Brought a tear...Thought I'd share

leedogg · Post by **leedogg** » Wed Sep 12, 2001 7:30 pm

Subject: A Tribute to the United States

This is from a Canadian newspaper.

AMERICA : THE GOOD NEIGHBOR

Widespread, but only partial news coverage was given recently to a remarkable editorial broadcast from Toronto by Gordon Sinclair, a Canadian television commentator.

What follows is the full text of his trenchant remarks as printed in the Congressional record:

"This Canadian thinks it is time to speak up for the Americans as the most generous and possibly the least appreciated people on all the Earth. Germany, Japan, and to a lesser extent, Britain and Italy were lifted out of the debris of War by the Americans who pour-
ed in billions of dollars and forgave other billions in debts. None of these countries is today paying even the interest on its remaining debts to the United States.

When France was in danger of collapsing in 1956, it was the Americans who propped it up, and their reward was to be insulted and swindled on the streets of Paris. I was there. I saw it.

When the earthquakes hit distant cities, it is the United States that hurries in to help. This spring, 59 American communities were flattened by tornadoes. Nobody helped.

The Marshall Plan and the Truman Policy pumped billions of dollars into discouraged countries. Now newspapers in those countries are writing about the decadent, warmongering Americans. I'd like to see just one of those countries that is gloating over the erosion of the United States dollar
build its own airplane.

Does any other country in the world have a plane to equal the Boeing Jumbo Jet, the Lockheed Tri-Star, or the Douglas DC-10? If so, why don't they fly them? Why do all the International lines except Russia fly American Planes?

Why does no other land on earth even consider putting a man or woman on
the moon? You talk about the Japanese technocracy, and you get radios.
You talk about the German technocracy, and you get automobiles. You talk about the American technocracy, and you find men on the moon. Not once, but several times and safely home again. You talk about scandals,
and the Americans put theirs in the store window for everybody to look at.

Even their draft-dodgers are not pursued and hounded. They are here on our streets, and most of them, unless they are breaking Canadian laws, are getting American dollars from Ma and Pa at home to spend here.

When the railways of France, Germany and India were breaking down through age, it was Americans who rebuilt them. When the Pennsylvania and the New York Central went broke, nobody loaned them an old caboose. Both are still broke.

I can name you 5,000 times when the Americans raced to the help other people
in trouble. Can you name me even one time when someone else raced to the Americans in trouble? I don't think there was outside help even during the San Francisco earthquake.

Our neighbors have faced it alone, and I am one Canadian who is damned tired of hearing them get kicked around. They will come out of this thing with their flag high. And when they do, they are entitled to thumb their nose at the lands that are gloating over their present troubles.

I hope Canada is not one of those."

Stand Proud America!

This is one of the best editorials that I have ever read regarding the United States.
It is nice that one man realizes it. I only wish that the rest of the world would real-
ize it. We seemed to be blamed for everything and don't get a "Thank You" for
the things we do. I would hope that each of you would send this to as many people
as you can and emphasize that they should send it to as many of their friends until
this letter is sent to every person on the web. I am just a single American that has
read this, I SURE HOPE THAT A LOT MORE READ IT SOON.

Makes you proud to live here doesn't it??

THANKS,
ANTHONY VELEZIS
SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT
(204) -6639

leedogg · Post by **leedogg** » Wed Sep 12, 2001 8:10 pm

Sorry guys, I didn't see where dp posted this earlier in the Feel your pain thread.

T'lainya · Post by **T'lainya** » Wed Sep 12, 2001 8:13 pm

That's ok Lee..We all know you're out of practice spamming

C Elegans · Post by **C Elegans** » Thu Sep 13, 2001 7:07 pm

I wonder why this editorial from 1973 is circulating all over the net now?

Aegis · Post by **Aegis** » Thu Sep 13, 2001 7:33 pm

Because it's well spoken, and truthful. The States have given so much to other Countries, to help them survive. I won't go into the other things they do, given the recent crisis, but they are doing good in the world.

C Elegans · Post by **C Elegans** » Thu Sep 13, 2001 7:52 pm

Originally posted by Aegis:
Because it's well spoken, and truthful. The States have given so much to other Countries, to help them survive. I won't go into the other things they do, given the recent crisis, but they are doing good in the world.

I can surely understand the need for some support these horrible days

America has done much good in the world, but also much bad, as most other nations. Since th US become the world's only remaining superpower, the eyes of the world have rested heavily upon the country, since extreme power also means extreme responibilities.

What confused me about this article, which I've seen many times during the last two days, is that I haven't seen anywhere where it actually said it wasn't written recently, but 28 years ago. For instance, "this spring, 59 American communities were flattened by tornados" confused me. Also, the article says that no other country have ever helped the US, which seem sort of a strange claim today, but perhaps that was correct in 1973.

Anyway, my confusion about this article made me look up things, and when I found out it was written 1973, the information in the article made more sense.

GrimReaper · Post by **GrimReaper** » Thu Sep 13, 2001 8:32 pm

First, remeber that this article was written by a person, like you or me. Perhaps he gave America to much credit here, but the point remains the same. America has done a lot and has not received much in return. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to put any other countries down, I'm just stating a fact. Second, the reason I think this is circulating now is because it is positive reinforcement. It gives Americans a reason to feel proud about our country again. It makes you think about all the things that Americans should be proud of and it makes you think of all the things we have gone through before by ourselves. And it makes you think that now, with most of the world backing us, what can stand in our way? I'm sure terrorism can't.

