Sorry but I had to

[Doug1]

Alabama State Auditor Beth Chapman.

Attached is a copy of Mrs. Chapman's speech, which resulted in five standing
ovations, tremendous applause and an encore. It's a short read and well worth
it.

Stand Up for America Rally Speech By: Beth Chapman

I'm here tonight because men and women of the United States military have
given their lives for my freedom. I am not here tonight because Sheryl Crowe,
Rosie O'Donnell, Martin Sheen, George Clooney, Jane Fonda or Phil Donahue, sacrificed their lives for me.

If my memory serves me correctly, it was not movie stars or musicians, but the United States Military who fought on the shores of Iwo Jima, the jungles of Vietnam, and the beaches of Normandy. Tonight, I say we should support the
President of the United States and the U.S. Military and tell the liberal, tree-hugging, Birkenstock-wearing, hippy, tie-dyed liberals to go make their movies and music and whine somewhere else.

After all, if they lived in Iraq, they wouldn't be allowed the freedom of
speech they're being given here today. Ironically, they would be put to death
at the hands of Sadam Husssein or Osama Bin Laden. I want to know how the very people who are against war because of the loss of life, can possibly be the same people who are for abortion?

They are the same people who are for animal rights but against the rights of
the unborn. The movie stars say they want to go to Iraq and serve as "human
shields" for the Iraqis. I say let them buy a one-way ticket and go.

No one likes war. I hate war! But the one thing I hate more is the fact that
this country has been forced into war--innocent people have lost their lives -
- and there but for the grace of God, it could have been my brother, my
husband, or even worse my own son.

On December 7, 1941, there are no records of movie stars treading the blazing waters of Pearl Harbor.

On September 11, 2001; there are no photos of movie stars standing as "human shields" against the debris and falling bodies ascending from the World Trade Center. There were only policemen and firemen - -underpaid civil servants who gave their all with nothing expected in return.

When the USS Cole was bombed, there were no movie stars guarding the ship - - where were the human shields then?

If America's movie stars want to be human shields, let them shield the
gang-ridden streets of Los Angeles, or New York City, let them shield the
lives of the children of North Birmingham whose mothers lay them down to sleep on the floor each night to shelter them from stray bullets.

If they want to be human shields, I say let them shield the men and women of
honesty and integrity that epitomize courage and embody the spirit of freedom by wearing the proud uniforms of the United States Military. Those are the
people who have earned and deserve shielding!

Throughout the course of history, this country has remained free, not because of movie stars and liberal activists, but because of brave men and women who hated war too. However, they lay down their lives so that we all may live in
freedom. After all - "What greater love hath no man, that he lay down his life for his friend," or in this case a country.

We should give our military honor and acknowledgment and not let their lives
be in vain. If you want to see true human shields, walk through Arlington
Cemetery. There lie human shields, heroes, and the BRAVE Americans who didn't get on television and talk about being a human shield - they were human shields.

I thank God tonight for freedom - - those who bought and paid for it with
their lives in the past - - those who will protect it in the present and
defend it in the future.

America has remained silent too long! God-fearing people have remained silent too long!

We must lift our voices united in a humble prayer to God for guidance and the strength and courage to sustain us throughout whatever the future may hold.

After the tragic events of Sept. 11th, my then eleven -year-old son said
terrorism is a war against them and us and if you're not one of us, then
you're one of them.

So in closing tonight, let us be of one accord, let us stand proud, and let us
be the human shields of prayer, encouragement and support for the President, our troops and their families and our country.

May God bless America, the land of the free, the home of the brave and the
greatest country on the face of this earth

[ShirleyM]

Amen! Thanks, Doug!

[Doug1]

Hmmmmmmmm I am really gettin dissolusioned with the ratio of losses on quick reply, I tried to warn Shirley to watch out she wasnt grouped as a right wing extremist like me

[ShirleyM]

ummmm ..... I don't get it.....???

[Doug1]

Over the last few days I find that using quick reply results in loss of rely to threads. I hade replied at length earlier but its gone. Its happened several times

[Rick O]

Thanks for posting that Doug.

[Doug1]

No Prob Rick, I really think long and hard about posting here, I know its off topic column, but Mom kinda said we cant get really nasty or contraversial. I really dont want this forum to disintegrate into a polarized shouthing match or worse, like others may have done.
Actually as always the maturity shown by the members here amazes me. I know at least one ore two folks that dont agree with me that are articulate and even somewhat apologetic to differ. We dont all think exactly the same but I am guessing we arent that different. As always i pray for an end to the conflict the whole world can live with

[dark horge]

Trusting to 'Quick Reply"




I think that it is vital for celebrities and non-celebrities alike to express any dissent with their government, because that freedom of expression is precisely what your brave warriors are fighting to preserve and give to others around this benighted world.

All one can ask is that celebrities and non-celebrities alike

1. honor the bravery and sacrifice of their protectors by caring enough to study any issue thoroughly and open-mindedly before they proclaim a position on it. There are too many people on either side of the opinion line who have not a clue as to how serious a situation it was that led us into war, nor how serious a situation it is presently for Iraqi innocents and coalition forces. The window for securing Iraq is closing faster than even I had feared, and it is a very dangerous time for them.

2. express their position with care and civility. Address the issue, rather than burn effigies in deed or in words. Aside from the sensibilties of those who differ with their opinion, there are the sensibilities of the men and women in uniform, putting their lives on the line for us all, to consider.

I'd wager a gung-ho war-freak opinion is almost as depressing to the troops as the opinion of a knee-jerk radical oppositionist. Veteran warriors are often the first to shun war. They know what it demands of them, their comrades, and of innocents.


+++

The Iraqi people are among the gentlest, most gallant and hospitable people I have encountered. Coming from a Filipino, an accolade with regard to being hospitable is true praise. I too, bleed for every innocent Iraqi killed in the course of this war. If celebrities and non-celebrities also weep for the blood of innocents, I can understand.

However, if anyone wants to help the Iraqi innoents, there are concrete ways to do it, which have nothing to do with ignorant speech, burning effigies and engaging in civil disturbance. Whining is less effective than working.

Do you want something concrete that will help Iraq innocents?
Something that will help America too? Even yourself personally?

Maybe you can put some money away, ready to invest it in the private companies that will rebuild Iraq. You will likely make a tidy profit, to boot: should an American company be awarded the contract to develop even portions of Iraq's oil weallth for its people, invest there too: Iraqi oil costs very little to bring up and refine, with a profit of nearly 300% per barrel of light sweet crude.

You would likely make some profit in terms of dollars.

In terms of helping Iraqis stand up again, this time as a wealthy people pledged to peace and freedom --amidst a regional sea of irrational hate, virtual slavery and brutal violence, you would reap a thousandfold whatever help you would sow.




horge