Quotes of the Day...11 September

“Lots of stuff being passed around on this day. I thought it would be nice to share some here...

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth, upon 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 battle field of that war. We come to dedicate a portion of it, as a final resting place for those who died here, that the nation might live. This we may, in all propriety do. But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow, this ground --
The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have hallowed it, far above our poor power to add or detract.
The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here; while it can never forget what they did here. It is rather for us, the living, we here be dedicated to the great task remaining before us --
that, from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they here, gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve these dead shall not have died in vain; that the nation, 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.

Abraham Lincoln (Gettysburg address, timeless)”

“Thank you, Amy. That address speaks directly to us today.”

“I sat in a movie theater watching "Schindler's List," asked myself, "Why didn't the Jews fight back?"

Now I know why.

I sat in a movie theater, watching "Pearl Harbor" and asked myself, "Why weren't we prepared?"

Now I know why.

Civilized people cannot fathom, much less predict, the actions of evil people.

On September 11, dozens of capable airplane passengers allowed themselves to be overpowered by a handful of poorly armed terrorists because they did not comprehend the depth of hatred that motivated their captors.

On September 11, thousands of innocent people were murdered because too many Americans naively reject the reality that some nations are dedicated to the dominance of others. Many political pundits, pacifists and media personnel want us to forget the carnage. They say we must focus on the bravery of the rescuers and ignore the cowardice of the killers. They implore us to understand the motivation of the perpetrators. Major television stations have announced they will assist the healing process by not replaying devastating footage of the planes crashing into the Twin Towers.

I will not be manipulated.

I will not pretend to understand.

I will not forget.

I will not forget the liberal media who abused freedom of the press to kick our country when it was vulnerable and hurting.

I will not forget that CBS anchor Dan Rather preceded President Bush's address to the nation with the snide remark, "No matter how you feel about him, he is still our president."

I will not forget that ABC TV anchor Peter Jennings questioned President Bush's motives for not returning immediately to Washington, DC and commented, "We're all pretty skeptical and cynical about Washington."

And I will not forget that ABC's Mark Halperin warned if reporters weren't informed of every little detail of this war, they aren't
"likely -- nor should they be expected -- to show deference."

I will not isolate myself from my fellow Americans by pretending an attack on the USS Cole in Yemen was not an attack on the United States of America.

I will not forget the Clinton administration equipped Islamic terrorists and their supporters with the world's most sophisticated
telecommunications equipment and encryption technology, thereby compromising America's ability to trace terrorist radio, cell phone, land lines, faxes and modem communications.

I will not be appeased with pointless, quick retaliatory strikes like those perfected by the previous administration.

I will not be comforted by "feel-good, do nothing" regulations like the silly "Have your bags been under your control?" question at the airport.

I will not be influenced by so called,"antiwar demonstrators" who exploit the right of expression to chant anti-American obscenities.

I will not forget the moral victory handed the North Vietnamese by American war protesters who reviled and spat upon the returning
soldiers, airmen, sailors and Marines.

I will not be softened by the wishful thinking of pacifists who chose reassurance over reality.

I will embrace the wise words of Prime Minister Tony Blair who told Labor Party conference, "They have no moral inhibition on the slaughter of the innocent. If they could have murdered not 7,000 but 70,000, does anyone doubt they would have done so and rejoiced in it?

There is no compromise possible with such people, no meeting of minds, no point of understanding with such terror. Just a choice: defeat it or be defeated by it. And defeat it we must!"

I will force myself to:

-hear the weeping
-feel the helplessness
-imagine the terror
-sense the panic
-smell the burning flesh
- experience the loss
- remember the hatred.

I sat in a movie theater, watching "Private Ryan" and asked myself, "Where did they find the courage?"

Now I know.

We have no choice. Living without liberty is not living.

-- Ed Evans, MGySgt., USMC (Ret.)
Not as lean, Not as mean, But still a Marine.”

“Stratdewde, AmyG posted the Gettysburg address to give us the opportunity to reflect on It’s meaning and to reflect on the tragic events of 9/11 for you to take advantage of 9/11 to post on this thread some political bashing is just awful. This is a day for all Americans to remember not for people to try and score political points.”

“Sorry Must Hike, I appreciated stratdewd's post. It speaks to me on this day.”

“I agree with pathman. Also, I think that above all else, we should reflect on how important our Constitutional Liberties are to this country.

The Bill of Rights is self explanatory.”

“Some of you might have already seen this Sept 11 tiles

You can create a tile on the living tribute to honor the heroes of September 11.”

“Thanks MO,

I created a tile #b68e76646”

“Must Hike's right. It's crap spam garbage.”

“I thought it started out great and could have a very thoughtful post I saw all those movies and had the same feelings, but then it degenerated into nothing but political bashing. We’re all angry about 9/11 but that anger should be directed at the people who were responsible for it. I’m no fan of Clinton, but to blame him for 9/11 is divisive and counter productive. I’m sure we could go through all the past administrations Clinton, Bush, Reagan and Carter and find mistakes, but hindsight is 20/20. We need to focus on where to go from here. I hesitated to respond to the post because I never get involved in political discussions on this site. I wasn’t sure how today would affect me, but now I know, I’m still angry and I want to channel that anger in the right direction, so this is my last post on this.

