurricane! It's like the 9th hurricane this season. Maybe this is not a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance."

Now don't get me wrong, the list of things to be grateful for is good. Mr. Smith said, "I started thinking, 'What are we so unhappy about?''
A.. Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 Days a week?
B.. Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter?
C.. Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job?
D.. 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?
E.. Maybe it is the ability to drive our cars and trucks from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state?
F.. Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter?
G.. I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough either.
H. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.
I.. Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home.
J.. 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.
K.. 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.
L.. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90% of teenagers own cell phones and computers.
M.. 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% of you folks unhappy."

It then went on with some propaganda which seemed highly unlikely that Jay Leno would write. The last paragraphs call for us to ignore the media which just didn't ring true. It didn't seem reasonable.

To be sure, the media is obsessed with the negative, rich and famous, etc. because the masses buy it. They are trying their best to tell us the economy is totally tanked. I clearly think there are big problems with the economy, but I also see that the parking lot at the airport is full as are the lots at the mall. However, calling for the demise of the press is dangerous; dictators usually dismantle the press. We just need to evaluate what we are hearing and decide for ourselves what is important, true, etc. We need to think critically.

I have not published the narrative at the bottom of the piece because I refuse to assist in keeping this urban myth moving.