[Phono-L] Thanks Givings

[Peter Fraser]

ok, folks, enough jingoism - please.

we're all grateful to the veterans and others who have put themselves  
in harm's way on our behalf, but can we keep it separate from the  
often ill-conceived (or worse) policies that created the harm in the  
first place?

as for me, i'm thankful and proud that we've democratically replaced a  
dangerous crackpot and avoided the continuation of his foolhardy  
policies, and now have an opportunity to restore the lost respect and  
regain the lost trust the US once enjoyed on the world stage.  and  
through that we'll regain more safety than any number of troops could  
ever secure.

to get back on topic, while also giving an example of how some things  
never change, now i'm going to pull out my copy of James Gerard's  
record, "Loyalty," on the Nation's Forum label.  he was the US  
ambassador to Germany prior to the US entry to WW1.

you can listen, too;  just click here:

http://tinyurl.com/5vuotg

here's a transcript:

"Loyalty"

I know that it is hard for Americans to realize the magnitude of the  
war in which we are involved. We have problems in this war no other  
nations have. Fortunately, the great majority of American citizens of  
German descent have, in this great crisis of our history, shown  
themselves splendidly loyal to our flag. Everyone had a right to  
sympathize with any warring nation. But now that we are in the war  
there are only two sides, and the time has come when every citizen  
must declare himself American -- or traitor!

We must disappoint the Germans who have always believed that the  
German-Americans here would risk their property, their children's  
future, and their own neck, and take up arms for the Kaiser. The  
Foreign Minister of Germany once said to me "your country does not  
dare do anything against Germany, because we have in your country  
500,000 German reservists who will rise in arms against your  
government if you dare to make a move against Germany." Well, I told  
him that that might be so, but that we had 500,001 lamp posts in this  
country, and that that was where the reservists would be hanging the  
day after they tried to rise. And if there are any German-Americans  
here who are so ungrateful for all the benefits they have received  
that they are still for the Kaiser, there is only one thing to do with  
them. And that is to hog-tie them, give them back the wooden shoes and  
the rags they landed in, and ship them back to the Fatherland.

I have travelled this year over all the United States. Through the  
Alleghenies, the White Mountains, and the Catskills, the Rockies and  
the Bitterroot Mountains, the Cascades, the Coast Range, and the  
Sierras. And in all these mountains, there is no animal that bites and  
kicks and squeals and scratches, that would bite and squeal and  
scratch equal to a fat German-American, if you commenced to tie him up  
and told him that he was on his way back to the Kaiser.

and now that i've got that out of my system, i'm going to go make a  
couple of pumpkin pies.

best to all of you, no matter what.

-- peter

On Nov 27, 2008, at 7:17 AM, Kat Hall wrote:

> I live in Canada and my late father was a returned vet from WW11.  I  
> agree with you and wished that more people could understand about  
> our men and women serving our countries and stand behind them  
> instead of screaming for them to come home and let terror reign.   
> Those people need to put away their rose colored glasses.
>
> Have a great Thanksgiving.  Eat lots of turkey for me.
>
>> From the Desk of
> Kat Hall
> Executive Assistant to Ms. Smith (Publisher)
> Review Coordinator
> www.champagnebooks.com
> www.carnalpassions.com
> www.thewritersvineyard.com
>
> --------------------------------------------------
> From: "buck Buchanan" <ret.armysgt at yahoo.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, November 26, 2008 9:27 PM
> To: <phono-l at oldcrank.org>
> Subject: [Phono-L] Thanks Givings
>
>> I want to take this time to wish all of our fellow members a Happy  
>> Thanks Givings!
>> While we sit in our safe homes, I want you to consider those that  
>> help keep us safe.
>> That would be our young men and women who are serving in the  
>> military.
>> Whether they are here in America or serving in a distance land we  
>> should take a moment and give thanks and offer a prayer for them  
>> and their families.
>> Those members who live in other nations you should also remember  
>> your young men and women and offer a prayer for them as well.
>> Our young people offer the greatest gift to protect us and that is  
>> their lives.
>> They have volunteered and placed themselves in harms way not to  
>> become rich or to be on TV or to become famous.
>> No they do this because they love their country and their countrymen.
>> With love so great that they are willing to forfeit their own lives  
>> if it comes to that to protect us and our families.
>> They deserve more than we will ever be able to give to them, but  
>> they ask for nothing.
>> All they want is to protect our homes and our families.
>> So please take a moment and give thanks for those who protect what  
>> we take for granted our freedom.
>> Freedom is not free it is bought and paid for with the blood and  
>> tears of our people.
>> So before you sit down to your supper tomorrow please remember them.
>>
>> Thank you
>> Wm Buchanan
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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