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!

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

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 am just a single American that has read this, I SURE HOPE THAT A LOT MORE READ IT SOON.

Perhaps this article writer had not read of the floods of offers coming in from rescue units, trained fire personel, doctors or even of an old and horrified man in Lebanon who gave blood as a gesture of his humanity.

Perhaps...

Originally posted by Brad
1. 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?
2. Why does no other land on earth even consider putting a man or woman on the moon?

May I say that I like America and the Americans?
But I also have to say:

1. European AirBus
2. Russia

America has done some great things and helped a lot of people and countries. Other countries have done the same. Perhaps other countries didn't contribute financially to some disasters in the United States, but for one thing, the United States rarely needs financial help.

What are other countries doing now to help? They are taking a big chance and often a loss, by keeping the economy of the United States stable, even when the Stock Exchange has been non-functional and won't be for near a full week after the last bell.

What else are they doing? All the countries in the world are not only condemning these acts, but are vowing to take action and help eradicate terrorists and their acts.

When something on such a large magnitude happens anywhere in the world in regards to an act such as this, the world comes together. Terrorist intended this to be an attack on America and I'm sure they knew the repercussions of their act and the retaliation the United States would commit to. I don't believe that they considered to much, how the entire world would act.

This wasn't an act of terrorism indicative to support any "cause", but simply out of nothing more than an attack on America, and for the sole reason it was America and Americans. It was blood lust and no cause supports it. They have, in effect, turned off many of their supporters and many nations that didn't have much love for the United States, by committing this evil act.

Not only is the world coming together, which is bound to happen in such an event, but these terrorists couldn't have screwed themselves worse. People in their own nations that had hatred, many are now realizing the facts about it and are with the world condemning these acts to the point that whatever action the United States takes against these people that are responsible, it's unlikely that even the nations with strong hatred for the United States will have any problems with any reasonable action the United States takes against said parties responsible.

This type of thing, this type of support, is unprecedented and would only happen in response to such an act. Every reason these terrorists could have had to attack us in the manner they did, has not only backfired on them with the resolve of America, but the resolve of the entire world and all nations. The United States has an awesome force and the United States alone has the forces to effectively deal with this on their own. However, many nations are in full support all around the world and this has not only made America stronger, but all nations.

That said, many other nations are vowing to assist the United States with the dealing of these and other terrorists and eradicate them once and for all. This isn't just America bound together by this, but all of human kind and the world is pissed and the world is going to retaliate. Goodness can come from the worst things, and that is happening now. On a final note, I don't believe the United States always helps with the intentions of having the act returned. People, even the United States sometimes, simply help to stop wrongful acts, help people in need for whatever reasons. I don't think, as an American, that any country owes us anything, other than humanity and to respond as decent people and do what they can. Not for owe, but because it must be done. If you must right a wrong, do it.

If you can help people from a disaster, do it. No prejudices, no motive, nothing, other than to do what must be done. What must be done now, is what's being done... countries and nations bounding together and standing together and do what they can to fight these people. In an event like this, any nation comes calling, all nations hear the call and join. That's my response, not to act like people owe us Americans because we have helped others. You shouldn't help out of debt, but because it must be done. This morning (In the UK), they played the Star Spangled Banner at the changing of the guards. For the last so many days, we've been getting help gathering information and investigating these terrorists and their acts from the likes of China, Canada, India, Germany, Manilla, and many, many more countries. Sometimes it feels good to be human. Cheers.

Originally posted by Tim_Greer
Terrorist intended this to be an attack on America and I'm sure they knew the repercussions of their act and the retaliation the United States would commit to. I don't believe that they considered to much, how the entire world would act.

This wasn't an act of terrorism indicative to support any "cause", but simply out of nothing more than an attack on America, and for the sole reason it was America and Americans. It was blood lust and no cause supports it. They have, in effect, turned off many of their supporters and many nations that didn't have much love for the United States, by committing this evil act.


