Congressman Billybob Sez: "I Believe" (1957-2003)

10 April 2003 | Congressman Billybob (J. Armor, Esq.)

[Congressman Billybob]

From the Washington Politics & Policy Desk, 4/10/2003, 9:52 PM

HIGHLANDS, N.C., April 10 (UPI) -- This here's the 345th Report ta the Folks Back Home from the (More er Less) Honorable Billybob, cyberCongressman from Western Carolina.

I hadda nother column planned, but a friend ov mine died Thursday in Iraq. So that column is gone n this'n replaces it.

This ain't a subjeck fer yer Congresscritter, so I'll turn this over ta ma able assistant, J. Armor, Esq..

"I Believe" (1957-2003)

I believe that Edward Bulwer-Lytton was right when he wrote, "The pen is mightier than the sword."

I believe that, over the span of centuries, the First Amendment freedoms of speech, press, religion and politics are the most important parts of the United States Constitution.

I believe that only nations as can tolerate such freedoms, are capable of being fully civilized.

I believe that Madison, Hamilton and Jay were correct when they wrote in the Federalist that it has "been reserved to the people of this country,... to decide ... whether societies of men are really capable ... of establishing good government from reflection and choice, or ... forever destined to depend for their political constitutions on accident and force ...."

I believe that our servicemen and women now in Iraq will create the opportunity for a peaceful and successful government for that nation, but when that war is won, a second "war" will begin. That to win the peace depends first on American reporters and then on the world's reporters, to present the truths that soldiers are now finding in the deserts, forts and basements of Iraq.

I believe it is not by accident that Thomas Paine, the first man to write the phrase, "The United States of America," the man whose pen inspired Washington's troops before the Battle of Trenton, was a war correspondent.

I believe though the first task of a reporter -- gathering the facts -- becomes more dangerous in time of war, the second task -- finding the right words to explain subjects to the readers -- is still the more difficult one.

I believe that reporters are like teachers, except readers aren't required to listen to reporters, nor be tested later on what they've said. That reporters have to write and speak better than teachers, because the fear factor is missing.

I believe bad journalists are a dime a dozen; good ones are scarcer than hen's teeth.

I believe that those who go in harm's way with computers and cell phones are just as important as those who go in harm's way with guns. And that it was a symbol of these two sides of the Iraq war when Michael Kelly and a soldier with the U.S. Third Infantry Division came under fire, drove off the road to avoid the attack, and drowned in a canal south of Baghdad last week.

I believe there is no adequate reason on our side of the veil of mysteries why good men die young and their work is ended, while evil men live on.

I believe that even though I never met the man, Michael Kelly was a friend of mine.

I believe that Michael Kelly was a friend of America, a friend of the world, and a friend of truth and freedom, to the end.

I believe that a collection of Michael Kelly's 10 best columns would contain more truth and beauty then the entire two pounds of next Sunday's edition of any major newspaper in the world.

I believe that recognition of the truths of Saddam's regime in Iraq will be essential not just for the future of Iraq, but ultimately for the future of the world. And that those reporters who will complete the work that Michael Kelly began will not do it as well as he would have.

I believe that the weapons a reporter carries with him are facts, logic and humor. And that the most difficult but most effective of those weapons is humor, but only when perfectly used.

I believe that Michael Kelly was a master of all three of these weapons.

I believe that the best any writer can ever hope for is to describe any subject so well that no one else can describe it better. And that Michael Kelly displayed that gift, often.

I believe that Michael Kelly has met his colleague, Tom Paine. That Tom has told him he is neither a "summer soldier" or a "sunshine patriot." That he has "stood the service of his country." That he "deserves the love and thanks of man and woman."

I believe that the greatest writer on politics that America has ever produced was Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence. And that Jefferson's immortal words, "All men are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights. That among them are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," was Michael Kelly's credo too. And that within two generations it may become the credo of the world.

I believe with Victor Hugo that "An invasion of armies can be resisted, but not an idea whose time has come." But sometimes, that the armies must march before the idea can take the field.

