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A Tale of Two Women
Special to FreeRepublic ^ | 10 July, 2010 | John Armor (Congressman Billybo

Posted on 07/10/2010 5:57:48 AM PDT by Congressman Billybob

“Important” events happened recently to two women. The relative attention paid and press coverage about the two tells a lot about where we are as a nation, and it isn’t good. The two women are Lindsay Lohan and Pam Murphy.

All of you know that Lindsay Lohan is a spoiled, self-centered, self-destructive twit who was just sentenced to 90 days in jail for multiple instances of contempt of court. But how many of you know who Pam Murphy was? Let’s not always see the same hands.

Pam Murphy was the widow of Audie Murchy, the most decorated US soldier from WW II. Here is how an article in Veterans Today on 10 April, 2010, described her:

“After Audie died, they all became her boys. Every last one of them.

“Any soldier or Marine who walked into the Sepulveda VA hospital and care center in the last 35 years got the VIP treatment from Pam Murphy.

“The widow of Audie Murphy – the most decorated soldier in World War II – would walk the hallways with her clipboard in hand making sure her boys got to see a specialist or doctor — STAT. If they didn’t, watch out.

“Her boys weren’t Medal of Honor recipients or movie stars like Audie, but that didn’t matter to Pam. They had served their country. That was good enough for her.

“She never called a veteran by his first name. It was always “Mister.” Respect came with the job.”

“ ‘Nobody could cut through VA red tape faster than Mrs. Murphy,’ said veteran Stephen Sherman, speaking for thousands of veterans she befriended over the years.

“ ‘Many times I watched her march a veteran who had been waiting more than an hour right into the doctor’s office. She was even reprimanded a few times, but it didn’t matter to Mrs. Murphy.’

“ ‘Only her boys mattered. She was our angel.’ ”

For that whole article, go here: http://www.veteranstoday.com/2010/04/16/pam-murphy-widow-of-actor-audie-murphy-was-veterans-friend-and-advocate/

The simple truth is that Pam Murphy did more for her “boys,” and through them for all of America, before lunch on any day of her 90 years, than Lindsay Lohan did for anyone, anytime. And yet, Lohan’s sniveling before the judge got wall-to-wall press coverage, but the death of a great and dedicated woman passed almost unnoticed.

Consider how much better our press would be, our nation would be, our lives would be, if the life of Pam Murphy had been covered and celebrated like the Lohan court hearing. And the contrary is true, what if the Lohan hearing had been covered in a few lines back in the papers next to the pet obituaries?

I spend much of my time reading about the Framers, their lives, their philosophies, their times, and their works. Occasionally people say to me, “Those were unique times. We couldn’t find a collection of Washington, Franklin, Jefferson, Adams, and so on, today.” To that I answer, yes we can. But we can’t find them where the originals were found, in Congress.

Can anyone recite the names of the current leaders of Congress alongside of the leaders of Congress when the Declaration of Independence was passed and signed, without sardonic tears?

Yet, here is proof that America still generates leaders of the vision and caliber of the Framers, and of Pam Murphy. These are three Americans I’ve had the privilege of knowing and working with over the years. I’ll match any and all of them up with any of the Framers, beginning with John and Abigail Adams. See if you agree:

Dr. Thomas Sowell. The late Dr. Jeane Kirkpatrick. The late Dr. Milton Friedman. If any of these names are unfamiliar to you, I won’t attempt to explain such extraordinary people in a sentence or two. Look them up. Get into their writings. See whether you agree that people of the quality of the Framers yet live and work among us.

Then ask why our press is filled with trivialities, and void of the greatness that America actually possesses. That’s what I thought of this week, when I contemplated the vast gulf between Lindsay Lohan and Pam Murphy, this week.

- 30 –

About the Author: John Armor practiced before the Supreme Court for 33 years. John_Armor@aya,yale.edu His latest book, to appear in September, is on Thomas Paine. www.TheseAreTheTimes.us

- 30 -


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: framers; lindsaylohan; pammurphy; press
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I thnik y'all will appreciate this.

John / Billybob

1 posted on 07/10/2010 5:57:51 AM PDT by Congressman Billybob
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To: Kathy in Alaska

ping


2 posted on 07/10/2010 6:01:36 AM PDT by MrEdd (Heck? Geewhiz Cripes, thats the place where people who don't believe in Gosh think they aint going.)
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To: Congressman Billybob

Very good!


3 posted on 07/10/2010 6:03:00 AM PDT by EmilyGeiger (Psalm 33:12 "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,")
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To: freema; brytlea; RaceBannon

of interest


4 posted on 07/10/2010 6:03:05 AM PDT by MrEdd (Heck? Geewhiz Cripes, thats the place where people who don't believe in Gosh think they aint going.)
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To: Congressman Billybob
Billybob

Thanks so much. I was not aware of Mrs. Murphy or her contributions to our veterans. What a wonderful story and perfect way to illustrate the inanity of our media and culture (or lack thereof).

