Newsday
Talk about a social studies lesson.
Former President Bill Clinton stood in front of about 600 students at Fashion Industries High School yesterday and enthralled them with a half-hour lecture on terrorism and on not giving in to fear.
Schools Chancellor Harold Levy told the students it was the best social studies lesson they will ever have. Teachers union president Randi Weingarten called Clinton one of the best teachers of his generation.
With squeals, shouts and spirited standing ovations, the students received him more like a pop star than a politician.
After he finished his speech, Clinton strolled through the auditorium, handing the microphone to students who wished to ask him questions. The closer he got to them, the more the students screamed.
Many of the students were from the High School for Leadership and Public Service, which had to vacate its Trinity Place building next to the World Trade Center site and is now sharing space with Fashion Industries on West 24th Street.
Earlier in the day, Clinton and his wife, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, visited Public School 3 in Manhattan, which is housing PS 150 and PS 89 students.
When Clinton was done, many students said his words had gone a long way in subduing their fear.
"When I hear him speak, I feel better, I have more confidence,” said sophomore Kimberly Dotel, 15, as she watched a waving Clinton leave the auditorium.
Clinton told the students about his administration's failed attempts to eliminate Osama bin Laden after he was connected to the bombing of two U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998. He said bin Laden and other terrorists are able to recruit young people from the Middle East by blaming America for their poverty and depressed quality of life rather than their own governments, which have failed them.
"He wants us to be terrified,” Clinton said. "They can only win if they can get inside our heads and hearts. They can only win if they make us afraid of going out, afraid to live, to work, to go to school -- if they make us afraid of each other. In other words, the only way bin Laden can win is if we help him win. That's the most important thing I want to tell you: These people cannot win unless you give them permission. Don't do it. Keep your life.”
Far from intimidated, the students asked the former president a series of probing questions:
If we hit bin Laden, what protects us from his retaliation?
"If we don't do anything, they'll just keep coming,” Clinton responded.
How do you feel about not being president? "My feelings are irrelevant. I served my time and did the best I could,” Clinton said to wild applause. "The most important thing is for people like me not to get in the way of uniting the country.”
Did they wait until you were gone to do this?
"No, they had planned this for over a year. They found a seam in the airline system ... Normally when they steal a plane, they want to go somewhere.”
Should the Twin Towers be rebuilt?
"What I hope will happen is all the people of New York be consulted about it. I would like to see all of you involved in that .”
It has always been about "me", hasn't it, Bubba?
America has finally seen and knows it - even if these poor children have not.
Even when he is pretending to say "my feelings are not important" - e.g. to pretend to be humble - he can't do it.
No matter what happens - IT IS ALL ABOUT HIM!
Which is why this happened.
For eight long nightmare years, everything that was done in the executive branch of this country was ALL ABOUT HIM.
With every new scandal, every new crime that was uncovered, Clinton devoted the entire resources of the government agencies he controlled to TAKING CARE OF HIM - being sure he was okay, being sure his rear end wasn't in trouble, being sure his enemies were eliminated, being sure his constituencies were placated, being sure his power would remain in tact, being sure that his legacy would endure!
And, of course, being sure that HIS PLEASURES and PERKS were taken care of!!!!
The WTC / Pentagon attack IS CLINTON'S LEGACY. He has made this mess and endangered all Americans (something most of us who have been here at FR have clearly seen and have clearely warned about) by his narcissistic traitorous actions and inactions.
These poor little children, still shamelessly used by the unspeakable ones to enhance their shattered power, now have their lives at risk thanks to the betrayals of our country and of its citizens by Bitlery and their minions.
Pray that when all the terrorists are rounded up, these American Terrorists - the Clintons - will be among them.