I am a frequent reader of this board and hardley ever make a post. I will be visting AC this November for the second time and absolutely love it. I grew up in the shadows of the WTC on the New Jersey side and this really hits home. I know there are a lot of people from a lot of differnt countries that make posts on this board, so I thought I would share something that a Canadian citizens has wrote. I think this sums up the whole situation....

America: The Good Neighbor.

"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!

I feel like a better person having read that.....

thanks

Thank you for putting it on the board!! A friend had sent it to us earlier!! C&R

Hey Cajunflo...where ya been?

Remember that song... Proud to be an American
(who sings that?)

I don't think I've ever felt prouder than after reading that post. I think all Americans could use an ally and a mental boost after seeing part of the world cheering because of our tragedy. How horrible to know that people are actually glad that this happened.

Thanks, Susan

[This message has been edited by swayflo (edited 09-12-2001).]

It doesn't make it any the less inspiring, but someone noted elsewhere that this article was written many years ago, by a Canadian writer who died more than 15 years ago. So it doesn't speak specifically to the WTC attack.

--Lan Sluder

Regardless, it still made me feel good!!

Peace, Susan

Beer Man - Thanks so much. I know the US does alot of good in the world. I just wish we could figure out away to make the rest of the world realize that we are not arrogant. I think for the majority of the population, we are just looking for peace, and one world.

Beerman, thanks, we needed that. Remember that even though we live a long way from home, and we have our reasons that are valid. We are still Americans and damn proud of it!

I've been emailed this particular passage several times now. It is a good one. Well said, and perfect for how we all feel right now. It does make one feel good, especially in light of the celebrations in the Middle East, as one poster noted above. Thanks for posting it here.
Debbie

Thanks, Beer Man...I was looking for that very same article to post. I've seen it circulate for years, but how appropriate at this time.

I cannot comprehend how some people can celebrate the wholesale slaughter of innocent civilians. How can they invoke the name of God (or Allah) to justify actions such as this?

America is not a bully, we are simply the protectors of democracy, the innocent and weak. Yes, we have made our mistakes, but we and the whole world learn from them. Maybe we do stick our nose where it doesn't belong sometimes, but it has always been with good intention. We know the difference between right and wrong, good and evil!

I fear our world as we know it, has been changed forever. My prayers go out not only for the victims, their families, and for what has happened...but for that which will happen in the future...God help us and bless us all.