ALL-AMERICAN CITY

I live in Rockville, Maryland.  And, every year there's this contest amongst small town America - where cities compete for the title of 'All-American City'.  Like - trying to prove that Mayberry still exists.  And, it's so funny, because representatives from my town get all gussied up and go to the convention to put their best face forward in hopes of winning this coveted title.  I suspect it's just an excuse to take a vacation on the taxpayers dime, though.  Anyway, this little exercise has always left me a bit amused, considering the following historical quotes:

 "...The moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; those who are in the shadows of life; the sick, the needy and the handicapped. " ~ Last Speech of Hubert H. Humphrey

"A nation's greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members." ~ Mahatma Ghandi

"Any society, any nation, is judged on the basis of how it treats its weakest members -- the last, the least, the littlest."
~  Cardinal Roger Mahony, In a 1998 letter, Creating a Culture of Life

The greatness of America is in how it treats its weakest members: the elderly, the infirm, the handicapped, the underprivileged, the unborn. ~  Bill Federer

"A society will be judged on the basis of how it treats its weakest members and among the most vulnerable are surely the unborn and the dying,"
~  Pope John Paul II

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Rockville loves it's rich people.  And, the richer the better.  I've always been on the fringe of this 'great' City, never able to cash in on the American Dream;  Because every time I think I might have a foothold, someone in City or Federal Government gets a bright idea to do something adverse to myself and my family - so it then becomes a 'one-step-forward-two-steps-back' situation ....

To my knowledge, Rockville has never won the title.  But - they're clueless as to why not; To which I would say - read any (but preferably ALL) of the above quotes, and then ask yourself:  Are we REALLY an 'All-American City' ???!