America: The Good Neighbor (GREAT editorial from CANADIAN newspaper)

Canada News ^

[hawaiian]

This, from a Canadian newspaper, is worth sharing. America: The Good Neighbor.

Widespread but only partial news coverage was given recently to a remarkable editorial broadcast from Toronto by Gordon Sinclair, a Canadian television Commentator. What follows is the full text of his trenchant remarks as printed in the Congressional Record:

"This Canadian thinks it is time to speak up for the Americans as the most generous and possibly the least appreciated people on all the earth. Germany, Japan and, to a lesser extent, Britain and Italy were lifted out of the debris of war by the Americans who poured in billions of dollars and forgave other billions in debts.

None of these countries is today paying even the interest on its remaining debts to the United States. When France was in danger of collapsing in 1956, it was the Americans who propped it up, and their reward was to be insulted and swindled on the streets of Paris. I was there. I saw it.

When earthquakes hit distant cities, it is the United States that hurries in to help. This spring, 59 American communities were flattened by tornadoes. Nobody helped. The Marshall Plan and the Truman Policy pumped billions of dollars into discouraged countries. Now newspapers in those countries are writing about the decadent, warmongering Americans.

I'd like to see just one of those countries that is gloating over the erosion of the United States dollar build its own airplane.

Does any other country in the world have a plane to equal the Boeing Jumbo Jet, the Lockheed Tri-Star, or the Douglas DC10?

If so, why don't they fly them? Why do all the International lines except Russia fly American Planes? Why does no other land on earth even consider putting a man or woman on the moon? You talk about Japanese technocracy, and you get radios. You talk about German technocracy, and you get automobiles. You talk about American technocracy, and you find men on the moon - not once, but several times - and safely home again.

You talk about scandals, and the Americans put theirs right in the store window for everybody to look at. Even their draft-dodgers are not pursued and hounded. They are here on our streets, and most of them, unless they are breaking Canadian laws, are getting American dollars from ma and pa at home to spend here.

When the railways of France, Germany and India were breaking down through age, it was the Americans who rebuilt them. When the Pennsylvania Railroad and the New York Central went broke, nobody loaned them an old caboose. Both are still broke.

I can name you 5000 times when the Americans raced to the help of other people in trouble. Can you name me even one time when someone else raced to the Americans in trouble? I don't think there was outside help even during the San Francisco earthquake.

Our neighbors have faced it alone, and I'm one Canadian who is damned tired of hearing them get kicked around. They will come out of this thing with their flag high. And when they do, they are entitled to thumb their nose at the lands that are gloating over their present troubles. I hope Canada is not one of those."

Stand proud, America! Wear it proudly!!

[AlaskaErik]

I don't know how old this is, but I read it years ago. This is not in reaction to yesterday's tragedy.

[headsonpikes]

From the late '60s. This is a heavily edited version.

[mmmmmmmm....... donuts]

Ever hear of an Airbus? Hey, I'm all for rah-rah America, but this reads like it was written 20 years ago.

[Blood of Tyrants]

The Airbus is made by SEVERAL European countries and has been heavily subsidized by their governments. No private company in Europe can develope anything near as good.

[gymbeau]

This was written some twenty years ago, or more. Gordon Sinclair was a Canadian pundit, as am I (though I eschew the mainstream). I don't think I ever agreed with anything he said, however, until I read this. I agree with every word, except for the DC10. My best wishes and heartfelt sympathy to you all. May you seek justice in a manner that assures such travesties never happen again. Good luck!

[Arthur McGowan]

This is more than 30 years old.

Americans had not killed 45 million babies at that time. America is no longer a good country. It is an evil country with some good people in it, like the heroic cops and firemen who knowingly sacrificed their lives yesterday, and saved thousands of people.

[sinkspur]

America is no longer a good country. It is an evil country with some good people in it

Arthur, the Catholic Church would be better off if you kept your mouth shut. So would the priesthood.

No doubt you oppose a full scale, massive retaliation to this horrible incident.

You, and those like you on this forum and in this country, are, thankfully, being ignored.

[snodog]

I wonder how many of them have had abortions, or paid for thier girlfriends to have them? You can't have it both ways, they are either heros, or evil.

[line drive to right]

You're putting words in Arthur McGowan's mouth. In no way did his comments imply that he wouldn't resort to Tuesday's events as you or I would (if we had that decision-making power). And, Snodog's response to Arthur McGowan was nonsensical, too. Arthur McGowan is probably like me. I love America. I'm a patriot. We put the flag out tonight and we have a spotlight shining on it. In tears, I saluted it. But I abhor the fact that killing babies is one of the most protected acts in this land. The blood of approximately 50 million legally-slaughtered babies is on our hands. You can denigrate my comments or insult me, but if you support the slaughter of unborn children, your problem is not with me. Your problem is with the sovereign, omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent God.

