Posted on 03/24/2003 12:42:48 PM PST by Diddle E. Squat
LOS ANGELES — Long before he ever traveled to the Persian Gulf, Marine Lance Cpl. Jose Gutierrez was acquainted with perilous and uncertain journeys.
Lanky, quiet and full of ambition, Gutierrez, 22, is believed to be the second U.S. serviceman to die in combat, an American Marine with a distinctive Southern California background: He was among thousands of Central American immigrants who for years have made their way north in dangerous personal odysseys.
At age 16, he had traveled by himself from his home in Guatemala, making his way across Mexico into the United States, where he was taken in by an older couple, who late in life had begun sheltering immigrant children.
Gutierrez made the 2,000-mile journey across the continent as one of many underage immigrants who come here from Latin America each year, seeking family members or jobs.
(Excerpt) Read more at cantonrep.com ...
"Last week, the Shelby County Alabama Legislative Delegation hosted a "Stand Up for America Rally." More than 1,200 people attended including featured speakers Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore, State Adjutant General Mark Bowen and State Auditor Beth Chapman. Attached 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."
"Stand Up for America Rally Speech"
"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 Soddom Husssein [or Osama Bil Clinton!!!]"
"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 who epitomize 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 HumanShields!!
"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 US and Them 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!"
Yep...MUD
"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.""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!!"
Damn...I've got something in my eyes.
Thank you brother.
I have my own views about our borders and how they need to be protected and the flood stopped ... and so I will only say this (and pardon me if it in any way adds to a departure from the honor this young man deserves): It is a pitiful shame if our system doesn't quickly find and notice the qualities that Jose Gutierrez had so we could QUICKLY bring him and anyone like him desiring entry into this country inside our borders with all dispatch. That is one of the clear areas where our immigration policy needs change. I bet those qualiteis were clear to see for anyone who would take a moment to look for them ... if they were allowed to look for them. I say look for them, find them and bring those people in. They are the ilk that made this nation what it is, in terms of its greatness.
Sorry for that rant, but Marine Lance Cpl. Jose Gutierrez is the epitomy of what we want here, and he proved it in a way that 99% of those who were born here would never do ... he volunteered, he served and he died in that service.
God bless him. God rest his soul and God comfort those who loved him.
May we all, whatever our views are, recognize this man's honor and sacrifice and wish that honor and willingness to sacrifice on all of our countrymen, irrespective of how they got here.
... and may we NOT make this thread, which should be a shrine to that honor and sacrifice, a pillar to our own political arguements.
Best Fregards.
That was a good 'rant,' friend.
Well said. God bless.
"Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13
This bears repeating over and over.
"It is a pitiful shame if our system doesn't quickly find and notice the qualities that Jose Gutierrez had so we could QUICKLY bring him and anyone like him desiring entry into this country inside our borders with all dispatch."
He got here as fast as he could...walking.
Either way, this young man represents the epitomy of what we want in our country. God rest his soul and I thank him personally for the ultimate sacrifice that he made on behalf of all of us.
That he travelled so far, alone, to seek a better life, and once here, volunteered to serve his adopted country, and in so doing, laid down his life in her service, well...
Words fail.
This is a story that ought to writ large. Its everything that is good, decent, hopeful and beautiful about this, the last best hope of mankind on earth.
This sacrifice at the altar of freedom should inspire all of us to work to make this the country realize its high ambitions.
We need to earn this: to be worthy to be called fellow citizens of Lance Cpl. Gutierrez.
Words fail, but these will suffice as an eloquent and fitting tribute to a true American hero and a needed reminder of the highest ideals for which he died.
Rest in peace, Lance Cpl. Jose Gutierrez. Your sacrifice has added immeasurably to a debt we can only acknowledge but never hope to repay.
God's best to you too.
You are pro illegal immigrants as long as they are dead! I suppose you think the only good illegal immigrant is a dead one.
I'll tell you what I think. I think it takes a big man like him to put on the uniform and go and give his life for this country. I think it takes a little man like you, to sit behind your keyboard, to try and pull him down, to try and say that he was a bad person or not fit to be an American. You can call him whatever you want, but you need to face reality, he is a dead United States Marine. He gave more for this country than you ever will.
You want to discuss illegal immigration, you start a thread and you ping me and we'll talk about illegal immmigration.
You want to bash a dead United States Marine, you better pull your asbestos suit out of the closet.
In your book, he maybe an illegal alien.
In my book he earned his citizenship.
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