<div dir="ltr">>>Does George Soros give each of the minions a bright shiney quarter every time they repeat the mantra?<br><br>Definitely. He gives me a "shiny" one every day because I'm such a good boy.<br>
If he gave me "shiney" ones, I would indeed be as impoverished as you!<br>--L<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Fri, Sep 5, 2008 at 5:51 PM, <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:vision2020-request@moscow.com">vision2020-request@moscow.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
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Today's Topics:<br>
<br>
1. Re: The RNC's Exploitation of 9/11 (g. crabtree)<br>
2. Re: 9/11 (Andreas Schou)<br>
3. John McCain and Our Veterans (Tom Hansen)<br>
<br>
<br>
----------------------------------------------------------------------<br>
<br>
Message: 1<br>
Date: Fri, 5 Sep 2008 17:23:15 -0700<br>
From: "g. crabtree" <<a href="mailto:jampot@roadrunner.com">jampot@roadrunner.com</a>><br>
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] The RNC's Exploitation of 9/11<br>
To: "Loren Singh" <<a href="mailto:loren.singh@gmail.com">loren.singh@gmail.com</a>>, <<a href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">vision2020@moscow.com</a>><br>
Message-ID: <034901c90fb6$c16de8c0$6401a8c0@gmc><br>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"<br>
<br>
Does George Soros give each of the minions a bright shiney quarter every time they repeat the mantra?<br>
<br>
Quo usque tandem abutere patentia nostra?<br>
<br>
Absum!<br>
<br>
g<br>
----- Original Message -----<br>
From: Loren Singh<br>
To: <a href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">vision2020@moscow.com</a><br>
Sent: Friday, September 05, 2008 9:18 AM<br>
Subject: [Vision2020] The RNC's Exploitation of 9/11<br>
<br>
<br>
Neither the RNC nor the DNC will broach the subject of George W. Bush's "Operation Iraqi Freedom,"<br>
--i.e., the concept of unilateral pre-emptive warfare to effect r?gime change--is in violation of the<br>
United Nations Charter (to which both the U.S. and Iraq are signatories) as well as international law.<br>
The U.S. violated Iraq's sovereignty and territorial integrity, launched an unprovoked<br>
war of imperialist aggression, and refuses to end is military occupation of the country even<br>
when requested to do so by the puppet government that it installed through the use of force.<br>
<br>
Obama touts his anti-war stance as an Illinois state senator. McCain--military adventurist that he is--<br>
blindly accepts the Iraq war as a military "order," congratulates himself on being an early<br>
"surge" advocate (in contrast to Rumsfeld's "shock and awe" and Bush's "mission accomplished").<br>
<br>
Neither of the candidates questions the "faulty intelligence" that Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld,<br>
Wolfowitz, Rove, and others used selectively to justify an imperialist war they had already planned<br>
well in advance of 9/11/2001. None of these war criminals has been taken to task. And in that<br>
the Democrats have been complicit, including John Kerry, Nancy Pelosi, Hillary Clinton,<br>
and Joseph Biden.<br>
<br>
The U.S. has lost the moral high ground with unilateral pre-emptive warfare, Abu Ghraib,<br>
water-boarding, and Guant?namo. When Vladimir Putin and his KGB pals pulled their number<br>
on Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and Georgia and Bush, Cheney, McCain and the GOP halleluyah chorus<br>
sang "Foul!" in perfect harmony, their performance revealed the utter absurdity of their miserable<br>
excuse for political leadership.<br>
<br>
In the past few days, the Republicans (Giuliani, Palin, McCain) have resorted to mocking and<br>
ridiculing Obama. McCain used the "anointed" metaphor, great poet that he is. He conveniently<br>
omitted application of that metaphor to George W. Bush, who has informed us repeatedly<br>
(and Sarah Palin agrees with him) that it was through divine revelation that he made the<br>
decision to launch his war of imperialist aggression against Iraq.<br>
<br>
Oh, yes, and by the way--McCain used the expression "My friends..." eleven times last night.<br>
<br>
Pro Deo et patria--<br>
<br>
Sic transit gloria mundi.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
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Message: 2<br>
Date: Fri, 5 Sep 2008 17:29:07 -0700<br>
From: "Andreas Schou" <<a href="mailto:ophite@gmail.com">ophite@gmail.com</a>><br>
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] 9/11<br>
