What makes America Great

What Makes America Great?
Did you know that volunteer fire companies are a uniquely American tradition? In Europe, it would be unthinkable for anyone but the government to engage in the dangerous work of firefighting. But in America, the majority of firefighters are still volunteers. Ordinary Americans save the lives of others in countless communities across America -- simply for love of neighbor.

This fact speaks volumes about what has always made America great. As a nation we have a tradition of ordinary people caring for one another – even to the point of risking their lives. We sometimes forget that in many other societies this would seem absurd. But when we forget that, we forget who we are. That is why I love this video portrait of one volunteer fire company in Maryland. It captures the greatness of the ordinary Americans who volunteer to serve as firefighters in every community in our country:

Notice how most of the firefighters interviewed say that they serve because they saw someone else in their family do the same. That is the power of positive role models – and the reason that that Great Americans exists.
Matt Daniels
Creator and Executive Producer
Please forward this email to help us share the stories of our nation's real heroes.

About a year ago, after fighting with YouTube over my videos, I found Great Americans. I needed a place to show my videos without having to find them threatened by people blocking the music I use on the videos. It happened way too much and was also happening on Google videos.

They use software to find copy right music, which is fine since the sites are loaded with videos using music that others worked very hard to produce and they are not paid for the use. When their music is used in videos it's like advertising for them, but they never manage to see it that way. I have no argument with them at all. The problem comes in when under laws covering educational use are not taken into consideration.

IN ACCORDANCE WITH TITLE 17 U.S.C. SECTION 107, THIS MATERIAL IS DISTRIBUTED WITHOUT PROFIT TO THOSE WHO HAVE EXPRESSED A PRIOR INTEREST IN RECEIVING THE INCLUDED INFORMATION FOR RESEARCH AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES.

When this did not solve the problem with YouTube, I also obtained a Creative Commons License. This didn't solve the problem either and there is no one to talk to in order to explain what these videos are for.

Even when I had permission from the artists involved, YouTube blocked the music. Nothing worked once YouTube had flagged my videos and then they began to block music on all of them.

It is frustrating that when I look at some of the videos on YouTube providing no educational purpose at all, the music is playing loud and clear. How they get away with it, I'll never know. I won't know because I will not put any of my videos back on their site.

Wounded and Waiting video was too long for YouTube so it was broken up into two parts. It used the music from BlackHawk Down. Leave No Man Behind was the song, which I've since found on YouTube still able to play. Can you think of a better sound track to use for a video like this?

Wounded And Waiting Part One
08:00
From:NamGuardianAngel
Views: 828
Wounded And Waiting Part Two
07:27
From:NamGuardianAngel
Views: 276

Wounded and Waiting is about wounded soldiers and Marines and the price they pay for serving this nation and then having to come back forced to wait for their claims to make it thru a backlog pile of another 800,000, which was the figure at the time the video was made. This is just one example.

I saved all the emails I received on the videos I produced, so I know they are helping veterans and their families coping with PTSD. You'd think a service like this would matter to YouTube but it doesn't. I have 27 videos right now that can only be found on Great Americans, my blog and web site. They are on other sites linked back to Great Americans instead of YouTube.

The other issue is that Great Americans does not get the same kind of traffic YouTube does. This is a shame considering how many people a site like Great Americans can serve.

Great Americans covers video subjects like veterans, our troops, firefighters (like the one above) police officers and American heroes. It's another reason why I am so grateful to have my videos included in on this site. They are dedicated to taking care of the people always taking care of the rest of us.

If you have not been in the Great Americans site, I urge you to take some time and go to Great Americans and watch some of what they have on their site. Pass the word on to all the people you know especially if you value the people risking their lives for the rest of us everyday.