Don't cry because [the United States has decided to turn its back on science and research and foreign aid], smile because we were great once :) You didn't say

Don't cry because [the United States has decided to turn its back on science and research and foreign aid], smile because we were great once :) You didn't say "I'm glad you had those things". And if that's what you meant, then you are listening to this person's story as some personal tale of nostalgia instead of a reflection on what is being broken in our country.