Understanding Rights and Responsibilities - What You Can Do for Your Country TODAY

Understanding Rights and Responsibilities; What You Can Do for Your Country TODAY

By: Moshe Klein

In the old Soviet Union and to some extent still today, the culture and mindset is about “Suffering and Sacrifice”. There are a couple of dozen Billionaires but most people in Russia live quite modestly. Life in Russia has never been easy. Anyone over the age of 40 or so knows what empty shelves in stores are like, long lines at the gas station if you are fortunate enough to own a car and certainly what it means to live in a country at war. They all hope that things will get better but few expect that it will. Most Russians feel responsible for making their lives as good as they can be and expect little from the government. Most do not feel that they have any rights other than what Vladimir Putin and his inner circle allow them to have – despite what their constitution promises.

On the other hand, many in the United States have a mindset of “Freedom and Fun”. We complain about missing French fries in our food order, rising gas prices for our SUVs, pickup trucks, or recreational vehicles and of course, long security lines at the airport as we head out on vacation. Everyone in the US feels free to complain that they have a right to do this or that, but I hear so little about our individual and collective responsibility to be good citizens, good neighbors, good customers, etc.

I am reminded often during difficult times of social unrest, economic downturns and certainly in times of war what John F. Kennedy said in his inaugural address: “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country”. The simple meaning of President Kennedy’s memorable words was to challenge and inspire society to contribute and improve for the public good in any way possible. So simple, yet brilliant and of course – true!

How have we as Americans gone so far off course. Turn on the news today. It’s frightening to hear that while a world war has started, Ukrainians are sacrificing EVERYTHING in heroic fashion. Some in America though are complaining about high gas prices, inconveniences at the store or worse, pretending as though it’s a problem “over there” and our lives should go on as before with vacations, $5 coffees, night clubs, and other “rights” that we have come to feel entitled to.

I hope and pray that Americans can wake up and soon to the reality that what goes up, will also come down. The sooner we come to terms with our new reality of war, high prices, shortages, and other inconveniences that the rest of the world knows all too well, the better for our country and our future.

If 80-year-old grandmothers in Ukraine can learn to fire a gun and to make homemade bombs to defend their homes and their country; certainly, we can cope with our issues. Here are 10 ideas for what we can all do TODAY to help our country and our economy:

1.??????Make a cup of coffee at home

2.??????Shop for gently used furniture rather than buying new items made in China

3.??????Start a vegetable garden or shop at a local farmers market

4.??????Sell one of your huge gas guzzling vehicles

5.??????Compliment rather than complain when you go out in public

6.??????Volunteer in your community one day a week, even for a few hours

7.??????Cook a meal and deliver it to a sick or elderly neighbor in need

8.??????Drive less, exercise more

9.??????Be sure to waive at a police officer and thank all military and law enforcement officers for their service

10.??Post more pictures of babies, pets, and menu suggestions on social media rather than hate filled political rants

Let’s continue to hope and pray for the best but prepare for the worst. We are living in a world at war. Let’s come together and show the world the very best side of America – a nation united and one that understands that our rights are earned through our responsible actions.