[paul544]

Why don't you anti-abortion mother!$%@ers go play in traffic? You stupid bastards are out of your F'ing minds. This has nothing to do with your godd@am baby killing BS. I am anti-abortion, but people like you make me sicker than those who do it. Your disregard for the living makes you as destined for hell as the abortion doctors.

[line drive to right]

Sir, Where is any disregard for the living indicated in my post? That is a tired, worn cliche about those of us who respect ALL human life. When I go to the abortion clinics, I pray for people and I OFFER TO THE MOTHERS THAT MY WIFE AND I WILL TAKE THEIR CHILD, THAT IT IS BETTER THAN ENDING ITS LIFE. I have numerous friends who are pro-life activists and have adopted severely handicapped children or children of another race. I don't know what you do, but I - thanks be to God, for it is He that has provided for me - have spent thousands and thousands of dollars to help poor people in this country and abroad. I could have saved a lot more for my childrens' education, or I could have played a lot more golf, but I think helping those less fortunate is very important. I'd rather not say that I try to help people - because I believe in giving in a quiet way - but you have attacked me. Your language indicates certain negative character traits, but I choose not to insult you. I grew up in the midst of some of the toughest bikers in the country. I used to fight a lot. I had to take care of myself. Right now, I'm glad that I am not in your presence. I'm a sinner saved by God's grace and mercy, the work of His son, Jesus, on the cross for me, and the convicting power of the Holy Spirit. I'll be fighting temptation the rest of my life, and with God's help I intend to overcome. If I were in your presence now, I would be tempted to respond to your filthy rhetoric in a way that would not be pleasing to God. And I want to please God more than I want to do anything. I would hope that you, for your sake, would feel the same. I have many sins I still must conquer. I would suggest that you start addressing your problems by not using God's name in vain any more. It doesn't matter that I say that. It does matter that God's Word the Bible says that. God's Word also says that He will not be mocked. If you care about yourself, you better have a long talk with God.

[paul544]

Your gone in the head... If America is so damned "evil" a place, why not leave? The last thing true Americans need to hear right now is your disregard for our loss. To have you, once again, drag your anti-abortion rhetoric into a TOTALLY unrelated discussion, cheapens the lives lost in this tragedy. You are entitled to your beliefs, but don't mock America at a time where no one is in the mood to be mocked by your self-rightous indignation.

[line drive to right]

Re-read the previous posts, beginning with Arthur McGowan's. I did not bring up the abortion issue. But when I see the rights of the babies under assault, I stand up for them. They can't do it for themselves. (1) Where did I say that America is "evil?" I just re-read that I wrote, "I love America. I am a patriot." (2) Where, by any stretch of the imagination, can you say that I am showing a "disregard for America's loss?" You have little idea of the torment and grief I feel about what happened on Tuesday. (3) Where do I "mock America?" I guess if I say that we have had 50 million innocent children butchered here in the last 28 years is a "mock(ing)," well, then it is. But, I again read that I wrote, "We put the (American) flag out tonight and we have a spotlight shining on it. In tears (because of our national tragedy), I saluted it." (4) Me, "self-righteous?" In my previous post, I admitted what a sinner I am. I think you lose any argument with me. Most of all, you put yourself in a corner you can't get out of. Insult me and distort what I say some more, if you like. I'm moving on. Again, though, your problem is not with me. It is with God.

[Terriergal]

Arthur, I have to agree with you, for a long time it has been becoming more and more an evil country like the Roman Empire. Those of you who don't believe so, *I* believe, are in denial. It is only that we are human and follow the same patterns that other cultures have, because they are human too. We can find our way around any governmental structure to undermine it and make it serve evil purposes, and it doesn't take a conspiracy, it takes fallen humans who by nature flee God and won't go in his direction, because it takes courage. BUT Perhaps this will shake us out of our complacency, and reinspire courage, give us focus for the evil and pull us together. I sure hope so.

If you watched Enemy At The Gates, you saw how uninspired the Soviets were to defend their own evil country. However, they did it, because they were defending their home from Fascist invaders - which was worse, to be shot by Russian bullets for turning back, or shot by German bullets for going forward?

Also, when this country was founded, we had half the states insisting we allow slavery, while the other half (or so) opposed it. They for a time went along with the pro-slavery states in order to have a Union against what they perceived as a greater evil, the oppressive English monarchy. Once that freedom was won, they could follow the Constitutional process to get rid of slavery, (ideally). But like it or not, the South attacked fort Sumter first, while its delegates were still in the North working out a plan *with* the Northern states for the South's secession, and we had to fight a war over it.

[King David]

Yes--a very heavily edited edition. The most powerful phase of the original statement (complete with background music palying "American The Beautiful") was Gordon Sinclair saying he wouldn't be surprised if American finally said "the hell with the rest of the world!" The actual quote is over 30 years old. Not timely for Tuesday's events.