|
Stand Up for
America Rally Speech
By: Beth Chapman
The Shelby County
(Tennessee) Legislative Delegation hosted a "Stand Up for America
Rally." More than 1,200 people attended including featured speakers
Chief Justice Roy Moore, 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.
I hope you enjoy it, as we continue to "Stand up for America!"
_________________________________________
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 Sadam Husssein or Osama Bin Laden.
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
descending 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 human shields.
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!
Copyright, February, 2003
________________________________________
|