To: "Jeff Harkins" <<a href="mailto:jeffh@moscow.com">jeffh@moscow.com</a>><br>
Cc: <a href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">vision2020@moscow.com</a><br>
Message-ID:<br>
<<a href="mailto:a80566c40809051729g7e77bb70i88bfc2baa4c9e1a0@mail.gmail.com">a80566c40809051729g7e77bb70i88bfc2baa4c9e1a0@mail.gmail.com</a>><br>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1<br>
<br>
> It is modern history and yet, already we have groups within our borders<br>
> which attempt to persuade us that 911 was a government conspiracy. '<br>
<br>
Don't look at me. Look across the water in Minneapolis, at the Ron<br>
Paul paraconvention.<br>
<br>
> And the notion that political parties should not utilize video to engage Americans<br>
> in a reminder of the event is naive at best.<br>
<br>
The notion that a political party should not use a great American<br>
tragedy as a political cudgel is basic human decency, a concept about<br>
which your Torture Party seems to have entirely forgotten.<br>
Unfortunately, after the last six years, it appears to be naive to<br>
expect them not to.<br>
<br>
> And your hypocrisy is so blatant - your "world view" is so skewed. Where is<br>
> your "outrage" at the bilge spewed by Michael Moore. Why have you not<br>
> condemned MoveOn.org for their endorsement of his film during the 2004<br>
> presidential campaign.<br>
<br>
Not this again. Here, let me give the 'condemn this!' game a try. Why<br>
haven't I ever heard you condemn the Watergate break-in? Isn't it a<br>
little suspicious that you've never said anything negative about the<br>
Holocaust? Where's your outrage at Swift Boat Veterans for Truth?<br>
<br>
Now, Jeff, why aren't you on the record saying anything bad about any<br>
of these things? Hint: it wasn't the topic of our conversation*.<br>
<br>
-- ACS<br>
<br>
* Oh, and just in case he brings it up again: blah blah blah, pro<br>
forma denunciation of a group I'm not a member of and their support of<br>
a movie I've never seen.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
------------------------------<br>
<br>
Message: 3<br>
Date: Sat, 6 Sep 2008 00:51:34 GMT<br>
From: Tom Hansen <<a href="mailto:thansen@moscow.com">thansen@moscow.com</a>><br>
Subject: [Vision2020] John McCain and Our Veterans<br>
To: <a href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">vision2020@moscow.com</a><br>
Message-ID: <<a href="mailto:200809060051.m860pd6f044320@mail-gw.fsr.net">200809060051.m860pd6f044320@mail-gw.fsr.net</a>><br>
<br>
Greetings Visionaires -<br>
<br>
Copied and pasted below is John McCain's acceptence speech (in its<br>
entirety) presented last night at the Republican National convention.<br>
<br>
He went into great detail about his service to our country, what he<br>
intends to do for our country, and his experiences as a prisoner for war.<br>
<br>
However, there is one word, or even forms of this word, that he NEVER<br>
mentioned. That word is "veteran".<br>
<br>
As the saying goes . . .<br>
<br>
His silence is deafening and extremely revealing.<br>
<br>
He apparently considers each and every topic he discussed, either in depth<br>
or in passing, more important than our veterans.<br>
<br>
This SICKENS me.<br>
<br>
---------------------------------------------------<br>
<br>
Thank you all very much. Tonight, I have a privilege given few Americans —<br>
the privilege of accepting our party's nomination for president of the<br>
United States. And I accept it with gratitude, humility and confidence.<br>
<br>
In my life, no success has come without a good fight, and this nomination<br>
wasn't any different. That's a tribute to the candidates who opposed me<br>
and their supporters. They're leaders of great ability, who love our<br>
country, and wished to lead it to better days. Their support is an honor I<br>
won't forget.<br>
<br>
I'm grateful to the president for leading us in those dark days following<br>
the worst attack on American soil in our history, and keeping us safe from<br>
another attack many thought was inevitable; and to the first lady, Laura<br>
Bush, a model of grace and kindness in public and in private. And I'm<br>
grateful to the 41st president and his bride of 63 years, and for their<br>
outstanding example of honorable service to our country.<br>
<br>
As always, I'm indebted to my wife, Cindy, and my seven children. The<br>
pleasures of family life can seem like a brief holiday from the crowded<br>
calendar of our nation's business. But I have treasured them all the more,<br>