Chili, your right we should reflect on how important our Constitutional Liberties are and how truly fortunate we are to live in this great country.”

“I read the Gettysburg Address while having lunch, at an Inn in Gettysburg where Lincoln was reported to have stayed the night before, and polished the speech. It's one of the most moving things I've ever read. Made me want to read much more about Lincoln.”

“I meant to add that I read that after touring the battlefield.”

“Not to mention Stratdewd posted it on every thread re 9-11. A little overkill.

AmyG's Gettysburg Address is right on the money. Thanks.”

“For those who don't know, Mayor Bloomberg read the Gettysburg Address this morning at the bottom of the 7 story hole in the ground that used to be the WTC.

Hallowed ground.”

“Can I put this here?

Wishes from my friend in Switzerland ( a retired engineer with a great love for the USA)

Dear Vann and Family,

in all Papers in Switzerland and Europe you find articles remembering what happen a year ago.
We especially think of our friends in the USA and hope that things like that never happen again.
”

“(I could have skipped the first paragraph, but it sets the stage and quoting the whole thing shows how brief he was)


Fellow-Countrymen:

At this second appearing to take the oath of the Presidential office there is less occasion for an extended address than there was at the first. Then a statement somewhat in detail of a course to be pursued seemed fitting and proper. Now, at the expiration of four years, during which public declarations have been constantly called forth on every point and phase of the great contest which still absorbs the attention and engrosses the energies of the nation, little that is new could be presented. The progress of our arms, upon which all else chiefly depends, is as well known to the public as to myself, and it is, I trust, reasonably satisfactory and encouraging to all. With high hope for the future, no prediction in regard to it is ventured. 1
On the occasion corresponding to this four years ago all thoughts were anxiously directed to an impending civil war. All dreaded it, all sought to avert it. While the inaugural address was being delivered from this place, devoted altogether to saving the Union without war, urgent agents were in the city seeking to destroy it without war—seeking to dissolve the Union and divide effects by negotiation. Both parties deprecated war, but one of them would make war rather than let the nation survive, and the other would accept war rather than let it perish, and the war came. 2
One-eighth of the whole population were colored slaves, not distributed generally over the Union, but localized in the southern part of it. These slaves constituted a peculiar and powerful interest. All knew that this interest was somehow the cause of the war. To strengthen, perpetuate, and extend this interest was the object for which the insurgents would rend the Union even by war, while the Government claimed no right to do more than to restrict the territorial enlargement of it. Neither party expected for the war the magnitude or the duration which it has already attained. Neither anticipated that the cause of the conflict might cease with or even before the conflict itself should cease. Each looked for an easier triumph, and a result less fundamental and astounding. Both read the same Bible and pray to the same God, and each invokes His aid against the other. It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God's assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men's faces, but let us judge not, that we be not judged. The prayers of both could not be answered. That of neither has been answered fully. The Almighty has His own purposes. "Woe unto the world because of offenses; for it must needs be that offenses come, but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh." If we shall suppose that American slavery is one of those offenses which, in the providence of God, must needs come, but which, having continued through His appointed time, He now wills to remove, and that He gives to both North and South this terrible war as the woe due to those by whom the offense came, shall we discern therein any departure from those divine attributes which the believers in a living God always ascribe to Him? Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray, that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue until all the wealth piled by the bondsman's two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said "the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether." 3
With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.”

“Thanks Amy. Thanks Ped.



Today is not the day for blame and low blows.”

“You can't hold a man down without staying down with him.
Booker T. Washington”

“I will not let them get the best of me nor will I let them stamp out my freedom!

8)”

“i stand by my post, all of them.”

“America is part of a global whole. We are one species.”

“Little Bird that is well put!

8)”

“yeah, but he thinks we live underground and are all cannibals.....”

“Don't tread on me...”

“The only ones who know an end to war are the dead.
-Plato

I thought this might go here.
Some of my very earliest memories are of watching soldiers go through a jungle. I'm assuming it was the tail end of Vietnam. It was on the news, not part of a movie.
We have always been in some conflict or another, big or small, directly or indirectly, for my entire life. I hadn't realized that until now. I hadn't noticed it, because it was always there.”

“just to much for me!”

“For sure, Treebait. My folks always watched the evening news. I was 5, 6, 7 years old, thinking the nightly body count was the score in some type of game.”

“Excellant thread AmyG!

"To be a winner, you have to believe in yourself when nobody else will."

--- Sugar Ray Robinson”

“i remember when i was 7 and my uncle was flying daily bombing missions in viet nam, so naturally my mother(his sister) watched the news every night. but i never could figure out how they trained gorrillas to fight(guerrilla warfare). i pictured monkeys walkin around with m-16's. ....for years i actually thought that's what they meant. childhood misconceptions...”

“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:

"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!!”

“Btw Tango, that piece by Gordon Sinclair was broadcasted in the 70's. It still stands.”

“Wow I didn't know that. I thought it was post 9/11. Thanks for the info.”

“Cool Tango, seems a lot of people didn't know that either.”