I must disagree that this was only to attack "America" and "Americans". They knew EXACTLY that these buildings where filled with many thousand foreigners, so this case is to be seen as an attack against humans and they democracy.

Originally posted by Brad
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!

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

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 am just a single American that has read this, I SURE HOPE THAT A LOT MORE READ IT SOON.



If America didn't interfere in WWII every American would speak German nowadays.
America didn't just help the European countries in the war but also itself.

Originally posted by microsol


I must disagree that this was only to attack "America" and "Americans". They knew EXACTLY that these buildings where filled with many thousand foreigners, so this case is to be seen as an attack against humans and they democracy.

Of course it was an attack on humanity, which is why everyone's supporting of America. I'm sure they were aware of other people of other nationalities were in the buildings, but the fact remains that those buildings were attacked because of what the respresented and housed in regards to America. If those building's were in Brazil, it wouldn't have happened.

They didn't attack these buildings for the fact that they wanted to murder a massive amount of people, but specifically because these buildings were on American soil, housed many Americans and stood for something in America and would in turn, murder a massive amount of people on American soil, and more specifically, the majority being American citizens. That is specifically what I had meant, not that they weren't aware of foreigners were inhabiting them as well -- they simply didn't care, due to their motive of "who else" was inside. I hope that's more clear.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by Brad
1. 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?
2. Why does no other land on earth even consider putting a man or woman on the moon?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Originally posted by Walter


May I say that I like America and the Americans?
But I also have to say:

1. European AirBus
2. Russia



What is this? A joke?

btw. I personally know the man who gave you the Compact Disk and he lives not so far from me. He is Dutch, not American ;-)
Now, go on put a CD on and think about what that canadian put down on paper. It's rather silly.

FYI That speech comes from 1973, long before Airbus was common.
Much of it does apply today though. The author Gordon Sinclair died in 1984.

Originally posted by Domenico
If America didn't interfere in WWII every American would speak German nowadays.You know I get heartily sick of hearing this...

Yes you're right... we've got a lot to be grateful for here in Europe especially to those Americans who each individually came and fought here. BUT the simple fact is that the government in America back then was happy to drain the UK gold reserves in return for war material help and in the end the only reason they got involved in WWII was because of Pearl Harbour.

Before that there were only those individual Americans, who felt strongly enough that the fight was theirs too, who left through Canada to sign up. In fact if you check your history, until the formal declaration of War on Japan, the FBI had standing orders to arrest any Americans trying to join the fight.

So please spare me the "there but for the grace of the USA went Europe" it's somewhat thin on the facts basis.


In addition. Given that that by-line appeared in 1974 and as a result was a reference to Vietnam which was a vastly unpopular war. The situation is so far removed that I can't help but wonder what the heck is it doing being used by someone to explain the position of a Canadian now. It's more like misquotation than anything else.


Finally, before someone turns their flamethrower this way. I am NOT anti-any race, country, creed, religion... I believe in individual kindness, humanity, strength as well as their sense of community. I wept as much as any other human for the senseless waste on Tuesday and I want those responsible to meet justice as much as you.

Brad, I feel your pain, and understand your patroism in this time of sorrow, but please don't make this into a competition between America and Europe. We are all behind you and hope that whoever did this will be brought to justice. But please show some respect to all of us who is not from America. Allow us to feel some pain, because though we (Denmark, Scandinavia) may not be a big country (5 million) we still have 25 missing according to the newsletter I read today. Our sorrow may not be as 'big' as yours, but allow us to mourn over this loss and don't make this into who got to the moon first, for God sake.

Originally posted by Jonah
Brad, I feel your pain, and understand your patroism in this time of sorrow, but please don't make this into a competition between America and Europe. We are all behind you and hope that whoever did this will be brought to justice. But please show some respect to all of us who is not from America. Allow us to feel some pain, because though we (Denmark, Scandinavia) may not be a big country (5 million) we still have 25 missing according to the newsletter I read today. Our sorrow may not be as 'big' as yours, but allow us to mourn over this loss and don't make this into who got to the moon first, for God sake.

http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2001/09/13/international/13WORLD.slideshow_1.html

Websnail

"So please spare me the "there but for the grace of the USA went Europe" it's somewhat thin on the facts basis."

