Friday, July 04, 2008
"Ugly" Americans?
I sit and ponder "world" events this July 4th, nearing the end of George Bush's "Presidency". Terrorism, water shortages, adverse weather, stock market falling, civil wars,.... "Whew"! I have heard it said that the "prestige" of the United States of America is at an "all time low". Well, not for me it isn't. The Americans are the "hardest" working people on earth, and the most "compassionate", along with all their "faults and flaws". Their Government sometimes makes very serious mistakes, but in some of the world regions where these mistakes are made, it doesn't matter what decisions are made, the "genetic hatred" of the peoples of the areas concerned would see the "killing" continue. "Evil" doesn't lay down "it's sword" and become a "good citizen". Anyways, today is "America's birthday", and I remember an old speech I heard in my childhood. It was by that "crusty old curmudgeon" Gordon Sinclair. Lo and behold, I found a copy. The words are as valid today as they were when he spoke them. Here they are........
"The Americans: A Canadian's Opinion By Gordon Sinclair"
Outstanding. Yes, France, Germany, Belgium, Japan, South Korea, Israel... are all amazingly successful and prosperous, thanks to... "Yes, the Americans". Following are my favourite words ever written by my favourite ... "American".
"Gettysburg Address"
"Honest Abe" gives me the "chills", what an "orator". He could say more meaningful words in 2 minutes than anyone today could say in 2 years. Anyways, what I am trying to say is give the U.S. a "break". Their Government is far from perfect, but the people are second to none, and they strive to be better. They are our "brothers and sisters". Happy Birthday, "U.S.A"!
Title: The Gettysburg Address
Author: Abraham Lincoln
Year Published: 1863
"Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting-place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead who struggled here have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us--that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion--that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth."
"The Americans: A Canadian's Opinion By Gordon Sinclair"
Outstanding. Yes, France, Germany, Belgium, Japan, South Korea, Israel... are all amazingly successful and prosperous, thanks to... "Yes, the Americans". Following are my favourite words ever written by my favourite ... "American".
"Gettysburg Address"
"Honest Abe" gives me the "chills", what an "orator". He could say more meaningful words in 2 minutes than anyone today could say in 2 years. Anyways, what I am trying to say is give the U.S. a "break". Their Government is far from perfect, but the people are second to none, and they strive to be better. They are our "brothers and sisters". Happy Birthday, "U.S.A"!
Title: The Gettysburg Address
Author: Abraham Lincoln
Year Published: 1863
Gettysburg Address
"Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting-place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead who struggled here have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us--that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion--that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth."