and can't imagine a life without the happiness you give me. Cindy said a<br>
lot of nice things about me tonight. But, in truth, she's more my<br>
inspiration than I am hers. Her concern for those less blessed than we<br>
are — victims of land mines, children born in poverty and with birth<br>
defects — shows the measure of her humanity. I know she will make a great<br>
first lady.<br>
<br>
When I was growing up, my father was often at sea, and the job of raising<br>
my brother, sister and me would fall to my mother alone. Roberta McCain<br>
gave us her love of life, her deep interest in the world, her strength and<br>
her belief we are all meant to use our opportunities to make ourselves<br>
useful to our country. I wouldn't be here tonight but for the strength of<br>
her character.<br>
<br>
My heartfelt thanks to all of you who helped me win this nomination and<br>
stood by me when the odds were long. I won't let you down. To Americans<br>
who have yet to decide who to vote for, thank you for your consideration<br>
and the opportunity to win your trust. I intend to earn it.<br>
<br>
Finally, a word to Sen. Obama and his supporters. We'll go at it over the<br>
next two months. That's the nature of these contests, and there are big<br>
differences between us. But you have my respect and admiration. Despite<br>
our differences, much more unites us than divides us. We are fellow<br>
Americans, an association that means more to me than any other. We're<br>
dedicated to the proposition that all people are created equal and endowed<br>
by our Creator with inalienable rights. No country ever had a greater<br>
cause than that. And I wouldn't be an American worthy of the name if I<br>
didn't honor Sen. Obama and his supporters for their achievement.<br>
<br>
But let there be no doubt, my friends, we're going to win this election.<br>
And after we've won, we're going to reach out our hand to any willing<br>
patriot, make this government start working for you again, and get this<br>
country back on the road to prosperity and peace.<br>
<br>
These are tough times for many of you. You're worried about keeping your<br>
job or finding a new one, and are struggling to put food on the table and<br>
stay in your home. All you ever asked of government is to stand on your<br>
side, not in your way. And that's just what I intend to do: stand on your<br>
side and fight for your future.<br>
<br>
And I've found just the right partner to help me shake up Washington, Gov.<br>
Sarah Palin of Alaska. She has executive experience and a real record of<br>
accomplishment. She's tackled tough problems like energy independence and<br>
corruption. She's balanced a budget, cut taxes and taken on the special<br>
interests. She's reached across the aisle and asked Republicans, Democrats<br>
and independents to serve in her administration. She's the mother of five<br>
children. She's helped run a small business, worked with her hands and<br>
knows what it's like to worry about mortgage payments and health care and<br>
the cost of gasoline and groceries.<br>
<br>
She knows where she comes from, and she knows who she works for. She<br>
stands up for what's right, and she doesn't let anyone tell her to sit<br>
down. I'm very proud to have introduced our next vice president to the<br>
country. But I can't wait until I introduce her to Washington. And let me<br>
offer an advance warning to the old, big-spending, do-nothing, me-first,<br>
country-second Washington crowd: Change is coming.<br>
<br>
I'm not in the habit of breaking promises to my country, and neither is<br>
Gov. Palin. And when we tell you we're going to change Washington and stop<br>
leaving our country's problems for some unluckier generation to fix, you<br>
can count on it. We've got a record of doing just that, and the strength,<br>
experience, judgment and backbone to keep our word to you.<br>
<br>
You know, I've been called a maverick; someone who marches to the beat of<br>
his own drum. Sometimes it's meant as a compliment, and sometimes it's<br>
not. What it really means is I understand who I work for. I don't work for<br>
a party. I don't work for a special interest. I don't work for myself. I<br>
work for you.<br>
<br>
I've fought corruption, and it didn't matter if the culprits were<br>
Democrats or Republicans. They violated their public trust, and had to be<br>
held accountable. I've fought big spenders in both parties who waste your<br>
money on things you neither need nor want, while you struggle to buy<br>