I Agree, BUT the Quote you took stated;

If America didn't interfere in WWII every >AMERICAN< would speak German nowadays.

He didnt say Europeans!!!

Over the last couple of days many other Americans and I have been reading on boards others Attacking our homeland America on her prior policies and History, right after we had 4 Planes Hijacked and used as Bombs targeted at our World Trade Center, The United States Pentagon, and what seems to be a
failed attempt to take out our Leaders in The White House. A horrendous Amount of Casualties have just taken place in our country. And yet some feel the need, to dig the wounds deeper by throwing the past in our face. Believe me, Americans allready know we have made horrible mistakes.

Yes, there were many other Nationalities and others from other countries in the World Trade Center in New York City in The United States of America. They Attacked the World Trade Center because it was on Americas Soil, and Represented Democracy (Yes, most Western Nations) and American Strenth. I have yet to hear anywhere (and yet I greive for those who were from the UK or ANY other Nation) that the reason for the attack was because there was 100 poeple from the UK or in the Towers. Once again; the Fundementalist Islams see AMERICA as the Great Satan. I am not turning this into America against Europe, But you must remember this did happen on American Soil, Allow us to Grieve for an Attack on or Country and everything we stand for as a Nation.

I dont see why all this Arguement continues to come up? this has never been about America against Europe I dont see where you are seeing that anywhere in this thread. I cant think of any other reasons other than some our Pissed seeing our Country in
International Headlines over a Tragedy.

Originally posted by wired1
(snip) If America didn't interfere in WWII every >AMERICAN< would speak German nowadays.

He didnt say Europeans!!!
You're right. I missed that. In deference to the next point you made I'll leave it there except to say that if you read any other threads on the topic, the point I've made on the topic of the attacks is that this is not about countries or religions.. it's about human beings.

I agree, nothing is worse than the loss of Human Life, no matter what Nation or Religion or whatever. I feel for All the Countries and most importantly the families who lost anyone in this horrible tragedy.

wired1, AMEN!

And yet some feel the need, to dig the wounds deeper by throwing the past in our face. Believe me, Americans already know we have made horrible mistakes.

For the last four days I have been posting this same concern. It is the same people who continue to pop in, throw salt, put in a non-disclosure about they love everyone, pop out.

Some throw salt before they even read. Look at this thread.

btw. I personally know the man who gave you the Compact Disk and he lives not so far from me. He is Dutch, not American ;-)

Congratulations. My next door neighbor invented the question mark. Talk about silly.

Originally posted by Tim_Greer
America . . .
If you can help people from a disaster, do it. No prejudices, no motive, nothing, other than to do what must be done. What must be done now, is what's being done... countries and nations bounding together and standing together and do what they can to fight these people. In an event like this, any nation comes calling, all nations hear the call and join. That's my response, not to act like people owe us Americans because we have helped others. You shouldn't help out of debt, but because it must be done. This morning (In the UK), they played the Star Spangled Banner at the changing of the guards. For the last so many days, we've been getting help gathering information and investigating these terrorists and their acts from the likes of China, Canada, India, Germany, Manilla, and many, many more countries. Sometimes it feels good to be human. Cheers.

:agree:

Tim You are the man. :love:

I was totally shocked and felt very bad about this cowardly act by terrorist which is the worst incidence of terrorist attack in world history.

I feel very bad about Pakistani people dancing and one of there leader saying ALHA have sent those air plain to teach American not to impose there policies on people of world. I feel very hate for them on this act. I think more then 10,000 people are dead in this tragedy and they simply do not realize it. I know what kind of people they are.

Today I was watching Fox news guy talking to afghan embassy where the leader said it is the Pakistan who support the terrorist and give them financial and other help. I don't want to comment much on this. I lost 3-4 colleagues working at WTC, may be they are dead because there is no information of them and they was in the building 82 floor when plan crash.

