The Yanks are all right - British Journalist writes PRO-AMERICA editorial

Pittsburgh Post Gazette ^ | Sunday, February 16, 2003 | James Black

[pittsburgh gop guy]

"Dear Editor: I am a journalist with the Daily Mail in Britain and this may be the slushiest thing I have ever compiled. But it is truly from the heart. I do hope you can find space to print some of it.

[pittsburgh gop guy]

I hope that there are more jounalists in Europe that feel the same way. (And in America too!)

A good read, and more proof that Britain, and her people, are with us.

[July 4th]

Cool post - thanks.

[vbmoneyspender]

you would probably all sell your granny for cash your desire for entrepreneurship is so strong, and your television is full of ads.

This Black guy is funny. While praising America, he is not averse to poking a little fun at us. But he should remember that it was Napoleon who originally called the British a nation of shopkeepers.

[McGavin999]

This is a beautiful gesture and this man will never know how much it's appreciated.

Whether he realizes it or not, this man has just become part of history. His beautiful letter will be read by millions of Americans who will read this with tears in their eyes and it will be brought out frequently to remind people of the greatness and steadiness of the Brits.

[potlatch]

A very nice article, I'm going to send him a 'thankyou email'!

[Pokey78]

He sent the same editorial to the Charleston (WV) Daily Mail:

[jayef]

My letter to James:

All I can say is, THANK YOU. May God guide us and bless us in the challenging days to come. May our will be strong in the face of our enemies. May our fighting men and women again taste victory on the battlefield. And may the beautiful children of Iraq know freedom from the pain, hunger and suffering brought upon them by this evil tyrant we seek to depose.

[potlatch]

Very nice! He's bound to get criticism from some, but he'll get thanks from us!!

[DB]

I'll second that!

[Damagro]

Without the steadfastnest of the British in WWII, there would have been no base to launch an attack on the mainland. Yes we did come in through Sicily and the Italian mainland , but England allowed us France. We will always be united because no matter how pale they are , the Brits have guts

[Porterville]

I emailed and thanked him. Maybe this is something we can do with all the European's who stand with us. Does anyone have a list of the good Europeans email addresses??

[185JHP]

Of all the people in the countries of Europe, the Brits care more about what's good and clean and decent and honest and fair and right. They're like a "prequel" of us.

[Riley]

A very nice article, I'm going to send him a 'thankyou email'!

That's a thought. Maybe we could refer to it as a 'peerF'.

"I just read the greatest editorial- I am going to peerF the author!'

[potlatch]

I'm not quite 'up' on the latest lingo, I can make a guess on the "F", but not the Peer-- please explain??

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Thanks for posting this!

[Riley]

I'm not quite 'up' on the latest lingo, I can make a guess on the "F", but not the Peer-- please explain??

When we 'Freep' someone, it is usually an action which seeks to express diapproval. "I Freeped the IMPOTUS today." translates to "I had an opportunity to personally express to that scumbag Clinton that I think that he is a criminally-inclined, dope-smoking, draft-dodging.." well, you get the idea.

If we 'Freep' someone that we dislike, perhaps we can 'peerF' ('Freep' spelled backwards) somebody whose actions we approve of.

[potlatch]

'peerF' ('Freep' spelled backwards)

LOL, you had me worried for a minute!! I know all about FReeping but I've never heard your expression before. You can add it to the FR vernacular!! It was the capitol 'F' that worried me, thanks for explaining.

[Polybius]

Bumped as a bookmark reminder to snail mail a thank you letter.

[Mustang]

"...he is not averse to poking a little fun at us..."

I think it's what the Brits call being "cheeky."

His was a good letter. I'll have to send an e-mail thanking him.

Mustang sends w/Best FReegards.

[Gracey]

And I emailed him this thread. Thought he'd like to read what we've said about him. He's a decent chap.

[Riley]

Hopefully, it will 'take'. We need some sort of unique expression for supporting those who are on our side. :-)

[Riley]

His was a good letter. I'll have to send an e-mail thanking him.

Agreed. Just sent him a short note of thanks.

[potlatch]

Yes, we could use a 'special' word for that. I'm sorry to say that others might question that big F, like I did. Try it around and see what reaction you get. I'm off to bed. regards, potlatch.

[Cultural Jihad]

An excellent letter. Thanks for posting it.

[Riley]

Only posted it with a big F to make it apparent that it was to be read backwards.

Cheers,
Riley

[SunTzuWu]

Wow...This couldn't have come at a better time. I was begining to think we were standing alone. Thank You Mr. Black and God bless you.

[Mo1]

Thank You James Black!

[johnnybobs]

Great Post!

[The Wizard]

as I read your post, with tears, I had to admit both you and Mr. Black were soooooo right. God Bless the US and the UK

[The Wizard]

this was my email to Mr. Black

Most Esteemed Sir,

Many fail to realize that in an America like we live in, we see accomplishments that rival centuries happening every year. The will and imagination of free men knows no bounds, and has allowed us to do many things. Americans expect to lead the pack, carry the burden, find the way; it's our heritage.

