Freedom

[rhino 0]

Quote

We rarely get a chance to see another country's editorial about the USA.

When you think the US isn't thought well of all over the world, read

this excerpt from a Romanian Newspaper.

~An Ode to America~



Why are Americans so united? They would not resemble one another even

if you painted them all one color! They speak all the languages of the

world and form an astonishing mixture of civilizations. Some of them

are nearly extinct, others are incompatible with one another, and in

matters of religious beliefs, not even God can count how many there are.

Still, the American tragedy turned three hundred million people into a

hand put on the heart. Nobody rushed to accuse the White House, the

army, and the secret services that they are only a bunch of losers.

Nobody rushed to empty their bank accounts. Nobody rushed out onto the

streets nearby to gape about.



The Americans volunteered to donate blood and to give a helping hand.

After the first moments of panic, they raised their flag over the

smoking ruins, putting on T-shirts, caps and ties in the colors of the

national flag. They placed flags on buildings and cars as if in every

place and on every car a government official or the president was

passing. On every occasion they started singing their traditional

song: "God Bless America!"



Silent as a rock, I watched the charity concert broadcast on Saturday

once, twice, three times, on different TV channels. There was Clint

Eastwood, Willy Nelson, Robert de Niro, Julia Roberts, (Mohammmed Ali)

Cassius Clay, Jack Nicholson, Bruce Springsteen, Sylvester Stallone,

James Wood, and many others whom no film or producers could ever bring

together. The American's spirit of solidarity turned them into a

choir. Actually, choir is not the word.



What you could hear was the heavy artillery of the American soul.

What neither George W. Bush, nor Bill Clinton, nor Colin Powell could

say without facing the risk of stumbling over words and sounds, was

being heard in a great and unmistakable way through this charity

concert.



I don't know how it happened that all this obsessive singing of America

didn't sound croaky, nationalist, or ostentatious! It made you green

with envy because you weren't able to sing for your country without

running the risk of being considered chauvinist, ridiculous, or

suspected of who-knows-what ulterior motive.



I watched the live broadcast and rerun after rerun for hours listening

to the story of the guy who went down one hundred floors with a woman

in a wheelchair without knowing who she was, or of the California

hockey player, who gave his life fighting with the terrorists and

prevented the plane from hitting a target that could have killed other

hundreds or thousands of people.



How on earth were they able to respond united as one human being?

Imperceptibly, with every word and musical note, the memory of some

turned into a modern myth of tragic heroes. And with every phone call,

millions and millions of dollars were put in a collection aimed at

rewarding not a man or a family, but a spirit, which no money can buy.

What on earth can unite the Americans in such a way? Their land?

Their galloping history? Their economic power? Money? I tried for

hours to find an answer, humming songs and murmuring phrases with the

risk of sounding commonplace.



I thought things over, but I reached only one conclusion.



Only freedom can work such miracles!

[mujie96 0]

Thanks for posting that Rhino.
Jess

Just keep swimming...just keep swimming....

[AggieDave 6]

That was good, thanks Rhino.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[rhino 0]

No problem.. I thanked the guy that sent it to me also..

How is everyone today?? How are you feeling??

Rhino

[Zinger 0]

That one is getting printed and framed on the wall, Thanks..

------Have a good one!--------