Joe,
After reading your statement I had to send this to you. I think you can appreciate it.
Last week, the Shelby County Alabama Legislative Delegation hosted a
>
> "Stand Up for America Rally." More than 1,200 people attended
> including featured speakers Chief Justice Roy Moore, Adjutant General
> Mark Bowen and Alabama State Auditor Beth Chapman.
>
>
> This is a copy of Mrs. Chapman's speech, which resulted in five
> standing ovations, tremendous applause and an encore. It's a short
> read and well worth it. I hope you enjoy it as we continue to "Stand
> up for America!"
Stand Up for America Rally Speech By: Beth Chapman
>
>
> I'm here tonight because men and women of the United States military
> have given their lives for my freedom. I am not here tonight because
> Sheryl Crowe, Rosie O'Donnell, Martin Sheen, George Clooney, Jane
> Fonda or Phil Donahue, sacrificed their lives for me.
>
> If my memory serves me correctly, it was not movie stars or
> musicians, but the United States Military who fought on the shores of
> Iwo Jima, the jungles of Vietnam, and the beaches of Normandy.
>
> Tonight, I say we should support the President of the United States
> and the U.S. Military and tell the liberal, tree-hugging, Birkenstock-
> wearing, hippy, tie-dyed liberals to go make their movies and music
> and whine somewhere else.
>
> After all, if they lived in Iraq, they wouldn't be allowed the
> freedom of speech they're being given here today. Ironically, they
> would be put to death at the hands of Sadam Husssein or Osama Bin
> Laden.
>
> I want to know how the very people who are against war because of the
> loss of life, can possibly be the same people who are for abortion?
>
> They are the same people who are for animal rights but against the
> rights of the unborn.
>
> The movie stars say they want to go to Iraq and serve as "human
> shields" for the Iraqis.
>
> I say let them buy a one-way ticket and go.
>
> No one likes war. I hate war! But the one thing I hate more is the
> fact that this country has been forced into war-innocent people have
> lost their lives - - and there but for the grace of God, it could
> have been my brother, my husband, or even worse my own son.
>
> On December 7, 1941, there are no records of movie stars treading the
> blazing waters of Pearl Harbor.
>
> On September 11, 2001; there are no photos of movie stars standing as
>
> "human shields" against the debris and falling bodies ascending from
> the World Trade Center. There were only policemen and firemen - -
> underpaid civil servants who gave their all with nothing expected in
> return.
>
> When the USS Cole was bombed, there were no movie stars guarding the
> ship - where were the human shields then?
>
> If America's movie stars want to be human shields, let them shield
> the gang-ridden streets of Los Angeles, or New York City, let them
> shield the lives of the children of North Birmingham whose mothers
> lay them down to sleep on the floor each night to shelter them from
> stray bullets.
>
> If they want to be human shields, I say let them shield the men and
> women of honesty and integrity that epitomizes courage and embody the
> spirit of freedom by wearing the proud uniforms of the United States
> Military. Those are the people who have earned and deserve shielding!
>
> Throughout the course of history, this country has remained free, not
> because of movie stars and liberal activists, but because of brave
> men and women who hated war too. However, they lay down their lives
> so that we all may live in freedom. After all - "What greater love
> hath no man, that he lay down his life for his friend," or in this
> case a country.
>
> We should give our military honor and acknowledgement and not let
> their lives be in vain. If you want to see true human shields, walk
> through Arlington Cemetery. There lie human shields, heroes, and the
> BRAVE Americans who didn't get on television and talk about being a
> human shield - they were human shields.
>
> I thank God tonight for freedom - - those who bought and paid for it
> with their lives in the past - - those who will protect it in the
> present and defend it in the future.
>
> America has remained silent too long! God-fearing people have
> remained silent too long!
>
> We must lift our voices united in a humble prayer to God for guidance
> and the strength and courage to sustain us throughout whatever the
> future may hold.
>
> After the tragic events of Sept. 11th, my then eleven -year-old son
> said terrorism is a war against them and us and if you're not one of
> us, then you're one of them.
>
> So in closing tonight, let us be of one accord, let us stand proud,
> and let us be the human shields of prayer, encouragement and support
> for the President, our troops and their families and our country.
>
> May God bless America, the land of the free, the home of the brave
> and the greatest country on the face of this earth!
> :money:
