A Grateful Briton

London Daily Mail ^ | 14 April 2003 | James Black

[wrbones]

A Grateful Briton By London Daily Mail London Daily Mail | March 14, 2003

Dear America, you quirky mix of 280 million misfits that have somehow blended into the strongest nation in the world, I write to offer you four apologies and two vows.

I, James Black, a European passport holder whose parents are Scottish, whose wife is English, and whose four children are free to be whatever they may want to be (directly because of the sacrifice of your nation), am ashamed for pointing out to a colleague while visiting your country a few days ago that Winston Churchill was wrong when he said the biggest difference between Britain and the United States was the fact we both spoke the same language -- and instead, telling him that the real difference between our peoples was actually about 100 pounds per person.

I, who work as a journalist with the Daily Mail, one of Britain's national newspapers, and (directly because of the sacrifice of your nation) is able to say exactly what he wants whenever he wants without fear of death or imprisonment, also apologize for saying to the same colleague that many of the Americans I met were far less sophisticated and worldly than Europeans.

I, James Black, a man born free of social or physical shackles and chains, who is able to travel around the world and visit other countries and who (directly because of the sacrifice of your nation) is able to converse, discuss, even argue with people from other nations, would like to apologize for mocking your president and your political system.

Your president may not be the sharpest knife in the cutlery set, but I now understand he and the good people of the United States operate not just from a high intellectual stance, but also from the heart -- a heart that knows the difference between good and evil. And importantly, your president was smart enough to have picked the best to sit with him at the world table.

I, whose friends, family and colleagues are allowed to set up home, take a job, even run for politician, in any part of the European Union (directly because of the sacrifice of your nation) without being rounded up because of their religion or shot on the spot for their place of birth would finally like to apologize for the biggest mistake the people of my continent have ever made -- their total lack of respect for the greatest friend they will ever have -- the United States of America.

My anger at some of my fellow Europeans is more than palpable. I hear the self-centered, cowardly, and just plain annoying words thrown out by old-minded -- old world -- so-called leaders of the Free World.

I may have made fun of America and Americans, but deep down I know this is only friendly banter between the greatest of friends -- and friends who should give their all to each other when called upon to do so.

So I, whose grandfather fought in both World Wars and had the good humor to suggest 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:

I will never forget or dishonor the amazing and courageous sacrifice of the people of the United States in coming to the aid of the world over the past ten decades. The men and women who left peace and prosperity in a land of plenty to face bullet and shrapnel on the beaches of Normandy and around the World.

I will honor the debt my small island nation owes for your unswerving devotion to aiding our continued freedom. Your help when we stood small and alone against the plague of Nazi aggression. Your assistance in making us strong when the battle was finished and the peace began, and your protection from a colder enemy in the decades that followed.

I have stood, and I will stand again, with my own family, in places such as the cemetery of Colleville-sur-Mer, an eternal resting place for over 10,000 teen and twenty-something Americans who gave over ALL their future so that I and my children could have a future today, and I will again pledge my eternal gratitude.

I, James Black, a man who simply wants his children to live in a future where all good and constructive things are possible, a future where we can discover, invent, enjoy, without fear of fanatics or madmen or the weapons and pain they may wreak, pledge my assistance to the United States in its fight against evil.

This is not brainwashed verse, but based on the honorable history and proven friendship the United States has with Europe.

Further, it is based on the fact that the people and leaders of the United States have the foresight to see the world, even life itself, is futile without someone to love, things to build and create, and things to look forward to -- and none of these things are possible in a world awash with nuclear, chemical and biological arms controlled by those who despise the life we lead.

I am one person, but there are millions like me who thank the USA and wish your nation and your people all the best over the next few months -- and will be there by your side when the times get tough.

Yours with all my gratitude, James Black Wychwood Park, Cheshire, England

P.S.: It is said that today is the tomorrow we worried about yesterday. You should be proud as a nation that you have something to do with the fact it didn't turn out so badly after all -- nor should it again.

[Caipirabob]

Your president may not be the sharpest knife in the cutlery set...

I just don't get this. Bush is brilliant. How else can you explain that he constantly achieves the tactical advantage of having his enemies underestimate him every time, only to turn around and whup them completely?

Sun Tzu is taking notes somewhere.

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[patriciaruth]

Wow! Sorry for the ping fest, but this is a keeper.

[Darling Lili]

He just couldn't get through this without taking a gratuituous slam at GWB?

Looks like just another case of a blind hog finally finding acorns. I look for more of them, now that the war's pretty well been won.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Those who misunderestimate the President will see their strategery backfire. Bigtime.