groceries, fill your gas tank and make your mortgage payment. I've fought<br>
to get million-dollar checks out of our elections. I've fought lobbyists<br>
who stole from Indian tribes. I fought crooked deals in the Pentagon. I<br>
fought tobacco companies and trial lawyers, drug companies and union<br>
bosses.<br>
<br>
I fought for the right strategy and more troops in Iraq, when it wasn't a<br>
popular thing to do. And when the pundits said my campaign was finished, I<br>
said I'd rather lose an election than see my country lose a war.<br>
<br>
Thanks to the leadership of a brilliant general, David Petraeus, and the<br>
brave men and women he has the honor to command, that strategy succeeded<br>
and rescued us from a defeat that would have demoralized our military,<br>
risked a wider war and threatened the security of all Americans.<br>
<br>
I don't mind a good fight. For reasons known only to God, I've had quite a<br>
few tough ones in my life. But I learned an important lesson along the<br>
way. In the end, it matters less that you can fight. What you fight for is<br>
the real test.<br>
<br>
I fight for Americans. I fight for you. I fight for Bill and Sue Nebe from<br>
Farmington Hills, Mich., who lost their real estate investments in the bad<br>
housing market. Bill got a temporary job after he was out of work for<br>
seven months. Sue works three jobs to help pay the bills.<br>
<br>
I fight for Jake and Toni Wimmer of Franklin County, Pa. Jake works on a<br>
loading dock, coaches Little League and raises money for the mentally and<br>
physically disabled. Toni is a schoolteacher, working toward her master's<br>
degree. They have two sons; the youngest, Luke, has been diagnosed with<br>
autism. Their lives should matter to the people they elect to office. They<br>
matter to me.<br>
<br>
I fight for the family of Matthew Stanley of Wolfboro, N.H., who died<br>
serving our country in Iraq. I wear his bracelet and think of him every<br>
day. I intend to honor their sacrifice by making sure the country their<br>
son loved so well and never returned to remains safe from its enemies.<br>
<br>
I fight to restore the pride and principles of our party. We were elected<br>
to change Washington, and we let Washington change us. We lost the trust<br>
of the American people when some Republicans gave in to the temptations of<br>
corruption. We lost their trust when rather than reform government, both<br>
parties made it bigger. We lost their trust when instead of freeing<br>
ourselves from a dangerous dependence on foreign oil, both parties and<br>
Sen. Obama passed another corporate welfare bill for oil companies. We<br>
lost their trust when we valued our power over our principles.<br>
<br>
We're going to change that. We're going to recover the people's trust by<br>
standing up again for the values Americans admire. The party of Lincoln,<br>
Roosevelt and Reagan is going to get back to basics.<br>
<br>
We believe everyone has something to contribute and deserves the<br>
opportunity to reach their God-given potential from the boy whose<br>
descendents arrived on the Mayflower to the Latina daughter of migrant<br>
workers. We're all God's children, and we're all Americans.<br>
<br>
We believe in low taxes, spending discipline and open markets. We believe<br>
in rewarding hard work and risk takers and letting people keep the fruits<br>
of their labor.<br>
<br>
We believe in a strong defense, work, faith, service, a culture of life,<br>
personal responsibility, the rule of law and judges who dispense justice<br>
impartially and don't legislate from the bench. We believe in the values<br>
of families, neighborhoods and communities.<br>
<br>
We believe in a government that unleashes the creativity and initiative of<br>
Americans. Government that doesn't make your choices for you, but works to<br>
make sure you have more choices to make for yourself.<br>
<br>
I will keep taxes low and cut them where I can. My opponent will raise<br>
them. I will open new markets to our goods and services. My opponent will<br>
close them. I will cut government spending. He will increase it.<br>
My tax cuts will create jobs. His tax increases will eliminate them. My<br>
health care plan will make it easier for more Americans to find and keep<br>
good health care insurance. His plan will force small businesses to cut<br>
jobs, reduce wages, and force families into a government-run health care<br>
system where a bureaucrat stands between you and your doctor.<br>
<br>
