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03/28/2003 10:01:34 AM · #1 |
On June 5, 1973, Gordon Sinclair, a legendary Canadian Broadcaster sat up in bed in Toronto and turned on his TV set. The United States had just pulled out of the Vietnamese War, which had ended in a stalemate - a war fought daily on TV, over the radio and in the press. The aftermath of that war resulted in a worldwide sell-off of American investments, prices tumbled, the United States economy was in trouble. The war had also divided the American people, and at home and abroad it seemed everyone was lambasting the United States.
He turned on his radio, twisted the dial and turned it off. He picked up the morning paper. In print, he saw in headlines what he had found on TV and radio - the Americans were taking a verbal beating from nations around the world. Disgusted with what he saw and heard, he was outraged!
At 10:30, on his arrival at CFRB, the radio station where he worked, to prepare his two pre-noon broadcasts, he strode into his office and "dashed-off" two pages in 20 minutes for LET'S BE PERSONAL at 11:45 am, and then turned to writing his 11:50 newscast that was to follow. At 12:01 pm, the script for LET'S BE PERSONAL was dropped on the desk of his secretary who scanned the pages for a suitable heading and then wrote "Americans"" across the top and filed it away. The phones were already ringing. The reactions to GordonĂ¢€™s broadcast that day are legendary.
It strikes me that in light of the current DPC comments, rants, and obvious conflict, that it may be time to reread Gordon's broadcast from 30 years ago. It still rings very true for so many of us today.
America: The Good Neighbour.
[Circa 1973] 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 United States 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 the 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 neighbours 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!
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03/28/2003 10:39:22 AM · #2 |
what a breath of fresh air
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03/28/2003 12:03:09 PM · #3 |
You're not to be so blind with patriotism that you can't face reality. Wrong is wrong, no matter who does it or says it.
Malcolm X
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03/28/2003 12:10:11 PM · #4 |
I am sure the Americans helped the Canadians plenty during the War of 1812, which is nothing more than a land grab attempt by New Yorkers and the Canucks beat them back :)
Not everyone wants our help and that's the problem. WWII, people wanted our help. Vietnam, they did not.
We also didn't help Yugoslavia when they were having a civil war and scores of people were dead. We also didn't help Rawanda. Both are ignored because they aren't strategic importance to the US. In the end we'd only help those that benefits us in return, usually financially.
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03/28/2003 12:25:47 PM · #5 |
| thank you, Morgan. that was wonderful! |
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03/28/2003 12:31:00 PM · #6 |
You can take this letter and tear it apart and analize it to say bad things or make new issues saying, "well they didn't help these people or those people" but the fact is it is true, our Country is not perfect. But how many countrys can you name that does what our country does. None!
You can go on believing your own way and live in anti-war land, but deep down I think you know what the true facts are. You have to. It would take a dummy to believe something without proof. You are just out there to cause war with your fellow man. I bet your the ones who sit by your window and judge others for the little things they do or say. You think you stand up high on a peddistle. When
really you are on a pile of pooo stinking up the whole world around you
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03/28/2003 12:31:28 PM · #7 |
Thank you Morgan for bringing that to our attention.
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03/28/2003 12:32:40 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by Geocide:
You're not to be so blind with patriotism that you can't face reality. Wrong is wrong, no matter who does it or says it.
Malcolm X |
You can't separate peace from freedom because no one can be at peace unless he has his freedom.
Malcolm X, Malcolm X Speaks, 1965
Be peaceful, be courteous, obey the law, respect everyone; but if someone puts his hand on you, send him to the cemetery.
Malcolm X, Malcolm X Speaks, 1965
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03/28/2003 12:40:01 PM · #9 |
Originally posted by sher9204:
You can't separate peace from freedom because no one can be at peace unless he has his freedom.
Malcolm X, Malcolm X Speaks, 1965
Be peaceful, be courteous, obey the law, respect everyone; but if someone puts his hand on you, send him to the cemetery.
Malcolm X, Malcolm X Speaks, 1965 |
Due process does apply here
Message edited by author 2003-03-28 12:40:25.
