Just like the thousands of others on this board, and millions of people in the United States of America. I'm an American. I send my kids to school, the best that I can. I work 8 hours a day. Invest a portion of my money. I'd like a house, but its a bit beyond my means now. I have cable TV, central air, a little microwave on my counter. All the little things to make my day a bit easier. I drive to work, surrounded by thousands of others just like me, frusturated at the morning commute. But I do it, in the name of progress for me and my family. I play softball on the weekends, go to the gym on occasion. I take my wife out to eat, maybe catch a movie. If I see a fireman on the street holding a boot, I do my part to fill it. Heres 5 bucks, guess I wont stop at McDonalds, I'll just put a pizza in the oven when I get home. But then something happens. One day I turn on my TV, and instead of morning weather reports, pictures of snarled traffic and the headliner story of a car jacking, I see the very emblem of America burning, a gaping hole tore in its side. Wait. I check the channel, no, it IS the news. Whats going on?
In the ensueing months, my country goes into action against those who would try to take away my right to watch my TV, drive in traffic, take my wife out for dinner, send my kids to school, and fill that boot without having to worry about choking on gas, or suffering from a car bomb, or worry I'll be shot in the name of military action. And what happens? The world objects. How ironic. They OBJECT to My country wanting to defend MY freedom from those who would take it away?
Canada? Please, let me remind you, your economic growth is closely tied to the United States. Did you forget? Roughly 1/3 of your GDP is exported to America? Over half your exports go to the United States! And yet you object.
Great Britian? Heres an interesting objection now isnt it? Opium war mean anything to you GB? Perhaps not, lets clear that up. Does Hong Kong help bring everything into light? If I remember right Hong Kong was ceded to the British as a spoil of the opium wars. That was in 1841 to be exact, but it wasnt enough. Oh no, add to that in 1860 from the second Opium war. Both the Kowloon Peninsula AND Stonecutters island. Still not enough? No, invigorated by the spoils of war, in 1898 we can put the outlying islands onto that list as well. And yet you object
France? Well, lets see. I do seem to remember a little thing called the French-indochina war. Oh, but lets not bring THAT up shall we! A bit of a stain on the clean linen of France. In addition to other stains from the past. As if it wasnt well enough that Great Britian and the Unites States (Theres that devil word again) handed you your freedom on a silver platter from the Germans, you suddenly have to decide to oppose America. Not rationally, not sporadically, but simply all across the board. But, lets not gloat America, the Third Reich was by all accounts eliminated as much by America and Great Britian as it was by Russia. Its simply a little proud medal we can wear in the history of our great country. Yes France, bury your past sins, remove them from your history books. But also remember, be what America does right OR wrong, we do it, at least in name, to defend the freedom of our peoples. What was French-Indochina about?
And so, regardless of what the world says, I will support my president, I will support the military. Perhaps they do not always make the best call. Perhaps. That is something I'm willing to accept, if it keeps the suitcase bombs and poison gas out of my schools, away from my weddings and off my streets. Perhaps our international actions and policies arent the best they could be. Perhaps. But, as the above should point out, NO country has a flawless history. From far away wars to tyrant czars, history is litered with cases of atrocities. Even the best laid plans can fall to greed and the thirst for power. But, no matter what hapens, I WILL support my country, I WILL support my leaders. I WILL suport the men and women in uniform who put their lifes at risk everyday. Because, I value my freedom. I value my security. I hold in the highest regard, the privilege to have my children go to school. If you wish to stand up and oppose the political and military actions of my country, that is your right. And I will, as an open minded American, respect your right. But, any holier then thou attitude will not be tolerated, as no matter what soil you stand on to make your objections heard, one has simply to look into the hourglass of history to find blood spilt on that soil, for all the wrong reasons.
In the ensueing months, my country goes into action against those who would try to take away my right to watch my TV, drive in traffic, take my wife out for dinner, send my kids to school, and fill that boot without having to worry about choking on gas, or suffering from a car bomb, or worry I'll be shot in the name of military action. And what happens? The world objects. How ironic. They OBJECT to My country wanting to defend MY freedom from those who would take it away?
Canada? Please, let me remind you, your economic growth is closely tied to the United States. Did you forget? Roughly 1/3 of your GDP is exported to America? Over half your exports go to the United States! And yet you object.
Great Britian? Heres an interesting objection now isnt it? Opium war mean anything to you GB? Perhaps not, lets clear that up. Does Hong Kong help bring everything into light? If I remember right Hong Kong was ceded to the British as a spoil of the opium wars. That was in 1841 to be exact, but it wasnt enough. Oh no, add to that in 1860 from the second Opium war. Both the Kowloon Peninsula AND Stonecutters island. Still not enough? No, invigorated by the spoils of war, in 1898 we can put the outlying islands onto that list as well. And yet you object
France? Well, lets see. I do seem to remember a little thing called the French-indochina war. Oh, but lets not bring THAT up shall we! A bit of a stain on the clean linen of France. In addition to other stains from the past. As if it wasnt well enough that Great Britian and the Unites States (Theres that devil word again) handed you your freedom on a silver platter from the Germans, you suddenly have to decide to oppose America. Not rationally, not sporadically, but simply all across the board. But, lets not gloat America, the Third Reich was by all accounts eliminated as much by America and Great Britian as it was by Russia. Its simply a little proud medal we can wear in the history of our great country. Yes France, bury your past sins, remove them from your history books. But also remember, be what America does right OR wrong, we do it, at least in name, to defend the freedom of our peoples. What was French-Indochina about?
And so, regardless of what the world says, I will support my president, I will support the military. Perhaps they do not always make the best call. Perhaps. That is something I'm willing to accept, if it keeps the suitcase bombs and poison gas out of my schools, away from my weddings and off my streets. Perhaps our international actions and policies arent the best they could be. Perhaps. But, as the above should point out, NO country has a flawless history. From far away wars to tyrant czars, history is litered with cases of atrocities. Even the best laid plans can fall to greed and the thirst for power. But, no matter what hapens, I WILL support my country, I WILL support my leaders. I WILL suport the men and women in uniform who put their lifes at risk everyday. Because, I value my freedom. I value my security. I hold in the highest regard, the privilege to have my children go to school. If you wish to stand up and oppose the political and military actions of my country, that is your right. And I will, as an open minded American, respect your right. But, any holier then thou attitude will not be tolerated, as no matter what soil you stand on to make your objections heard, one has simply to look into the hourglass of history to find blood spilt on that soil, for all the wrong reasons.
Facebook
Twitter