With dignity you finally recognized that a new country was being birthed. We joined in trade and commerce, and later in war, fighting common enemies and working toward common causes. From the trenches of the Great War to the Second World War we fought and died, side by side, as friends and for some as brothers. At this moment you stand with us in places throughout the world where people are struggling to be relieved of oppression, dictators, and economic woes. As Americans we are at times seen as the klutzes of the world, the arrogant and unsophisticated country bumpkins that think people should not beat up the innocent, the unarmed and the oppressed. Perhaps we are a bit unsophisticated, but as our friends you have sweetened the pot a good bit. We borrow from your dignity all the time. We borrow from a long list of noble kings and queens. We borrow from Shakespeare,Dickens,Churchill, Diana and yes, Mr. Blair, just to mention a few. Yet perhaps we are not borrowing at all, maybe we are just carrying on with civilized actions and higher causes that you gave us from the start. Even with your problems, England for many of us here may still represent the very cradle of democracy and the very birth place of a more gentle society. Since the attack on our citizens on 9-11 we have in part at least, softened to the sufferings of others. From far across the pond we can feel your sorrow and grief. We honor those who were lost and wounded in your underground and send our condolences to them and their surviving families. By now any American would expect that our President has already offered his condolences to your Prime Minister as is fitting in diplomatic protocols. Please allow one small man from the rank and file of our nation to offer the same condolences. I am sure that millions of Americans with little dissent are standing with me in this offering. There would not be enough time left in my lifetime to ask each American for their permission to offer their condolences along with mine. I am also sure that I would not have enough time left to offer each one an apology for not doing so. God bless you good friends, in your great sorrow. |