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03/28/2003 12:47:59 PM · #10 |
hey, that's fine. americans and america ARE/IS great!!! I'm very, very proud to be an american. this country has done great things for itself and many other countries of the world, esp in the 20th century.
that doesn't make this iraq thing right -- or even logical ... just because bush and co. want to do it, doesn't mean it's right -- or logical. our leaders are just people, like any of us. they don't have a hotline to God, or anything like that. they're just making judgement and calls and following emotions and whatever inner voices are embedded in them from their childhoods or whatever. it is entirely possible that they are messing up.
And that has nothing to do with them being "American" or not.
Message edited by author 2003-03-28 12:49:07.
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03/28/2003 01:10:09 PM · #11 |
Land of the Free, Home of the Brave
... actually ...
Land of the Free BECAUSE of the Brave
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03/28/2003 01:28:27 PM · #12 |
Originally posted by spiderman:
Land of the Free, Home of the Brave
... actually ...
Land of the Free BECAUSE of the Brave |
well said, spidey!! |
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03/28/2003 01:31:15 PM · #13 |
I am actually not anti-war, but i don't think people who sit in their livingrooms and wanted war really knows what war is like. I just don't think we should be mingling in other people's business in the first place. Are we running a Republic or an empire?
Originally posted by Sonifo:
You can take this letter and tear it apart and analize it to say bad things or make new issues saying, "well they didn't help these people or those people" but the fact is it is true, our Country is not perfect. But how many countrys can you name that does what our country does. None!
You can go on believing your own way and live in anti-war land, but deep down I think you know what the true facts are. You have to. It would take a dummy to believe something without proof. You are just out there to cause war with your fellow man. I bet your the ones who sit by your window and judge others for the little things they do or say. You think you stand up high on a peddistle. When
really you are on a pile of pooo stinking up the whole world around you |
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03/28/2003 01:31:31 PM · #14 |
it's just funny to me how people automatically think the president is right just because he's president. when in reality, he's just a fallible person. hello? anyone remember clinton? exposed for a weak human, even tho he was THE PRESIDENT.
the easiest way to understand is perhaps an analogy:
are all iraqis evil like saddam hussein? or is he just a bad egg?
are all germans evil like hitler or was he just a bad egg
are all russians evil like stalin .. ? all chinese like Mao? All Cambodians like Pol Pot?
No, of course not. Yet, even tho they were not evil cultures, strong bad sociopathic leaders emerged in them.
Now those are extreme examples, but what is to stop a leader with poor judgement to emerge here in the U.S.? And if one does, that is no reflection on the qualities of the american people, just as those other leaders are not a reflection on the character of their respective people's.
What we do need though is to have the strength to see if our leaders are perhaps off-course. Luckily we live in a democracy in which we can question these things.
Remember, that just because there's a lot of momentum towards an outcome, doesn't mean it's impossible to change. Going with the flow is always easier in the short term, but look at the big picture.
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03/28/2003 01:45:17 PM · #15 |
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03/28/2003 03:04:00 PM · #16 |
Take a moment and step out of your shoes and look at this from the other side.
A foreign country, whose government you don't like has decided that your leader, who is very very strict and controlling, is violating some international agreements. This several thousand mile away foreign country has not provided any proof of this but they decided to invade you country anyway and setup the government they like. So you and your family's lives are at great danger because they say there going to have the most massive bombing campaign in modern day history. What do you do? Some of your friends decide to hide in your house but you love your country, it's the home of several generations of your family. If you try to run, you'll be shot in the back by your own country men. Now you have an enemy at your back and another invading. What do you do?
I think the true test to if we're doing the right thing will come in 5-10 years when the dust has setteled. Just remember that cuba was the last time the US set out for regeim change. How much better are they off?
The happiest man in the world is Osma Bin Ladden. This is the best recruitment act he can hope to have. This, IMHO, will start somthing very very big.
Message edited by author 2003-03-28 15:09:03.
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03/28/2003 04:48:50 PM · #17 |
Originally posted by paganini:
I am sure the Americans helped the Canadians plenty during the War of 1812, which is nothing more than a land grab attempt by New Yorkers and the Canucks beat them back :)
Not everyone wants our help and that's the problem. WWII, people wanted our help. Vietnam, they did not.
We also didn't help Yugoslavia when they were having a civil war and scores of people were dead. We also didn't help Rawanda. Both are ignored because they aren't strategic importance to the US. In the end we'd only help those that benefits us in return, usually financially. |
I really do not wish to argue, especially with a Texan. But, I would politely (the Canadian way, eh!) like to point out the following facts, or at least, believed truths.