I believe that when the war in Iraq has been won, and when the peace has been won as well -– accomplishing for Iraqis what the American occupations did for Germans and Japanese after World War II -- this will begin the process to civilize most of the nations of the world, not just Iraq.

I believe that Michael Kelly saw the larger vision of the consequences to the world from America's decision to begin this war and her commitment to win it.

I believe that Michael Kelly has a new editor now: Thomas Jefferson.

And, I believe that one of the first things that old Tom said to young Michael this weekend was these words from Matthew 25:21, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."

--

(About the author: Congressman Billybob is fictitious, but prolific, on the Internet -- the invention of John Armor, who writes books and practices law in the U.S. Supreme Court. Comments and criticisms are welcome at CongressmanBillybob@earthlink.net).

Copyright © 2001-2003 United Press International

[Congressman Billybob]

As another writer said yesterday, on sheer writing ability (other than politics), Michael Kelly should have won a Pulitzer.

[Support Free Republic]

---

God Bless This Great Country!
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[Congressman Billybob]

Forgot to post the URL of the article (and the form let me get away with it). Here 'tis, on UPI:

http://www.upi.com/view.cfm?StoryID=20030410-095147-4685r

[hoosiermama]

Well done. Thanks you.

[PGalt]

Thanks

[Tax-chick]

Communion of Saints bump!

I plan to chew out Louis L'Amour for dying with all those sequels promised.

What does Tom Paine have to say about the Iraq War? Something like, "Freedom for those who can hold it!"?

[Free State Four]

I read every Michael Kelly piece I could find. I didn't ALWAYS agree with him, but when I disagreed, it was pleasingly and pleasantly. I loved that man's writing and logic. He will be missed. You recognize greatness.

[nicollo]

Beautiful eulogy, Mr. Congressman. And a damned fine admonishment to the ugly rest.
When the news hit, I, too, was touched by the image of the soldier dying to protect the writer. Look carefully, those are the wings of angels from above.

[aBootes]

Yeah, I never missed a Kelly article. RIP

[edwin hubble]

Michael Kelly really was one of the most courageous, talented and high-spirited in the writing business.

I never missed his columns. I got a real lift from them, sometimes a soaring sense of meeting (in print) a really great mind.

[The Westerner]

Touching. Thanks. Victor Hugo and Thomas Jefferson, 2 of my favorites. I've not read Michael Kelly, but will do so after reading this tribute.

[JulieRNR21]

You have written a moving tribute to an outstanding writer.

[jellybean]

Michael Kelly Feast. Enjoy!

[Jerez2]

I'm glad you wrote this. I've been thinking about Michael Kelly's "I Believe" column during the Clinton debacle. Using humor as fine and sharp as a scalpel, he made it impossible not to laugh at Clinton -- to see how utterly absurd were his protestations of innocence. That was a classic. Good for you for using it as your inspiration.

The one thought that kept going through my head when I heard about Kelly's death was -- "What a loss, now "the" book on Iraq will never get written." Because nobody could have written it like Michael Kelly.

[Lancey Howard]

BUMP

[Constitution Day]

Very eloquent, sir.

I was not very familiar with Mr. Kelly before his premature death, but have read some of his columns since.
I think you did a fine service and did his memory justice.

Thanks.

CD

[Constitution Day]

MKM-

Sorry, but I do not have the ping list at home since I alphabetized it.
Can you ping the NC crowd? Pleeease? :)

Thanks,
CD

[mykdsmom]

Um....thats a problem, my hard drive crapped out remember. In fact, I forgot to ask you to e-mail it to me. Guess it will have to wait till Monday. Sorry.

MKM

[Constitution Day]

Oh yeah! No big deal.

It's late (for me anyway) and I forgot.

I will be going into the office for a while this weekend & will ping it then.

CD

[Constitution Day]

NC ping!
Please FRmail me if you want to be added to or removed from this North Carolina ping list.