Read the following list and think about what all these have in common. I will get into why I bring these things up at the end.

• Stop signs
• Shredded wheat
• Smoke detector
• Ferris wheel
• Pastry fork
• Bottle cap

• Internal combustion-powered tractor
• Zipper
• Mousetrap
• Volleyball
• Cotton candy
• Ice cream scoop
• Charcoal briquette
• Candy corn
• Remote control
• Filing cabinet
• Fly swatter
• Thumbtack

• Assembly line
• Safety razor
• Hearing aid
• Teddy bear
• Air conditioning
• Tea bag
• Airplane
• Windshield wipers

• Automatic transmission
• AC power plugs and sockets
• Banana split
• Baseball batting helmet
• Flushing toilets
• Curtain rod
• Paper towel
• Candy apple

• Headset
• Electric traffic light
• Traffic cone
• Fortune cookie
• Hamburger bun
• Supermarket
• French dip sandwich
• Cheeseburger

• Blender
• Eskimo pie
• Jungle gym
• Band-Aid
• Convertible
• Cotton swab
• Instant camera
• Liquid-fuel rocket
• Corn dog

• Bubble gum
• Iron lung
• Sunglasses
• Tampon
• Sunglasses
• Cheese steak
• Chocolate chip cookie
• Electric Guitar

• Golf cart
• Black light
• Phillips screw driver
• Digital computer
• Beach ball
• Soft serve ice cream
• Deodorant

• Microwave oven
• Slinky

 

So what so all these things have in common? They are a small sample of the things invented in the United States. Mind you, this is small sample from 1890-1945 (there were many more). I never mentioned more modern inventions like the lunar module, compact discs, the Internet or Buffalo wings. Why do I bring this up? The United States has really taken a beating over the last few years. There are a lot of people that think it is a bad place. The fact is, this is the best country in the world. This country is innovative, accepting and generous (we lead all countries when it comes to donating to other countries in the time of disaster…by a long shot).

Yes, we have made mistakes and have had a turbulent history, as most countries do. But this country has a conscious. We know our past and embrace it so that we never repeat it.

If anyone tells you this country is not exceptional, I guarantee you they have not experienced the world outside this country or do not appreciate all it has done.

God bless the U.S.A.!

References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_United_States_inventions_(1946%E2%80%9391)

Pictures courtesy of:
uspto.gov
bottlecapco.com
thehtrc.com
howstuffworks.com
royalcravings.com
eatthis.com
evergoodfoods.com
youtube.com
livingonehanded.com
airforcememorial.org