Posted on 06/27/2005 10:54:01 AM PDT by smoothsailing
June 27, 2005, 1:29 p.m.
The Greatest Generation
A suggestion for the president's Tuesday night address. My fellow Americans, my parents' generation is known as the Greatest Generation. But it was not because they were the Greatest Generation that they prevailed in World War II.
Rather, they became the Greatest Generation because of the struggles and hardships they were willing and able to endure — in order to win World War II.
Their struggle then was against the forces of totalitarianism and terror.
Our struggle today is — once again — against the forces of totalitarianism and terror.
Their challenge was immense and the stakes were historic.
Our challenge is immense and the stakes are historic.
In the 20th century, the United States defeated both the Nazis and the Communists. But those victories will be for nothing if we do not defeat forces at war with us today, forces that are just as malevolent, just as intent on the destruction of the free world, just as devoted to an ideology of supremacism and dictatorship.
In this new century, a new generation will prevail. We will prevail because the American people — still the last, best hope of mankind — have the strength, the resilience and the determination required to prevail. The front lines of this war are in Iraq. In Iraq — and only in Iraq — an al Qaeda commander is murdering innocent people virtually every day.
Some are urging us to withdraw from Iraq, to withdraw from the front lines of this war. But we will not be forced to retreat. We will not surrender — and pretend it's just an "exit strategy."
I have confidence that you understand that if we were to allow our enemies to destroy our will to fight, if we were to let our enemies defeat us on the battlefield in Iraq, that would not be the end of the war.
Rather, fortified by his victory, our enemy would go on to challenge us on other battlefields. I ask those calling on us to withdraw from Iraq leaving the Iraqi people to the tender mercies of al Qaeda: Where would you prefer we fight this enemy? Where would you like the battlefield to be? Or do you think we can hide from this enemy or cut a deal with him or make ourselves inoffensive to him? If so, you are seriously mistaken.
No, the American people understand that we must and will prevail in Iraq. We will defeat these enemies. We will help the good people of Iraq hold on to their newfound freedoms. We will assist others who are fighting for freedom in the Middle East and elsewhere.
And someday, our children will say that we, too, were the Greatest Generation.
— Clifford D. May, a former New York Times foreign correspondent, is president of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, a policy institute focusing on terrorism.
http://www.nationalreview.com/may/may200506271329.asp
You signed up today just to tell me that?
Ping.....
Nice try Cliffie.
Next time, be a little more Presidential.
Maybe some other tone than just one of the guys pitching pennies out back,Eh?
It won't be long before the guys at NRO discover you can't write.
Like the ones at the NYT.
I Love Kitties,especially the warrior class!
I think there was a tactical mistake made after 9/11. The President should have gone in front of the American public and said "These are trying times. Much will be expected of all Americans, and I know that Americans will rise to the challenge."
He chose not to do that, preferring to reassure us instead, talking about how our lives shouldn't change. Instead of tightening our belts, we were told to keep on shopping. Is it any wonder that, once the going gets tough in Iraq, Americans want to get going?
The Greatest Generation rose to meet their challenge. We were told to remain in our seats. It's too late to change that course now.
"He chose not to do that, preferring to reassure us instead, talking about how our lives shouldn't change. Instead of tightening our belts, we were told to keep on shopping. Is it any wonder that, once the going gets tough in Iraq, Americans want to get going?"
Americans don't want to get going. Americans want to say "let's roll."
It is milquetoast politicians who are more concerned about their next election than the country, using the MSM to bring about an exit strategy so they can say the President failed.
Problem is outside of three or four Liberal pockets in the NE and West Coast, we are not buying it despite what a CBS/NYT/LAT/WAPO poll says.
The spirit of voluteerism is astounding where I live.
Folks from church groups,civic organizations,school clubs,you name it.
"Goodie"packages for our troops,yard sales to raise money to help wounded soldiers,so many individual things that add up.
The president could address this spirit of patriotism and encourage us to stay involved or get involved.American's will respond.
I'm sorry, I didn't mean to imply that Americans weren't doing our part. We all are. Of course.
What I'm saying is that the call for sacrifice is too late. That's what could have made us another Greatest Generation - the willingness to make personal sacrifices for the war effort. Now the President can't make that speech, not after all the focus on not interrupting our daily routines.
It just frustrates me. After 9/11, we would have done anything. We would have focused our strength and done anything. We would have been united in a way not seen since WWII. Instead, the advice was to go shopping.
Hmmm. Every source I see attributes it to Jefferson. There's a version of it here:
http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Thomas_Jefferson
All I'm saying is that the Greatest Generation became such because they were asked to meet a challenge and they didn't. Our generation hasn't been asked to do that, and I'm afraid a golden opportunity to ask them after 9/11 has been lost.
And given that we weren't asked to sacrifice personally at the beginning, it's no surprise that Americans are losing their stomach for this war. We thought it would be easy, and now that it's not we're losing our nerve. And that's a shame.
That would be nice,if true.
One of the dangers we face as a nation are the American's who attack us from within.Whether it's the Durbin's or Rather's or Moore's,doesn't matter.
No upliftng speech by the president would affect the self-absorbed among us.No call to greatness will be heard by those who hate America just because they can.
Well put, and worth repeating.
I guess I have a higher opinion of Americans than you do. Other then the very leftmost fringe, I believe that when called to sacrifice by the President, we would do so.
Keep on guessing, right now you're batting zero.
Unfortunate but true BUMP.
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