And yet, in many ways, America is a humble nation that always tries to see the good in others, and prides itself in giving others the benefit of the doubt.

We were raised on the beliefs of people like Dave Crockett, whose creed was, "be sure you're right, then go ahead": we have a country of people who feel that way, and thusly we also have an incredible "bull in a china shop" ability to be a bit clumsy in our attempts at finesse.

But we are always there, we never run, we can be depended on whenever the blackest events call on men to stand together. We fear no evil, or at least we face all comers, scared or not.

We help the world more than any single nation on earth.

We donate more money and goods than anyone else, because we can, and we look down on no one for doing less. We accept that when you have it, you do what you can for those who don't.

We are constantly attacked by those we help, abused in their press and society, and yet we continue to help, because it is the American way.

And all we ever hope for, when it's all said and done, is a letter like yours.

God's blessings on you for your kind words.

Wiz

[snippy_about_it]

ping.

[The Wizard]

a bump for the heart

[Chancellor Palpatine]

.

[fightinJAG]

Thank you for emailing him this thread. To be honest, I felt so hated yesterday watching the news. It's dismaying when we know very well that our nation and our President is not at all what many in the world seem to believe.

We appreciate Britain's friendship beyond what words can say.

I watched Tony Blair's speech yesterday and was encouraged.

[fightinJAG]

I admit to crying at James Black's letter, too.

Really, the weight of the world is on the U.S.'s shoulders, and we, her thinking citizens, can't help but feel that weight in---as President Bush says---these "times of great consequence."

Possibly the entire world is about to change: for better, if we are successful militarily and thereafter, for worse, if we are not.

But Mr. Black is exactly correct. We are a nation organized around a deep streak of being moved to action over questions of "right and wrong."

The French have called our national character of looking at things as right or wrong and doing what must be done thereafter as simplistic.

Until it is time to come and pull their chestnuts out of the fire again. And you know what? As furious as the French have made us, and as personally we feel their betrayal, if they get in a jam---if Paris is bombed or whatever---you KNOW American troops will be there the next day, along with billions of dollars, to HELP.

And we'll do it knowing they will betray us again in the future. We will feel compassion for those who suffer, even if they hate us.

That's just how we Americans are.

[fightinJAG]

Reminder to all: Mr. Black's email is in a sidebar in the article.

[fightinJAG]

Is the article published in Europe at all?

[The Wizard]

hear, hear

[The Wizard]

bttt

[The Wizard]

wonderful Sunday bump

[GOPJ]

Many thanks to this good man. The Brits have always been worthy friends, unlike the ingrate French.

I, James Black, a man whose grandfather fought in both World Wars, and had the good humor to suggest that the Americans were late for both events, but the sense to point out they ensured victory when they finally did show up, make my first vow.

[GOPJ]

Many thanks to this good man. The Brits have always been worthy friends, unlike the ingrate French.

I, James Black, a man whose grandfather fought in both World Wars, and had the good humor to suggest that the Americans were late for both events, but the sense to point out they ensured victory when they finally did show up, make my first vow.

[ZinGirl]

kick butt BUMP

[GOPJ]

Amen:

Whether he realizes it or not, this man has just become part of history. His beautiful letter will be read by millions of Americans who will read this with tears in their eyes and it will be brought out frequently to remind people of the greatness and steadiness of the Brits.

[Glenn]

We didn't save Britain. We helped Britain save herself. But the appreciation is appreciated.

[demkicker]

Thanks for the suggestion. Just sent him a well deserved thank you:)

[RWG]

You quirky mix of 280 million misfits that have somehow blended...this is wrong, the mix has to be filtered and sterilized before it can be blended.

[SandRat]

Let's do ourselves a favor and at the same time one for Mr. Black's presentation of a fine letter, with the number of FreeRepublic members out there we should be able to get Mr. Black's letter in every Newspaper in the Nation. Then we all can sound off when our local paper runs it. We may want to Introduce Mr. Black to FreeRepublic so that he can watch the tally grow.

I wonder, MadIvan, would you mind introducing the FreeRepublic to Mr. Black? Thanks

Hey, we can grow the Republic and at the same time have a friend in the press.

[Gang of Five]

Good post and heartening letter from the Brit. But I refuse to concede that our President is "not the sharpest knife in the cutlery set." He seems pretty damned smart to me (and I have a Ph.D.).

The intellectuals said that Ronald Reagan was dumb, too, but he "only" won the cold war, wrung Jimmy Carter's stagflation out of the economy, restored the military, ... shall I go on?

IMHO, Dubya is nearly as great a leader as Reagan was, and Reagan was as great as we've ever had.

[GOPJ]

Truth bump

Great Post!