Prayers for all!
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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.
I notice he returns a very militarily proper salute, another thing UOX42 could never master.
Impressive. Moving.
There were some tears and glistening eyes in that crowd in Khandajhar. And in Dallas county. New box of keenex(tm) in place.
/john
/john
/john
Would you be willing to stay on AIM for a bit, so I can try from my cell phone? I need to do some testing.
/john
/john
/john
John ~~~ Happy Anniversary to you and Trill tomorrow!!!
Nita and illstillbe ~~~ if you're talking about not being able to load the USO thread, I saw someone comment that at the top of each thread there is a line that says "Click to Scroll to Commentary" .... it's in tiny print right at the very top, before the title of the thread even ..... if you click on that, it will cut out the beginning stuff and go to the first post. Some said that helped them load the USO thread.
..... The beginning stuff is really neat .... but the comments and camaraderie on the thread are wonderful. There are still lots of graphics posted so you might still have trouble loading the thread but you might want to give it a try.
Utah Girl ~~~ your state did us proud!!! Brag away, young lady ..... you have the right!!! ... *hugs*
Lorena ~~~ didn't get back to answering your mail .... I'll do the linky thing tonight and talk to you later about the rest of the week. You're an angel! ... *hugs*
..... Marvelous pictures tonight!!! ..... everything from wearing his new cowboy hat when he spoke to the Cattlemen's Association to pics from the Olympics tonight.
A day in the life of President Bush (photos): 2/8/02
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Prayers for all!
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Guennie - if you get up tonight and see this post, I just finaliazed "our trip" but we couldn't get our flights or rooms coordinated for Colorado when my hubby could take off, sooo.....we all will be going to TUSCANY!!!! Yikes! I am so excited - Into Rome and out of Florence! We will be staying in a villa turned into a hotel from the 1500 in a countryside setting. We will be renting a car to tour around...... Sister, let's roll! Chio! or however it is spelled! I wonder if the food there tastes like the thousands of Italian restaurants we have here in New Jersey?
I had an interview for a teaching position yesterday in a high school. Cross your fingers they liked me.
Ciao Bella!!!
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