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Topic: Food for Thought........ (Read 458 times)

Irishlass
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Food for Thought........
« on: Oct 16^th, 2002, 10:57am »

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My daughter sent this to me this morning and I thought it was worth sharing. It was written by Tony Parsons of the London Daily Mirror.

"SHAME ON YOU AMERICAN-HATING LIBERALS"

One year ago, the world witnessed a unique kind of broadcasting - the mass murder of thousands, live on television.
As a lesson in the pitiless cruelty of the human race, September 11 was up there with Pol Pot's mountain of skulls in Cambodia, or the skeletal bodies stacked like garbage in the Nazi concentration camps. An unspeakable act, so cruel, so calculated, and so utterly merciless that surely the world could agree on one thing - nobody deserves this fate. Surely there could be concensus: the victims were truly innocent, the perpetrators truly evil. But to the world's eternal shame, 9/11 is increasingly seen as America's comeuppance. Incredibly, anti-Americanism has increased over the last year. There has always been a simmering resentment to the USA in this country- to loud, too rich, too full of themselves and so much happier than Europeans, but, it has become an epidemic. And it seems incredible to me. More than that, it turns my stomach.

America is this country's greatest friend and our staunchest ally. We are bonded to the US by culture, language and blood. A little over half a century ago, around half a million Americans died for our freedoms, as well as their own. Have we forgotten so soon? And exactly a year ago, thousands of ordinary men, women and children - not just Americans, but from dozens of countries - were butchered by a small group of religious fanatics. Are we so quick to betray them?

What touched the heart about those who died in the twin towers and on the planes was that we recognized them. Young fathers and mothers, somebody's son and somebody's daughter, husbands and wives, and children, some unborn. And these people brought it on themselves? And their nation is to blame for their meticulously planned slaughter?

These days you don't have to be some dust-encrusted nut job in Kabul or Karachi or Finsbury Park to see America as the Great Satan. The anti-American alliance is made up of self-loathing liberals who blame the Americans for every ill in the Third World, and Conservatives suffering from power-envy, bitter that the world's only superpower can do what it likes without having to ask permission.

The truth is that America has behaved with enormous restraint since September 11.

Remember, remember. Remember the gut-wrenching tapes of weeping men phoning their wives to say, "Ilove you," before they were burned alive. Remember those people leaping to their deaths from the top of burning skyscrapers. Remember the hundreds of firemen buried alive. Remember the smiling face of that beautiful little girl who was on one of the planes with her mum. Remember, remember - and realize that America has never retaliated for 9/11 in anything like the way it could have.

So a few al-Qaeda tourists got locked up without a trial in Camp X-ray? Pass the Kleenex. So some Afghan wedding receptions were shot up after they merrily fired their semi-automatics in a sky full of American planes? A shame but maybe next time they should stick to confetti. America could have turned a large chunk of the world into a parking lot. That it didn't is a sign of strength.

American voices are already being raised against attacking Iraq - that's what a democracy is for. How many in the Islamic world will have a minute's silence for the slaughtered innocents of 9/11? How many Islamic leaders will have the guts to say that the mass murder of 9/11 was an abomination? When the news of 9/11 broke on the West Bank, those freedom-loving Palestinians were dancing in the street. America watched all of that - and didn't push the button. We should thank the stars that America is the most powerful nation in the world. I still find it incredible that 9/11 did not provoke all-out war. Not a "war on terrorism". A real war.

The fundamentalist dudes are talking about "opening the gates of hell", if America attacks Iraq. Well, America could have opened the gates of hell like you wouldn't believe. The US is the most militarily powerful nation that ever strode the face of the earth. The campaign in Afghanistan may have been less than perfect and the planned war on Iraq may be misconceived. But don't blame America for not bringing peace and light to these wretched countries. How many democracies are there in the Middle East, or in the Muslim world? You can count them on the fingers of one hand - assuming you haven't had any chopped off for minor shoplifting.

I love America, yet America is hated. I guess that makes me Bush's poodle. But I would rather be a dog in New York City than a Prince in Riyadh. Above all, America is hated because it is what every country wants to be - rich, free, strong, open, optimistic. Not ground down by the past, or religion, or some caste system. America is the best friend this country ever had and we should start remembering that.

Or do you really think the USA is the root of all evil? Tell it to the loved ones of the men and women who leaped to their death from the burning towers. Tell it to the nursing mothers whose husbands died on one of the hijacked planes, or were ripped apart in a collapsing skyscraper. And tell it to the hundreds of young widows whose husbands worked for the New York Fire Department. To our shame, George Bush gets worse press than Saddam Hussein. Remember, remember, September 11. One of the greatest atrocities in human history was committed against America. No, do more than remember. Never forget.

« Last Edit: Oct 16^th, 2002, 11:06am by Irishlass »

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Addams
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Re: Food for Thought........
« Reply #1 on: Oct 16^th, 2002, 12:15pm »

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Amen.

Thank you for reminding us not to forget.

Please stay strong, loyal, rich, free and optimistic.

My relatives were Americans loyal to England, I know that many Americans gave their lives loyal to that country called England. Indeed 250 years ago my relatives moved from Germany to New Jersey out of loyalty to England and 1000's of the offspring of that couple still live in the United States. A few continued in their loyalist ways and came to Canada. Our 2003 National North American reunion will be held in Tennessee in July. Someday I hope I can go.

Thanks Irish Lass.

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LibertyBelle
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Re: Food for Thought........
« Reply #2 on: Oct 17^th, 2002, 9:52am »

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Thanks for posting this article IL. America isn't perfect. American leaders aren't perfect. And Americans are the first to say so. Sometimes too loudly and too cynically. It seems to be considered "intelligent" and "intellectual" to be overly critical of our own country, to put 100% of the blame for the world's ills on America's back.

To a point, I join the ranks of the critical. I detest some of the decisions and actions of our leaders, I abhor the corruption in Washington. It's not only a privilage, it's a duty for Americans to use the freedom of press and speech to hold our leaders accountable for their actions. And isn't it a wonderful thing that we can do that? That we can voice our opinions, that we aren't afraid to write articles, to make speeches, to offer our opinions of what we think of the actions of our leaders?

But the truth is that our government is no worse, no more corrupt, than any other in the world, a lot less so than many others, and to blame America as we are blamed, and for Americans to be so "intellectually" cynical as to say that the victims of an act so vindictive, so horrific, is "justice", is beyond absurd.

There is such a thing as reverse snobery. The hatred of the so-called "have nots" for the so-called "haves". I see that everywhere, from the smallest group (even within my own family) to the largest, worldwide group - jealousy and seething resentment of the confidence that comes with success (perceived as "arrogance") and the desire to see the "haves" brought low, destroyed, humilated. I have a cousin.... well, that's a related, but separate story LOL. Suffice it to say that she and her family would love to see "my side" of the family reduced to begging for coins in the street. Smaller group, same attitude.

Just my :2cents:

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