By Jim Pilgrim

I am a motor-head, I love cars. I also like a good television commercial, but the good ones are so rare. There are a couple of recent commercials that really caught my eye.

The first is simple and only has 11 words in it. It is for the 2010 Dodge Challenger. The scene starts out with a squad of British Red-Coats marching across a field. A British scout comes running to warn them that the Americans are coming and as they get set to shoot, George Washington comes tearing over the hill in a Dodge Challenger with its Hemi roaring. The British scatter and the announcer say, “There are a couple of things America got right; cars and freedom”.

The second is for the 2011 Corvette. The commercial talk about America’s great past history exploring space. How NASA scientists “Had a crazy idea to go farther, faster than mankind ever had before.” “Dreamt with their hands, shaped aluminum with their brains”… “While time has marched on and priorities have changed, it’s nice to know, America still builds rockets.” The scene concludes with a Corvette shredding the asphalt.

If you haven’t seen these, I strongly urge you to watch them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJW9Up0nJT4&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMRMW1FXSHw&feature=related

Those 2 commercials got me thinking today about my company and our industry. The last few years have been tough for a lot of people in our country. But Americans always rise to the occasion when things get rough. Do you remember how you felt on September 12th, 2001? It is good to see a true ground-swell of patriotism in America again. The Challenger and Corvette commercials hit that sentiment dead on. Clearfield had a slogan a while back that said “Times are tough, but so are we”. I am proud to work in an American industry that builds high speed, fiber optic networks. These networks are not just for fun and entertainment but can truly open the door for education and economic opportunities for all Americans.

I will always remember a story my Grandma told me about my Great Grandmother. She emigrated from Germany in the late 1800’s and whenever anyone would ask her what nationality she was, her answer was always the same. “I am a red-blooded American.” I proudly say so am I?