[gatorbait]

Your president may not be the sharpest knife in the cutlery set,
I think this is a perception,slowly diminishing, among the intelligentsia.Personally,I hope the baddies keep thinking Dubya is a little slow;then when he slams them into irrelevence,it is that much sweeter.

[wrbones]

Apparently this was posted about a month ago over there. Personally, I learned long ago to never underestimate a Texican or a hillbilly. You'll end up hurt or flat broke! LOL. Or both!!!

You can post comments here, but you'll have to register first.

http://www.frontpagemag.com/GoPostal/index.asp?ID=6654

[Mo1]

I just don't get this. Bush is brilliant. How else can you explain that he constantly achieves the tactical advantage of having his enemies underestimate him every time, only to turn around and whup them completely?

I think he is talking about the plain spoken words of the President.

Unfortunately, some people think you need to sound like a Stuff Shirt Ivy League idiot like Teddy Kennedy to have any real intelligence.

It has taken some a little longer in learning that President Bush is more on the ball, extremely smart and full of common sense ... which many of those Ivy League Stuff Shirts are lacking Big Time.

[christie]

"Your president may not be the sharpest knife in the cutlery set..."

I just don't get this. Bush is brilliant. How else can you explain that he constantly achieves the tactical advantage of having his enemies underestimate him every time, only to turn around and whup them completely?

Bush is far too cunning and thinks way too far outside the box for these people to understand him. First, they've determined that he's dumb, so they underestimate him. Second, he lets them think he's dumb, so he can outmaneuver them at ever turn. And they don't see it coming (eventhough it just keeps on coming).

Now, who is stupid?

[firewalk]

Thank you for the ping

[AndrewC]

BTTT

[LoveBushLongTime]

"Your president may not be the sharpest knife in the cutlery set..."

No, that's because he uses that one to cut his enemies to the quick. Bush is much smarter than those who think otherwise. I think he's brilliant.

[JakeWyld]

A Late BUMP!!

[ThePythonicCow]

Thanks for the ping, patriciaruth.

Your president may not be the sharpest knife in the cutlery set ...

Unlike some above, I didn't mind this line; it's a gentle recognition to the ordinary liberals who might be reading this of their instinctive dislike of Bush. It's a common rhetorical technique - when speaking to the opposition, to acknowledge early on at least the possibility of something they commonly find objectionable about your side, so that they don't dismiss you out-of-hand as a card carrying member of the vast opposition.

... but I now understand he and the good people of the United States operate not just from a high intellectual stance, but also from the heart -- a heart that knows the difference between good and evil.

But I do object to the other half of this same sentence. Simply put, I think that it's the soul, more than the heart, that is the organ of such spiritual awareness as knows the difference between good and evil.

Notice that there's not much mention of God in this piece.

[George W. Bush]

Your president may not be the sharpest knife in the cutlery set, but I now understand he and the good people of the United States operate not just from a high intellectual stance, but also from the heart -- a heart that knows the difference between good and evil.

Actually, I think he has a point. I don't think Bush is intellectual. He's like Reagan in this way. But it's not merely knowing the difference between good and evil. All the Weasels and even most the Middle East knew that Saddam was evil and undesirable.

Where the author fails is in failing to recognize that it's having the will and courage to risk your political career and put your young armies' lives on the line to take a stand for the good, for human rights, for the dignity of the individual, for freedom, which is the truly enobling quality of the leadership of Bush and Reagan. And I have to give Bush far greater credit for his success than I can to Reagan. He's gone even further than Reagan. But then, Bush also is the 9/11 president, a political advantage Reagan never had.

It's Bush's heart and determination that are his most admirable qualities. Personally, I think that Clinton and Carter are probably smarter than W is in the ways we conventionally measure intelligence. And yet, there is no doubt that, as a president, he towers over them like pygmies. And it arises innately from his mature character, something that comes from his most basic identity, just as, among these failed Dem presidents, their own flaws proceed from that same source within their own character.

[gcruse]

Heh. You only missed the publication date by a month. This was from March 14, not April. And, yup, it was posted here at the time.

[wrbones]

Wasn't my intention to offend anyone.

the 14th to the 14th is a month, isn't it?

[snooker]

>>>may not be the sharpest knife in the cutlery set,

baffling sentence ...

What do you do when you call someone a moron and he continuely makes you look like one?

[ChadGore]

re:Your president may not be the sharpest knife in the cutlery set . .

He's a graduate of Yale and Harvard.
No small achievement.