posted on September 14, 2001 07:54:30 AM
May this encourage Americans on a day like today.
[b]TRIBUTE TO THE UNITED STATES
This, from a Canadian newspaper, is worth sharing.
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.[/b]
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."
Stand proud, America! Wear it proudly!!
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 realize it. We are always blamed for everything, and never even 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, TRIBUTE TO THE UNITED STATES."
posted on September 14, 2001 03:23:18 PM
Whilst I am happy to argue with some of the comments here, now is not the time. 800 million folks in Europe shared a three minute silence for USA today.
SympathyfromUK.
posted on September 14, 2001 05:53:31 PM
"Whilst I am happy to argue with some of the comments here, now is not the time. 800 million folks in Europe shared a three minute silence for USA today.
SympathyfromUK."
Why Don't you argue with the editorial. I belive that at this moment that all of the American Citizens could use a lift in their heart with something that the 'wonderful rest of the world has done to help us,' except put us down for having to much, using to much, not giving 'them' enough of what we have built, fought, and worked for. I feel that three minueets of silence is a 'wonderful expression' of whatever, but where is the phisical help that is (and has been ) needed in this country from our wonderful world community.
posted on September 14, 2001 06:45:42 PM
I love my USA buyers, and feel for them. They have all had messages of sympathy. Now is not the time to argue. Are 800 million Europeans wrong?
SympathyfromUK
[ edited by GreetingsfromUK on Sep 14, 2001 06:50 PM ]
posted on September 14, 2001 08:59:51 PM
There can be no way to describe the relationship between Americans, Britons, Australians and Canadians. Our history is only 400 years old, our beliefs a thousand or more. Even though we are a hybrid, what we are is based on blood spent years ago by these peoples who paid a price to remove their oppressors.
Is their anyone here who has the same reaction in his head to the term "Mexican" or "Brazilian" that he has to "English" or "Canadian"? You realize we've fought WARS against Great Britian?? Yet there is a feeling that in dark times with your back against the wall, the person standing next to you could be Canadian and next to him English. Many nations talk, but these nations have bled together.
At a time before Americans knew what we were inside, we watched a more powerful French Army run from the Nazis and abandon those who came to help. When it was obvious to all England would be overrun, a prime minister vowed to fight to the end. Then it came our turn to be tested.
In the future, if we proceed as we will, you will see this great rally to us fade away. Support will vanish and be replaced with obstruction. The French & Germans will sell their souls for oil because they truly have no concept of what was taken from us. But there are peoples who know. Peoples who've taken their turn.
posted on September 14, 2001 09:33:28 PM
That tribute was written,well actually a radio broadcast, in 1973 when the US dollar fell dramatically on the world markets and I think the US went off the gold standard. See the link.
posted on September 15, 2001 09:29:30 AM
"America: The Good Neighbor.
Widespread but only partial news coverage was given recently to a remarkable editorial broadcast from Toronto by Gordon Sinclair..."
Oh please, he died in 1984 !!
Why not be honest and admit you are repeating stuff from 28 years ago.
I am one American who is damn tired of reading tripe dreged up from the past and promoted as if it were written yesterday.
And Sinclair was not a hero to all Canadians, for sure.