Keeping taxes low helps small businesses grow and create new jobs. Cutting<br>
the second-highest business tax rate in the world will help American<br>
companies compete and keep jobs from moving overseas. Doubling the child<br>
tax exemption from $3,500 to $7,000 will improve the lives of millions of<br>
American families. Reducing government spending and getting rid of failed<br>
programs will let you keep more of your own money to save, spend and<br>
invest as you see fit. Opening new markets and preparing workers to<br>
compete in the world economy is essential to our future prosperity.<br>
<br>
I know some of you have been left behind in the changing economy, and it<br>
often seems your government hasn't even noticed. Government assistance for<br>
unemployed workers was designed for the economy of the 1950s. That's going<br>
to change on my watch. My opponent promises to bring back old jobs by<br>
wishing away the global economy. We're going to help workers who've lost a<br>
job that won't come back find a new one that won't go away.<br>
<br>
We will prepare them for the jobs of today. We will use our community<br>
colleges to help train people for new opportunities in their communities.<br>
For workers in industries that have been hard hit, we'll help make up part<br>
of the difference in wages between their old job and a temporary, lower<br>
paid one while they receive retraining that will help them find secure new<br>
employment at a decent wage.<br>
<br>
Education is the civil rights issue of this century. Equal access to<br>
public education has been gained. But what is the value of access to a<br>
failing school? We need to shake up failed school bureaucracies with<br>
competition, empower parents with choice, remove barriers to qualified<br>
instructors, attract and reward good teachers, and help bad teachers find<br>
another line of work.<br>
<br>
When a public school fails to meet its obligations to students, parents<br>
deserve a choice in the education of their children. And I intend to give<br>
it to them. Some may choose a better public school. Some may choose a<br>
private one. Many will choose a charter school. But they will have that<br>
choice, and their children will have that opportunity.<br>
<br>
Sen. Obama wants our schools to answer to unions and entrenched<br>
bureaucracies. I want schools to answer to parents and students. And when<br>
I'm president, they will.<br>
<br>
My fellow Americans, when I'm president, we're going to embark on the most<br>
ambitious national project in decades. We are going to stop sending $700<br>
billion a year to countries that don't like us very much. We will attack<br>
the problem on every front. We will produce more energy at home. We will<br>
drill new wells offshore, and we'll drill them now. We will build more<br>
nuclear power plants. We will develop clean coal technology. We will<br>
increase the use of wind, tide, solar and natural gas. We will encourage<br>
the development and use of flex fuel, hybrid and electric automobiles.<br>
<br>
Sen. Obama thinks we can achieve energy independence without more drilling<br>
and without more nuclear power. But Americans know better than that. We<br>
must use all resources and develop all technologies necessary to rescue<br>
our economy from the damage caused by rising oil prices and to restore the<br>
health of our planet. It's an ambitious plan, but Americans are ambitious<br>
by nature, and we have faced greater challenges. It's time for us to show<br>
the world again how Americans lead.<br>
<br>
This great national cause will create millions of new jobs, many in<br>
industries that will be the engine of our future prosperity; jobs that<br>
will be there when your children enter the workforce.<br>
<br>
Today, the prospect of a better world remains within our reach. But we<br>
must see the threats to peace and liberty in our time clearly and face<br>
them, as Americans before us did, with confidence, wisdom and resolve.<br>
<br>
We have dealt a serious blow to Al-Qaeda in recent years. But they are not<br>
defeated, and they'll strike us again if they can. Iran remains the chief<br>
state sponsor of terrorism and on the path to acquiring nuclear weapons.<br>
Russia's leaders, rich with oil wealth and corrupt with power, have<br>
rejected democratic ideals and the obligations of a responsible power.<br>
They invaded a small, democratic neighbor to gain more control over the<br>
world's oil supply, intimidate other neighbors and further their ambitions<br>