Funny actually, as Canadians, we were all taught that the war of 1812 was about Canada AGAINST the Americans. So, I am not too sure about your point of how the Americans actually helped the Canadians.
It was my understanding that this was the only war that history records as a loss for the USA. In fact, I was raised in Stoney Creek, Ontario were a fierce battle was fought by about 700 Canadians (actually, British Forces back then, with the help and support of many Mohawk Indians) and about 3400 American Forces. The Americans were defeated soundly and retreated to Fort George in the Niagara area. We have monuments everywhere around town honoring this event on June 6, 1812. {The victor writes the history, as they say}. Other Canadians from Nova Scotia (again more Brits at that time) actually burned down half of the White House, yes the one in DC!
Sorry about that...but, you did a great job rebuilding though, really nice.
With regards to Vietnam, since 1959 when the United States officially entered the Vietnam War approximately 40,000 Canadians voluntarily joined and served beside their brothers and sisters from the United States in all branches of the U.S. armed forces. Who can explain as to why they volunteered to serve in Vietnam?
There are Fifty Eight Thousand, Two Hundred and Nine (58,209) names inscribed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C., one hundred and three (103) of those names are of known Canadians who served and did not return from the Vietnam war.
Cheers, Michael
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03/28/2003 05:03:42 PM · #18 |
[sarcasm on]
Very kind of you guys to so generously sort out all of our problems that we in the ungrateful rest of the world were incapable of dealing with.
[sarcasm off]
I'm all in favour of an international police force to deal with regimes that the international community has decided are requiring attention. That's what the UN is for.
The trouble with this particular conflict is that all of a sudden the US seems to have decided to appoint itself the worlds policeman and disregard what the rest of the world thinks. Suddenly we're not doing things by international consensus and the US is imposing it's will against a majority view.
Isn't that what you're supposed to be fighting AGAINST? |
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03/28/2003 05:22:22 PM · #19 |
Different administrations at different times do things differently.
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03/28/2003 07:14:04 PM · #20 |
Originally posted by ganders:
The trouble with this particular conflict is that all of a sudden the US seems to have decided to appoint itself the worlds policeman and disregard what the rest of the world thinks. Suddenly we're not doing things by international consensus and the US is imposing it's will against a majority view. |
one of the problems is that the majority of the rest of the world's consensus is that they'll say one thing and do another; ie, the UN resolution that nobody except the US is willing to enforce - it seems that up front, everyone was willing to sign off on it, but when it came time to deal with it, only the US was willing to actually back up their word with action
oh, yes - the rest DID offer other possible actions, if you can call "just wait a little longer and then do nothing" an action
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03/28/2003 09:46:28 PM · #21 |
I just heard on CNN that the war with Iraq is off. Aparently the Heads of State have met, resolved their differences, and actually become friends... Here's an exclusive photo:
 |
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03/28/2003 11:31:32 PM · #22 |
A NICE little website that insists it needs to compare Bush to Hitler.
Also many other INTERESTING viewpoints and comments (because most of these are opinion and not backed with factual info).
For the weak stomach people...do not look at the "baby" pictures. You may not like it. I am looking into this DU they speak of, but many of the "problems" and birth defects happen everywhere.
And the person showing these pics, has no medical background. So, has no idea of what they post.
//www.radiopower.org |
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03/29/2003 02:06:12 AM · #23 |
| Hmmm, just from the home page of this web site I can already tell it's not worth looking at. Didn't even bother to click any links because you can tell which way they lean. :) |
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03/29/2003 03:17:21 AM · #24 |
they don't lean that way, they are burrowing into the ground on that side.
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03/29/2003 07:05:45 AM · #25 |
Is anyone else becoming exhausted with the continuous conflict and extreme opinions lately? Would it not be nice to focus on something else for a while? Hey, I got an idea...what about photography? It is fun, creative, relaxing, and is something that we can all share.
Does anyone else agree or am I simply being silly to think that it is worthwhile and might provide a break from this constant barrage of stress and aggressive behavior? I vote that we all work towards having some fun. So, as a result, I will no longer participate in any further war or political related rhetoric. Who wants to join me?
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