Note about the US - Perceptions

[spidey]

An American who lived in Canada for some time sent this to me and I felt it was important to forward this. Pass it on.


A TRIBUTE TO THE UNITED STATES

This, from a Canadian newspaper, is worth sharing. America: The Good Neighbor. Widespread but only partial news coverage was given recently to a remarkable editorial broadcast from Toronto by Gordon Sinclair, a Canadian television Commentator. What follows is the full text of his trenchant remarks as printed in the Congressional Record: "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! Wear it proudly!! This is one of the best editorials that I have ever read regarding the United States. It is nice that one man realizes it. I only wish that the rest of the world would realize it. We are always blamed for everything, and never even get a thank you for the
things we do. I would hope that each of you would send this to as many people as you can and emphasize that they should send it to as many of their friends until this letter is sent to every person on the web.

[TOMMO]

I am sorry. Being British, I find the above post a little pompous and offensive.

Massive amounts of sympathy for the events in the USA, it is so sad. But arrogance will get you no where.

[Tommy]

The quote is from a Canadian during the 1970's.

[totyone]

I totally agree, without the "Yanks" in 39/45 we'd have been under the "Jack Boot". I also remember personally (yes I'm old enough) the Marshall plan which made Spam (ha ha) Sunday lunch time. Knocking USA seems to have become a very unhealthy pastime, no one seems to remember all the food,clothing, medical supplies etc etc etc dispatched to so called worthy causes.

I'm British and proud of it, I also say God Bless America,
I at least stand well and truly with them.

[TOMMO]

totyone,

rest assured you are not the only Brit who supports the USA. Count me in on that score.

I just did not appreciate the inference in the original message. Surely you can remember the period from 1939 to the US coming into the war. Surely you can remember the Falklands.

Also, if you take into account the numbers of people in this country showing openly their feelings and support to the USA, then you and I are not alone in our support.

Please do not misunderstand. Just my opinion. I just found it arrogant in reading, the USA is not the only country to activly help others etc.

[likkletree]

I also find that guff very offensive being British and besides they did'nt even go to the f-uc-k-i-n moon , everyone knows that and hey one word CONCORDE !

[likkletree]

I must just add I am very saddened by what has happened and hope that the promises made to the people of America by the President become reallity ! A war on terrorism is needed, and any country that harbours these terrorists must suffer the consequences. BUT and this is a big BUT, will this list of countries that harbour these 'Terrorists' include IRELAND ?

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: likkletree on 2001-09-15 17:21:16 ]</font>

[^Maverick]

How offended would you be if you were speaking german right now??

[^Maverick]

OH! and one more thing if it were big ben or something like that instead of the WTC, "THE BRITS" would be begging the US for help...and we would send it money, people ,supplies . I have heard nothing ANY country offering ANYTHING over here.

'Those who make war against the United States have chosen their own destruction,' Bush said Sat.
He said simply: ``We're at war.''

[likkletree]

No wait a minute, who has said anything about anyone NOT offering help ? The states being as rich as it is MUST have the resources to deal with this situation by the sheer fact that it IS THE richest country in the world. For Gods sake it's like John Paul Getty falling over and cutting his hand , then coming to you for a fu-c-k-ing Bandaid he isn't gonna do that is he ?

[^Maverick]

yes...yes... were are the richest country in the world...and thats the reason you have a country. What does money have to do with it anyway, what are you jealous??? I'm just a little bit tried of the US helping our so called allies and all we get is criticism in return. ya know the allies that knew of pearl harbor, before the attack, and negected to warn us because they were to busy getting the sh*t kicked out of them??? SCREW THE MONEY !!! WHY DONT YOU COME HELP DIG OUT THE BODIES!!!!!!!!! Please ...sit in your house.. type on your computer.. and do nothing..WERE USED TO IT.

[alucard2050]

now, now, now. i am an American. we are supposed to be friends. i am gratefull for all the support from all of our friends from all over the globe. i don't think this is a matter of who has helped us in the past and who has not helped us. i think that alot of other countries have offered to help us but our government has probably just let them know that this mess we can handle but when it comes to finding the ones that helped do this, we want their help with that. what matters is the help we are asking for NOW, not THEN. i don't expect people from other countries to hop aboard planes and fly over here to help pick this mess up. but i do expect them to help us find those that did this and help us rid the world of this kind of hatred.

[ember]

Fact 1) USA gave Britain supplies leading up to Pearl Harbor
Fact 2) Britain sent USA some prior knowledge of the possible attack (from enigma decypering) but USA largely ignored them - largey based on bureaucratic errors.
Fact 3)Many Brits died from '39 to '41 fighting a war declared before any attempt of attack was made on British soil (wow - we were actually fighting because the Polish were invaded i.e. Brits were fighting for ourselves as well as for others ) - Yes USA entered the war - and the military might helped the alliance win. But u were saving ya own asses primarily - not anyone elses.
Fact 4)I believe some British fireman were working in NYC at the time of the terrorist attack.
Fact 5) Donations from UK have ben accumulating and will be sent to USA
Fact 6) UK is not allowed to donate blood to USA - we have CJD problem that USA does not want.