C Elegans · Post by **C Elegans** » Thu Sep 13, 2001 9:15 pm

MPO is that international terrorism shot themselves in the foot by committing this horrendous act of blind, fanatic hate against thousands of innocents.

Most of the world totally condems the act, and traditional "enemies" of the US like Russia, Iran and China is supporting the US against terrorism.

Many people feel hate towards the terrorists who committed this act. Some people feel hate towards whole nations, ethnic groups or religions. This is unfair and unjust. But feeling hate is not the same as acting out of hate. Hate and anger are natural emotions, just like love or happiness.

My belief is that the US, NATO and the rest of the world that are against terrorism will not act out of hate. On the contrary, the US will demonstrate the difference between what we call "the democratic, free world" and fanatic terrorism.

But my fear is that even so, loss of many innocent lives will follow...and other states in conflict might take the opportunity to point out groups as "terrorists" and get rid of them. All rebels are not terrorists, just people who are fighting an enemy with much more finacial and military power. All conflicts in the world are not between terrorist and non-terrorists, but between groups who have equal rights to the claims they are making.
Iran and Turkey view the Kurds as terrorists, Russia views the rebels in Chechnia(sp?) as terrorists. I'm also thinking of the long term conflicts in Kashmir, and the opposition in Egypt and Alger.
And it really makes me sad to hear Sharon say "Arafat is like Osama bin Laden" as he said yesterday, and then Israel went in to Jericho with tanks.
Who's a terrorist and who's not? And is every nation connected to terrorism going to be equally treatned? If a terrorist hid in Sweden, would the US act the same way towards Sweden as they would to Afghanistan or Yemen?

But I remove myself from the point: the reason why I questioned the article was just that I found it confusing that it doesn't say anywhere when it was written, and I've seen some people from other countries who have also been very confused.

EDIT: So far, MPO is that the US is acting absolutely right. Uniting the world against terrorism and collecting evidence. Terrorism will never end, just as war will never end, but I think the international terrorism we've seen that last decade, will change now.

[ 09-13-2001: Message edited by: C Elegans ]

Aegis · Post by **Aegis** » Fri Sep 14, 2001 12:18 pm

Originally posted by C Elegans:
Who's a terrorist and who's not? And is every nation connected to terrorism going to be equally treatned? If a terrorist hid in Sweden, would the US act the same way towards Sweden as they would to Afghanistan or Yemen?

[ 09-13-2001: Message edited by: C Elegans ]

The reason the US is pointing out Afganistan right now is because they are (were?) harbouring a known terorist (Bin Laden) without doing anything against him.

Yshania · Post by **Yshania** » Fri Sep 14, 2001 12:26 pm

@C E - well said

I have posted my misgivings about this article in another thread...though I failed to consider the date it might have been written

I presumed (tut tut!) that it was recent...

Yes it is nice to see a Candian praise the US for their contributions and achievements - but at the expense of proving other nations ungrateful or not equal...

Right now the US need us all behind them ...

Shadow Sandrock · Post by **Shadow Sandrock** » Fri Sep 14, 2001 12:27 pm

As US citizens, we have done what we can to help our fellow man be made free, and experience the freedoms that we have, in hope that some day the whole world might be free... free of slavery, communism, and government control.

But my my, what happened to the 1999 tornado outbreak?

Over 100+ was in that spring... though it's not like we get much help then either...

The fact of the matter is, even without international help, Americans are always willing to pull together and get through any tough time, but there are times when we are overwhelmed, and it is during those times that America has to redeem herself, because nobody seems to want to help...

only a few nations have ever aided us, and to those we say thank you... thank you for being good samaritans to the land of the Good Samaritans... the United States of America.

Translation: If you've helped us thank you very much.

C Elegans · Post by **C Elegans** » Fri Sep 14, 2001 5:20 pm

Originally posted by Aegis:
The reason the US is pointing out Afganistan right now is because they are (were?) harbouring a known terorist (Bin Laden) without doing anything against him.

I know

I was just speculating about other terrorists connected to this deed. According to the news and different terrorist experts etc, it seems likely that the attack was carried out by a network of several organisations. And bin Ladans different groups are, as we know, spread in many countries, since nationality is not what is holding them together, fanatism is

My speculation was just: in case a terrorist is hiding in for instance Yemen and the government doesn't know and doesn't support him, I hope they will get the same treatment as if a terrorist hid in Sweden and the Swedish gov. doesn't know.

Btw, Swedish newpapers say someone with connections to bin Laden is actually hiding here, but I don't know if it's true. Rumours are many these days.

Yshania · Post by **Yshania** » Fri Sep 14, 2001 5:29 pm

@C E - another rumour from English press is that Bin Laden's sister is resident in London and has been placed under police protection.

The radio station was urging calm saying you cannot choose your family etc....

Dastal · Post by **Dastal** » Fri Sep 14, 2001 6:51 pm

This one goes up with The Twilight of the kings as one of the great editorials of all time.

Maharlika · Post by **Maharlika** » Fri Sep 14, 2001 9:47 pm

While the meaning of the editorial has not been lost, especially at
these times, it is important to put it in its correct time frame. The
broadcast by Gordon Sinclair (1900-1984) was made back in 1973. See
link below:
[url="http://www.tysknews.com/Depts/Our_Culture/americans.htm"]http://www.tysknews.com/Depts/Our_Culture/americans.htm[/url]

Hope this helps, guys!

leedogg · Post by **leedogg** » Sat Sep 15, 2001 1:18 am

I knew it was old, but I didn't think it was as old as me.

How ever long ago it was written, I have never seen it before, and found it very inspirational(sp).