posted on September 13, 2001 06:25:56 AM
Reprinted from a Canadian newspaper
.. and redistributed in one of the maillists I belong to.
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 poured 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 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 DC10? 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 Japanese technocracy, and you get radios. You talk about German technocracy, and you get automobiles. You talk about
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 right 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 the Americans who rebuilt them. When the Pennsylvania Railroad and the New York Central went broke, nobody loaned them an old caboose. Both are still broke.
I can name you 5000 times when the Americans raced to the help of 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'm 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."
posted on September 13, 2001 10:36:43 AM
Thanks. Most Americans recognize and appreciate that our Canadian friends are among the handful of true friends that our great natiion can count on in good times and bad. We may have disagreements from time to time, as our own states have disagreements from time to time. But when the rubber hits the road, Canada, without fail, is there to support us and vice versa.
Americans and Canadians share more than just a border. We share an amazing continent. We share a common history. To a great extent we share common ancestries.
While Canada and the USA are separate nations, we have a relationship closer than any other two countries in the world. We are brothers and sisters, figuratively and in many cases literally.
America will move beyond these despicable acts and remain a great nation. We will bow to no one. We will continue to help our friends (and even our enemies) in times of disaster. The low-lifes responsible for these senseless deaths and destruction will be brought to justice and dealt with harshly. The support of Canada and our other allies in achieving this end is greatly appreciated. In the case of Canada there was never any question that this support would be there. Sadly we can't say that about ALL of our allies.
posted on September 13, 2001 12:00:39 PM
When hurricane Andrew devastated Florida, a poor third world country (regretfully, I can't remember the name) sent tea in the hope that it would bring some comfort. It was all they could do & their gift to the suffering Americans was more precious than gold. Someone cared.
posted on September 13, 2001 05:23:44 PM
...the background to this piece, originally broadcast on Canadian radio in 1973....
"Words of praise for the United States spoken more than 30 years ago by a Canadian broadcaster flew around the Internet Thursday, fooling but providing comfort for the many who thought it was penned in response to Tuesday's tragic attacks by hijacked airliners.
An electronic version of The Americans, which was originally broadcast by the late Gordon Sinclair, was E-mailed under the guise of a recent editorial — despite the fact Mr. Sinclair died in 1984 and wrote the script in 1973 at the end of the Vietnam War."
posted on September 14, 2001 11:34:18 AM
Perhaps I can share with my AW friends the following. Today at noon in Ottawa, Canada's capital, a memorial tribute was held for the victims and families of this week's tragedy. It was attended by 100,000 people. Countless thousands more Canadians watched it on TV. It was attended by our Prime Minister, Jean Chretien and U.S. Ambassador Paul Celucci.
Prime Minister Chretien said, in part:
"At a time like this, words fail us. We reel before the blunt and terrible reality of the evil we have just witnessed.
"We cannot stop the tears of grief. We cannot bring back lost wives and husbands, sons and daughters, American citizens, Canadian citizens, citizens from all over the world. We cannot restore futures that have been cut terribly short.
"By their outpouring of concern, sympathy and help, the feelings and actions of Canadians have been clear.
"And, even as we grieve our own losses, the message they send to the American people is equally clear. Do not despair. You are not alone. We are with you. The whole world is with you.''
As he spoke the flags of Parliament fluttered at half-mast in a light breeze.
posted on September 14, 2001 11:39:40 AM
Everyone:
There are many threads now open in the Ebay Outlook Forum that do not apply to E-bay activities and should be opened in the Round Table Forum. As of now, we are going to leave those threads open but in the future, they may be locked. Also in the future, please open any new threads in the Round Table.
Please be aware, we are not trying to stifle conversation, but despite the events of Tuesday, people are still doing business on eBay and need the eBay forum for business advice.
Thank you for your co-operation and understanding.
posted on September 14, 2001 02:13:47 PM
Yes, amazing.
I suppose when one is in one's "invincible twenties" the death of 10,000 people a continent away and the likely start of global war in just an unfortunate hic-up in your e-business.
posted on September 14, 2001 05:48:08 PM
I am stunned into disbelief at the missive of insensitivity spammed onto AW's boards by the moderators. So a few eBay sellers are temporarily inconvenienced. Big deal. They should consider themselves relatively very, very lucky.
posted on September 14, 2001 06:28:15 PM
In reply to cdnbooks. 800 million folks in Europe took part in three minutes of silence for USA. It was an European day of mourning.
[ edited by GreetingsfromUK on Sep 14, 2001 06:34 PM ]
posted on September 14, 2001 06:40:08 PM
GreetingsfromUK
Yes, the support from around the world (from everywhere except from one company in San Bruno, California) has been amazing.
My daughter and I joined in the 3 minutes of silence. And as I added the stars and stripes to the red maple leaf flag that I usually fly at my home, the cars driving by honked their support.
posted on September 14, 2001 07:43:11 PM
I saw some of Canada's and Europe's tributes on television. To see/hear our national anthem in front of Buckingham Palace and in St. Paul's Catehdral, and just how many thousands of Canadians turned out and sang our national anthem...amazing. It's very heartening to know that there are such kind, compassionate people in the world. I know it's hard to live with us sometimes. Thank you.
posted on September 14, 2001 08:31:47 PM
For those of you who may be interested, the original 1973 audio recording of the message that Pocono has reproduced here can be found at www.ctvnews.com. Scroll down to "Sinclair's 1973 pro-USA rant resurfaces", and give a listen.
posted on September 15, 2001 11:56:56 AM
This is too much for me. To my friends who post at AW: Goodbye. See you on other boards.
Bill
posted by Joice.
"Hello Everyone,
Since the horror of 9/11/01, we have all been affected in some way but our hearts go out to those of you that saw the terror first hand or that lost a loved one.
As with all losses, we do eventually move on after a period of mourning. AW admin and moderators have allowed posts about this despicable act of terror on the Ebay Outlook because we all have been effected.
We will move on, and we will move forward.
The membership will soon be ready to get back to business and we are going to ask that you move all threads not relating to Ebay to the Round Table forum.
We ask your cooperation in this effort. We are not trying to stifle conversation, we are just wanting to direct those conversations off the Ebay Outlook and to a more appropriate forum.
The Round Table forums can be found here:
http://www.auctionwatch.com/mesg/list.html?num=28
On Monday, Sept 17th we will lock all non Ebay related threads with a notice to repost your topic in the Round Table Forum. "
Thank you.