of reassembling the Russian empire. And the brave people of Georgia need<br>
our solidarity and prayers. As president, I will work to establish good<br>
relations with Russia so we need not fear a return of the Cold War. But we<br>
can't turn a blind eye to aggression and international lawlessness that<br>
threatens the peace and stability of the world and the security of the<br>
American people.<br>
<br>
We face many threats in this dangerous world, but I'm not afraid of them.<br>
I'm prepared for them. I know how the military works, what it can do, what<br>
it can do better and what it should not do. I know how the world works. I<br>
know the good and the evil in it. I know how to work with leaders who<br>
share our dreams of a freer, safer and more prosperous world, and how to<br>
stand up to those who don't. I know how to secure the peace.<br>
<br>
When I was 5 years old, a car pulled up in front of our house. A Navy<br>
officer rolled down the window, and shouted at my father that the Japanese<br>
had bombed Pearl Harbor. I rarely saw my father again for four years. My<br>
grandfather came home from that same war exhausted from the burdens he had<br>
borne, and died the next day. In Vietnam, where I formed the closest<br>
friendships of my life, some of those friends never came home with me. I<br>
hate war. It is terrible beyond imagination.<br>
<br>
I'm running for president to keep the country I love safe, and prevent<br>
other families from risking their loved ones in war as my family has. I<br>
will draw on all my experience with the world and its leaders, and all the<br>
tools at our disposal — diplomatic, economic, military and the power of<br>
our ideals — to build the foundations for a stable and enduring peace.<br>
<br>
In America, we change things that need to be changed. Each generation<br>
makes its contribution to our greatness. The work that is ours to do is<br>
plainly before us. We don't need to search for it.<br>
<br>
We need to change the way government does almost everything: from the way<br>
we protect our security to the way we compete in the world economy; from<br>
the way we respond to disasters to the way we fuel our transportation<br>
network; from the way we train our workers to the way we educate our<br>
children. All these functions of government were designed before the rise<br>
of the global economy, the information technology revolution and the end<br>
of the Cold War. We have to catch up to history, and we have to change the<br>
way we do business in Washington.<br>
<br>
The constant partisan rancor that stops us from solving these problems<br>
isn't a cause, it's a symptom. It's what happens when people go to<br>
Washington to work for themselves and not you.<br>
<br>
Again and again, I've worked with members of both parties to fix problems<br>
that need to be fixed. That's how I will govern as president. I will reach<br>
out my hand to anyone to help me get this country moving again. I have<br>
that record and the scars to prove it. Sen. Obama does not.<br>
<br>
Instead of rejecting good ideas because we didn't think of them first,<br>
let's use the best ideas from both sides. Instead of fighting over who<br>
gets the credit, let's try sharing it. This amazing country can do<br>
anything we put our minds to. I will ask Democrats and independents to<br>
serve with me. And my administration will set a new standard for<br>
transparency and accountability.<br>
<br>
We're going to finally start getting things done for the people who are<br>
counting on us, and I won't care who gets the credit.<br>
<br>
I've been an imperfect servant of my country for many years. But I have<br>
been her servant first, last and always. And I've never lived a day, in<br>
good times or bad, that I didn't thank God for the privilege.<br>
<br>
Long ago, something unusual happened to me that taught me the most<br>
valuable lesson of my life. I was blessed by misfortune. I mean that<br>
sincerely. I was blessed because I served in the company of heroes, and I<br>
witnessed a thousand acts of courage, compassion and love.<br>
<br>
On an October morning, in the Gulf of Tonkin, I prepared for my 23rd<br>
mission over North Vietnam. I hadn't any worry I wouldn't come back safe<br>
and sound. I thought I was tougher than anyone. I was pretty independent<br>
then, too. I liked to bend a few rules and pick a few fights for the fun<br>
of it. But I did it for my own pleasure; my own pride. I didn't think<br>
there was a cause more important than me.<br>
