Posted on 02/08/2002 3:39:08 AM PST by Chairman_December_19th_Society
We will not tire, we will not falter, and we will not fail! [President Bush]
Good morning!! Do not let the victims of the attacks on New York and Virginia die in vain!!
Normally, I use this space to provide a quick snapshot of news events to both "bring people up to speed" and to seed the discussion. But there has been something on my mind the last few days - which reached its height during the "Flag at the Olympics Debacle" - that I feel I must discuss. It has become the National pastime (yes, it probably has surpassed that other National pastime - baseball); huge numbers of people engage in it, probably without their even knowing what they are doing anymore. Even our President from time to time has slipped up and fallen into this activity.
The action is called, politely, "Apologizing for America." And it has taken on new, weird, and rather perverse forms since the attacks on September 11, 2001. Generically, Apologizing for America takes the form: "we must be careful of what we do and say, or the rest of the world will be upset with us." For a Nation that overwhelmingly subscribes to Christian values, this is both perplexing and distressing to me. It also defies common sense.
There is only one Nation that has ever put a man on the moon - not once, but many times.
There is only one Nation that has built a craft that can go to the deepest parts of the ocean and has gone there - not once, but many times.
There is only one Nation that builds civilian aircraft that are in service in almost every country in the world.
There is only one Nation that not only feeds its own people, but feeds many of the people on the entire planet.
There is only one Nation that has built the world's most feared military, but keeps it for use not for conquest but for world peace and order.
That Nation is the United States of America.
Yet we apologize when other countries accuse us of producing 25% of the world's pollution. They forget the United States also produces 25% of the worlds goods and services.
Yet we apologize when other countries accuse us of economic hegemony. They forget that in times of crisis, people turn to the United States Dollar as a hedge against uncertain times.
Yet we apologize when other countries accuse us of spending too much on our military. They forget that military saved Europe, not once, but twice, from domination by an expansionist, totalitarian Germany, and is now working on saving the world from unimaginable terrorist activity.
Yet we apologize when other countries accuse us of being too pushy when it comes to democracy. They forget there are numerous countries in Eastern Europe which only slightly more than a decade ago were firmly under the yoke of the Soviet Union.
Yet we apologize when other countries accuse us of forcing capitalism on their people and fostering poverty and other associated ills. They forget that capitalism was the engine which eliminated the Soviet Union from the face of the planet.
And the latest? We were asked to apologize for being "too patriotic." The International Olympic Committee initially refusing the United States the right to use the flag found among the rubble, saying it would offend other Nations. The apologists quickly jumped on board saying that September 11 was "not an attack on America but an attack on the world." This echoes a line from the President on retrospect I wish he had not uttered when he said the attack on New York was not solely an attack on the Untied States but upon every civilized Nation. I can understand at the time this country wanted to focus other Nations on the cause of eliminating terrorism, but it has later added to the fire of the American apologists.
In my opinion - it was NOT an attack on the world, it was an attack on the United States. I will apologize on that for only one thing - if that rattles anyone's sensibilities, I'm sorry. Get over it.
The three buildings that were cruelly assaulted were on the soil of the United States - two in the State of New York and one in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
The vast majority of people who died in the attacks were American.
The planes that were hijacked were chosen on purpose - they were American flag carriers.
The targets that were chosen were icons not of the world, but of American economic and military power.
The ONLY attacks that occurred that day happened on the soil of one country - America.
I will not join the apologists when they ask me to stand down and understand the rest of the world. It is now time. It is time the rest of the world understands the United States is the sole country in the history of the world that has ever amassed the power it has (and it does, quite probably, have enough to conquer the world if she chose) yet has chosen to avoid conquest. It is time the rest of the world understands the United States is most generous with the poor nations - sending billions of dollars to help people around the world - expecting nothing in return, not even a friendly government. It is time the rest of the world understands that products of one Nation are desired above all others on the world's markets.
And most importantly, it is time the rest of the world understand the "gates" test. If there were no gates (border crossing stations) between countries in the world, where do people want to go in large numbers? One country - AMERICA! The United States of America is synonymous with freedom, opportunity, excellence, and tolerance. All that is good with mankind. The rest of the world is jealous of that.
For that we should not apologize, for that is the problem of the "rest of the world."
The United States of America - land of the free, home of the brave. Stop apologizing,
For America - The Right Way, I remain yours in the Cause, the Chairman.
It loads fast for me, but I have heard from a few it takes time to load. One vet told me he went out and mowed his lawn last summer while my Profile page loaded.LOL
I have thought of what to take off of it and it is just too hard. I truly am sorry.
Cluster something anyway. I did like seeing the clip of our F-16s. It always makes my heart soar.
/john
LOL! You could say that!
That is too funny, Bunny!
/john
Told athletes - "LET'S ROLL!!"
/john
I can be, at times, CluelessNNewYawwwk. Just ask anyone.
/john
/john
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