5 posted on 07/10/2010 6:03:24 AM PDT by marlon
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To: Congressman Billybob
Dr. Thomas Sowell. The late Dr. Jeane Kirkpatrick. The late Dr. Milton Friedman.

I agree. Add Phyllis Schlafly, a woman of outstanding accomplishments.

6 posted on 07/10/2010 6:06:35 AM PDT by Tax-chick (We made a proactive decision to postpone the originally scheduled nightlife activities.)
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To: Congressman Billybob

Thank you for telling the story of Mrs. Murphy. This is the first time that I have heard it.


7 posted on 07/10/2010 6:10:48 AM PDT by LADY J (Change your thoughts and you change your world.. - Norman Vincent Peale)
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To: Congressman Billybob
I met Pam and Audie when I was about 9 years old. Audie was very pleasant to the adults but when he got to me he leaned over smiled and asked how i was that fine day. Pam smiled and thanked me for coming out to see them Fine woman and lady. Audie died a few months later.
8 posted on 07/10/2010 6:12:39 AM PDT by mad_as_he$$ (Sometimes you have to go to dark places to get to the light....)
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To: Congressman Billybob
Then ask why our press is filled with trivialities, and void of the greatness that America actually possesses.

Generations of liberal educrats produced today's press and the sheep who swallow their propaganda.

Many are just now becoming aware of the dead- end road up ahead. I hope there's still time to reverse course.

9 posted on 07/10/2010 6:18:43 AM PDT by Madame Dufarge
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To: Congressman Billybob
Why does the press/media focus on the personalities that they do?

Very simple - those personalities reflect the morals and beliefs of the press/media. It is that simple.

This is reflected in politics, economics, everything.

Proof of statement?

Name a current MSM figure, other than those on FOX, who can hold a candle up to their World War II forefathers.

What has caused such a downfall in the fourth estate - check out the major schools of journalism to answer that one. It is no longer about the facts it is all about the buzz.

10 posted on 07/10/2010 6:28:21 AM PDT by Nip (Islam - a religion of piece (your head and life). Truth depends on the spelling)
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To: Congressman Billybob

Thank you. I have never heard of Pam Murphy. She was indeed an American hero.


11 posted on 07/10/2010 6:31:34 AM PDT by atc23
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To: Congressman Billybob

What is the "important event" that happened to Pam Murphy recently?

12 posted on 07/10/2010 6:47:31 AM PDT by skeptoid
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To: FrogHawk

ping


13 posted on 07/10/2010 6:55:27 AM PDT by toomanygrasshoppers ("In technical terminology, he's a loon")
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To: Congressman Billybob

Why did this happen? Because our schools don’t teach history, and haven’t for several decades now. I doubt the reporters even know who we fought in World War II. The people reporting on Lindsay Lohan know who she is, but they have no idea who Audie Murphy was, and what he did, much less his wife. No. Idea.


14 posted on 07/10/2010 7:17:32 AM PDT by La Lydia
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To: Congressman Billybob

Lindsy Says f*** you America

15 posted on 07/10/2010 7:37:00 AM PDT by Popman (Obama Presidential Timber: Worm Eaten Balsa Wood)
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To: La Lydia
I doubt the reporters even know who we fought in World War II.

They would be hard put to it just to place WWII in the right century.

16 posted on 07/10/2010 7:38:44 AM PDT by thulldud (Is it "alter or abolish" time yet?)
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To: Congressman Billybob

If you are in Washington D.C., be sure to visit Arlington National Cemetery. Take the bus tour, under $10, and it goes around to most of the sights you want to see. If I recall correctly, the tour includes a map that tells where famous graves are, Audie Murphy’s is on it and it’s just a regular veteran’s headstone, but usually it’s marked with a couple of little US flags put there by the public. There is also a hill area where some of the Supreme Court justices are buried and another area where memorials are placed for the shuttles Columbia and Challenger. The Unknown Soldier memorial often has Honor Flight vets visiting it and that adds to the feeling of hallowed ground on gets while visiting.


17 posted on 07/10/2010 8:05:47 AM PDT by RicocheT
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To: RicocheT

I haven’t visited Arlington National Cemetery in 35 years or more. I really should go there again once more before I die. My father rests there.


18 posted on 07/10/2010 8:21:34 AM PDT by Hiddigeigei ("Talk sense to a fool and he calls you foolish," said Dionysus - Euripides)
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To: Congressman Billybob

My screen is all blurry.

God bless her!


19 posted on 07/10/2010 8:34:44 AM PDT by AFreeBird
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To: Congressman Billybob
Great post Congressman! Well stated. It reminds me of a Victor Davis Hanson column this week: American Decline Is a State of Mind. Like you, VDH argues that America does still possess the exceptionalism that has made us great. It is our generation's own free choice. While the Lohan's and Hilton's get the press, it is still a fact that a significant number of "people of the quality of the Framers yet live and work among us". Look no further than Pam Murphy's 'boys' - our young men and women in uniform on the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan.
20 posted on 07/10/2010 8:46:45 AM PDT by Servant of the Cross (the Truth will set you free)
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