I can understand how it feels when you loose your dear one's because I lost many when Pakistan did 24 bomb blast in Bombay. I think every Indian and India government will help USA in every best way we can to stop terrorism. This same was said by Prime Minster of India just 3 hours before. I have also contributed towards NY Relief Fund because this is the only thing i can do.

All in All my point is that every country wants to help America if they need it at any point. But since America's economy is very strong they have needed this help very less in past and present also. So Brad don't take it like nobody wants to help America.

Originally posted by KG
FYI That speech comes from 1973, long before Airbus was common.
Much of it does apply today though. The author Gordon Sinclair died in 1984. Just to put that in perspective, Sinclair's piece was written (for radio broadcast, actually; he read it on the air on CFRB in Toronto, but restatements of it on the Internet have in my experience always identified it as having been published in a Toronto newspaper) on June 5, 1973... six months after the official end of the Vietnam War with the signing of the Paris Peace Accords.

By the way, I think that it was Wednesday that I heard the sloppy-as-usual MSNBC mention it, mention that it had been read into the Congressional Record (which in fact it has been, several times) and imply that it was new.

Originally posted by Brad
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.

Just a quick thing that came to mind when I read that - one or two years back rather bad forest fires were sweeping part(s) of the US. Australian fire fighters, experts in bush fires, were called in to give training and assistance to the US firefighters. I forget the details now.

You also need to remember that America has a rather large population. United States 284 million, Canada 31 million, UK 60 million, France 60 million, Germany 80 million, Italy 59 million, Australia 19 million, New Zealand 4 million (stats from http://www.prb.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Other_reports/2000-2002/sheet1.html).

So surely we can expect a fair bit from you folks over there! Of those countries I've listed above, the US has nearly the population of all others combined!

Originally posted by Lawrence


Just a quick thing that came to mind when I read that - one or two years back rather bad forest fires were sweeping part(s) of the US. Australian fire fighters, experts in bush fires, were called in to give training and assistance to the US firefighters. I forget the details now.

You also need to remember that America has a rather large population. United States 284 million, Canada 31 million, UK 60 million, France 60 million, Germany 80 million, Italy 59 million, Australia 19 million, New Zealand 4 million (stats from http://www.prb.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Other_reports/2000-2002/sheet1.html).

So surely we can expect a fair bit from you folks over there! Of those countries I've listed above, the US has nearly the population of all others combined!

Wrong! It's not UK, Germany, Spain or whatever country in europe. It's EUROPE! 727 Millions!!!

Originally posted by microsol


Wrong! It's not UK, Germany, Spain or whatever country in europe. It's EUROPE! 727 Millions!!!

Oh yes, of course. I was just listing the major ones that the US is involved with when it comes to conflicts - mainly those from NATO who participated in the Kosovo bombings.

And I threw in Australia and New Zealand because they're close to home for me, and Canada because it's a neighbour of the US.

But the point is still valid. The US has the largest population of any western country, unless there's one I'm overlooking. OF COURSE a lot of things come out of the US - and so they should.

Originally posted by UmBillyCord
wired1, AMEN!



For the last four days I have been posting this same concern. It is the same people who continue to pop in, throw salt, put in a non-disclosure about they love everyone, pop out.

Some throw salt before they even read. Look at this thread.

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
btw. I personally know the man who gave you the Compact Disk and he lives not so far from me. He is Dutch, not American ;-)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Congratulations. My next door neighbor invented the question mark. Talk about silly.


That was a joke. It was a kind of sarcastic reply on of of the statements posted. I'm sorry you took that as the most serious line in my writing so I offer you my apologies for that.
A typical example of misquotation. Taking a sentence out of it's context and being critical about exactly that thing without telling what was behind it. It seems we are all picking on each other here which I'm sure will have it's reasons.

Oh well, at least we all agree on one thing...