OT - "An Ode To America" (By A Romanian)

 Sometimes one runs across a non-American who seems to know and appreciate what our country is about more than some of our own fellow ciitizens.  (btw, I verified the authenticity of this article with Snopes.com).  Happy 4th All!:  * * * * * *   We rarely get a chance to see another country's editorial about the USA. Read this excerpt from a Romanian Newspaper.   The article was written by Mr. Cornel Nistorescu and published under the title 'C'ntarea Americii, meaning 'Ode To America') in the Romanian newspaper Evenimentulzilei 'The Daily Event' or 'News of the Day';

~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 and religious beliefs. 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, or the Secret Service 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.

Instead 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: 'God Bless America!' 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 Californian 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 into 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 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, I reached but only one conclusion... Only freedom can work such miracles.God bless America Cornel Nistorescue

 

That was amazing, wasn't it? True unity.

I'm just disappointed that the current admininistration had to tarnish all of that and risk/ lose all of those lives by invading Iraq.

Fire away!

Dave

Unity is great for sure. This is America, only country in the world like it. 

 

As to the current administration, even Nobama is starting to admit there is more to Iraq than he thought. It is one thing to bad mouth someone and say they should have done this or that but not that however it si quiet another to be in their position. I think Obama is starting to learn that lesson.  

I know Obama has his faults, as all politicians do - he is a career politician after all,  and the people force politicians to act and appear in certain ways and give this opinion, then that one - but in light of the problems of the current president, I don't see how Obama's faults are even worth mention.

I continue to ask God to bless America.  I sincerely hope that both of the major candidates for president will admit that either one can indeed lead our country.  They should be expressing how their policies are different rather than attacking each other.  They have served together in Congress and there is simply no need to be divisive when we are at war against terrorists.  Let them each promote their strengths and let us decide who we want to lead us as our president.  Neither one can be as bad as George W Bush.

McCain would have potential were he younger. Problem is, 95% of 70 years olds don't have the physical or mental capability to perform at that level. McCain may or may not, there's simply no way for us to know. So why risk it? If McCain is too old, what could possibly be so seriously wrong with Obama? "He will impose regulations on us and stifle the economy." That's always been the biggest worry about democratic candidates, hasn't it? Well, **** anything would be an improvement over what we have now!

The hope of America has always been and will always be its people. American has done so many good things for the world in a true spirit of helpfulness. I truly feel however that the invasion of Iraq was not done in that spirit. By contrast, it was done either for material or political gain (both?) and without the blessings of the majority at home or abroad.

Probably stating the obvious here, But let's hope and pray that in the future we don't need to go and police anyone else and that if we do (Do we really? And why us?), that it's not for economic or political gain.

Best Wishes,

Dave 

While I'm here alone on the topic of politics. I like the analysis of one specialist on the subject of Democrat vs. Republican fiscal policy:

Democrats:   Tax = Spend by paying cash up front

Republicans: Borrow = Spend and pay in installments with

                                interest

Can't say I blame you, avoiding this topic like the plague!