[kimpan]

LOL at maveric..
and what exactly do you do?? your sitting in USA with your computer.. big difference.. LOL.. I don't think you were at pearl harbor at that day so please just shut up cus you aint a hero.

[speedy]

I am sorry. I sometimes find SOME British pompous, aloof and stiff.

Reading this thread I still see some Brits trying to rewrite the history of WWII. There was NO compelling reason for the U.S. to enter the war against Germany. We did to help our friends and forefathers.

I remind everyone that the UK has for nearly 200 years been the United States first and best friend in times like these. I suspect in part because many in the UK still view us sometimes spunky yanks as the "colonies" and time wise our country is going through those always turbulent teen years.

[BIGTHREE2001]

THIS IS TO MAVERICK....
LISTEN M8 IF I COULD AFFORD TO FLY OVER TO NY. I WOULD HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE FIRST TOO HELP OUT , MY HEART GOES OUT TO ALL THE CHILDREN AND FAMALIES ...IT S MAKES MY BLOOD BOIL.

BUT WHAT ARE YOU DOING M8...SITTING ON YOUR PC SLAGGING BRITS OFF..WELL THATS REALLY GONNA HELP , I FOR ONE LIKE AMERICANS..BUT I DONT LIKE YOU , I THINK YOU WANT TO GO TO ANGER MANAGEMENT CLASSES OR SOMETHING ,LEARN TO CONTROL YOURSELF.

ESPECIALLY AT A TIME LIKE THIS FOR F.UCK SAKE , DO SOMETHING USEFULL

[ember]

speedy - explain how we are rewriting history? Then i can try to justify 'our' point of view (history is all about points of view)
You were compelled to go to war with germany for a number of reasons wer'nt you? Like
(here goes, another pompous list...)
1)If Germany had controlled British empire and/or Russia, the US would have had one big f*cking facist continent to appease had the war ended there.(wouldn't british, russian and german scientific knowledge about Atomic bombs been a bit of a threat?)- and isn't a Facist run Eurasian continent just a little bit of a threat to the American way of life? The german empire would have engulfed a hellova lot of resources formerly owned by the brits.
2)Your friends and forefather's l'il ones had to wait a couple of years for you to arrive. Of course we were grateful - and some of us dead, but there is nothing pompous about admitting we entered a war cuz of a potential threatto our islands rather than due to a tangible solid attack. Where you call it pompous I call it a necessary action. If the USA had entered a war on it's own initiative I'm sure you would be the first to say how brave you were....taking the bull by the horns blah blah (self congratulation blah)

[BIGTHREE2001]

WELL SAID MY FRIEND......

[TOMMO]

Maverick - you are well out of order. Brits died or are lost in NYC as well, so do not pass your loveing mouth shut unless you know what you are talking about. Britain has had bombings from terrorists on many occassions. We know that US citizens give money to their funds. Not all but some do. So do NOT come holier than holy with me.

Anyway - enough of this. We are allies - arn't we?

Speedy - yes it may come over that way, but its just the way we talk. LOL. Nah, WWII is way gone - just - aahh never mind. Enough is enough. This is getting well out of order.

Ember - good facts.

alucard2050 - you are totally correct. We are allies.

The only point I was trying to make in response to the original post was that while it is an accepted historical fact, a real fact that the USA does support, in many different ways many Countries throughout the world. This no doubt includes Britain, do not presume you are the only country with internal problems, who feel alone at times.

Judging by our BBC broadcasts over here, our news, which I doubt you get over in the USA, Britain is 200% with the USA on this one, along with a lot of countries. Probably none of us know what is actually going on at higher levels between the UK and the USA. We will never know, until whatever is going to be done is done.

We all share in the grief of the the USA at the moment, and our hearts go out to you all. I just don't know if it reported on USA television what signs of respect have been shown to you. And no doubt these signs will turn to actual deeds at some stage. And then my family will be involved, as they already are in certain ways. It will touch us all then.

^Maverick - OK mate - no offence meant, but not all my family are sat behind the computer - some are much closer to the solution. And that scares the shit out of me.

[likkletree]

All this is just horsecrap' what does it matter, the fact is people have been killed and those responsible will be brought to justice, and the way that will happen is by a concerted effort of all allies the brits will help the usa because we have a duty to, as does the usa to us if ever we are in need. British people died in this tragedy as well as americans, also Japanese, Australians and many many more nationalities no doubt and for us to argue over a post that noone put their name to is ridiculous, Maverick, do you really think that if we could help in some way , we would turn our backs , no, I have seen the queue of people in New York trying to help, the services are overwhelmed with the number of people who want to help but would just hinder because of the sheer numbers, so dont talk any more S_H_I_T. GOD BLESS THE FREE WORLD