We rarely get a chance to see another country's editorial about the USA. I thought you'd like this.

This is an 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") on September 24, 2002, 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, and the secret services 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. 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 their traditional song: "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 in a collection aimed at rewarding not a man or a family, put a spirit, which no money can buy. What on earth can unite the Americans in such a way? Their land? Their galloping 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, but I reached only one conclusion...Only freedom can work such miracles.

A Soldier

At Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington DC recently the sergeant Major of the Army, Jack Tilley, was with a group of people visiting the wounded soldiers. He saw a Special Forces soldier who had lost his right hand and suffered severe wounds of his face and side of his body. The SMA wanted to honor him and show him respect without offending, but what can you say or do in such a situation that will encourage and uplift? How do you shake the right hand of a soldier who has none? He decided to act as though the hand was not missing and gripped the soldier's wrist while speaking words of comfort and encouragement to him.

But there was another man in that group of visitors who had even brought his wife with him to visit the wounded who knew exactly what to do. This man reverently took the soldiers stump of a hand in both of his hands, bowed at the bedside and prayed for him. When he finished the prayer he stood up, bent over the soldier and kissed him on the head and told him that he loved him.

What a powerful expression of love for one of our wounded heroes! What kind of a man would kneel in such humility and submission? It was the wounded man's Commander-in-Chief, George W. Bush; a true leader.

Iraq War Casualties

To Those Who Paid The Ultimate Price

In The Name Of Freedom For The Country

They Loved, The U.S.A..

We Of The Jacksonville Scottish Rite Bodies

Salute You.

We apologize for not being able to list all of the war casualties

and their pictures.

May God Bless Them All.

Subject: FROM THE MARINES

For all the free people that still protest.
You're welcome. We protect you
and you are protected by the best.
Your voice is strong and loud,

But, who will fight for you?
No one standing in your crowd.

We are your fathers, brothers, and sons,
wearing the boots and carrying guns.
We are the ones that leave all we own,
to make sure your future is carved in stone.
We are the ones who fight and die,
we might not be able to save the world,
Well, at least we try.

We walked the paths to where we are at
and we want no choice other than that.
So, when you rally your group to complain,
take a look in the back of your brain.
In order for that flag you love to fly
wars must be fought and young men must die.
We came here to fight for the ones we hold dear. If, that’s not respected, we would rather stay here.

So please stop yelling, put down your signs,
and pray for those behind enemy lines.
When the conflict is over and all is well,
be thankful that we chose to go through
hell.

By: Corporal Joshua Miles and all the boys from 3rd Battalion 2nd Marines,

Kuwait

My Protest

My father was the greatest man,

That I have ever known.

He raised his kids with a firm hand.

His love for my mother was shown.

He fought in Korea and Vietnam.

For people that were oppressed.

He fought for America’s interests,

For a country that had been blessed.

He fought so you could say your piece,

And hold your protest sign.

So you could trash your president.

He died for your rights and mine.

He died so you could assemble,

And complain when you don’t agree.

With governmental policies

That were made for you and me.

You burn your flag and say your chants,

And I’ll just hold my tongue.

I’ll honor my dads memory

It will not go on unsung.

My dad is one that helped you get

Those freedoms you enjoy.

He also died for my rights too

And those rights I will employ.

So do not try to block my path,

Or even touch MY FLAG!

Cause once you put your hands on it,

It becomes a filthy rag.

I’ll gladly defend my country,

and hold MY FLAG up high.

This is what my father wanted

That is why he died.

Sing your chants and wave your sign,

I’ll not stand in your way.

I’ll honor my fathers memory

And let you have your say.

BUT you must know where your rights end,

And where my rights begin.

Cause I’m so tired of your disrespect,

I am ready for my rights to defend.

God Bless America

Written by Robby Stokes 03/15/03

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