<br>
Then I found myself falling toward the middle of a small lake in the city<br>
of Hanoi, with two broken arms, a broken leg and an angry crowd waiting to<br>
greet me. I was dumped in a dark cell and left to die. I didn't feel so<br>
tough anymore. When they discovered my father was an admiral, they took me<br>
to a hospital. They couldn't set my bones properly, so they just slapped a<br>
cast on me. When I didn't get better and was down to about a hundred<br>
pounds, they put me in a cell with two other Americans. I couldn't do<br>
anything. I couldn't even feed myself. They did it for me. I was beginning<br>
to learn the limits of my selfish independence. Those men saved my life.<br>
<br>
I was in solitary confinement when my captors offered to release me. I<br>
knew why. If I went home, they would use it as propaganda to demoralize my<br>
fellow prisoners. Our Code said we could only go home in the order of our<br>
capture, and there were men who had been shot down before me. I thought<br>
about it, though. I wasn't in great shape, and I missed everything about<br>
America. But I turned it down.<br>
<br>
A lot of prisoners had it worse than I did. I'd been mistreated before,<br>
but not as badly as others. I always liked to strut a little after I'd<br>
been roughed up to show the other guys I was tough enough to take it. But<br>
after I turned down their offer, they worked me over harder than they ever<br>
had before. For a long time. And they broke me.<br>
<br>
When they brought me back to my cell, I was hurt and ashamed, and I didn't<br>
know how I could face my fellow prisoners. The good man in the cell next<br>
door, my friend, Bob Craner, saved me. Through taps on a wall he told me I<br>
had fought as hard as I could. No man can always stand alone. And then he<br>
told me to get back up and fight again for our country and for the men I<br>
had the honor to serve with. Because every day they fought for me.<br>
<br>
I fell in love with my country when I was a prisoner in someone else's. I<br>
loved it not just for the many comforts of life here. I loved it for its<br>
decency; for its faith in the wisdom, justice and goodness of its people.<br>
I loved it because it was not just a place, but an idea, a cause worth<br>
fighting for. I was never the same again. I wasn't my own man anymore. I<br>
was my country's.<br>
<br>
I'm not running for president because I think I'm blessed with such<br>
personal greatness that history has anointed me to save our country in its<br>
hour of need. My country saved me. My country saved me, and I cannot<br>
forget it. And I will fight for her for as long as I draw breath, so help<br>
me God.<br>
<br>
If you find faults with our country, make it a better one. If you're<br>
disappointed with the mistakes of government, join its ranks and work to<br>
correct them. Enlist in our armed forces. Become a teacher. Enter the<br>
ministry. Run for public office. Feed a hungry child. Teach an illiterate<br>
adult to read. Comfort the afflicted. Defend the rights of the oppressed.<br>
Our country will be the better, and you will be the happier. Because<br>
nothing brings greater happiness in life than to serve a cause greater<br>
than yourself.<br>
<br>
I'm going to fight for my cause every day as your president. I'm going to<br>
fight to make sure every American has every reason to thank God, as I<br>
thank Him: that I'm an American, a proud citizen of the greatest country<br>
on earth, and with hard work, strong faith and a little courage, great<br>
things are always within our reach. Fight with me. Fight with me.<br>
<br>
Fight for what's right for our country.<br>
<br>
Fight for the ideals and character of a free people.<br>
<br>
Fight for our children's future.<br>
<br>
Fight for justice and opportunity for all.<br>
<br>
Stand up to defend our country from its enemies.<br>
<br>
Stand up for each other; for beautiful, blessed, bountiful America.<br>
<br>
Stand up, stand up, stand up and fight. Nothing is inevitable here. We're<br>
Americans, and we never give up. We never quit. We never hide from<br>
history. We make history.<br>
<br>
Thank you, and God bless you.<br>
<br>
---------------------------------------------------<br>
<br>
Pro patria,<br>
<br>
Tom Hansen<br>
Moscow, Idaho<br>
<br>
"Patriotism is not a short and frenzied outburst of emotion but th<br>
tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime."<br>
<br>
-- Adlai E. Stevenson, Jr.<br>
<br>
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