America - the Good Neighbor
Sep 14th 2001, 5:26 am
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
America, the Good Neighbor
Widespread, but only partial, news coverage was given recently to a remarkable
editorial broadcast from Toronto by Gordon Sinclair, a Canadian television
commentator. What follows is the full text of his trenchant remarks as printed in the
Congressional Record:
"This Canadian thinks it is time to speak up for the Americans as the most generous
and possibly least appreciated people on all the earth.
Germany, Japan and, to a lesser extent, Britain and Italy were lifted out of the
debris of war by the Americans who poured in billions of dollars and forgave other
billions in debts. None of these countries is today paying even the interest on its
remaining debts to the United States.
When France was in danger of collapsing in 1956, it was the Americans who propped it
up, and their reward was to be insulted and swindled on the streets of Paris. I was
there. I saw it.
When earthquakes hit distant cities, it is the United States that hurries in to help.
This spring, 59 American communities were flattened by tornadoes. Nobody helped.
The Marshall Plan and the Truman Policy pumped billions of dollars into discouraged
countries. Now newspapers in those countries are writing about the decadent,
warmongering Americans.
I'd like to see just one of those countries that is gloating over the erosion of the
United States dollar build its own airplane. Does any other country in the world have
a plane to equal the Boeing Jumbo Jet, the Lockheed Tri-star, or the Douglas DC10? If
so, why don't they fly them? Why do all the international lines except Russia fly
American planes?
Why does no other country even consider putting a man or woman on the moon? You talk
about Japanese technocracy, and you get radios. You talk about German technocracy,
and you get automobiles. You talk about American technocracy, and you find men on the
moon - not once, but several times - and safely home again.
You talk about scandals, and the Americans put theirs in the store window for
everybody to look at. Even their draft-dodgers are not pursued and hounded. They are
here on our streets, and most of them, unless they are breaking Canadian laws, are
getting American dollars from ma and pa at home to spend here.
When the railways of France, Germany and India were breaking down through age, it was
the Americans that rebuilt them. When the Pennsylvania Railroad and the New York
Central went broke, nobody loaned them an old caboose. Both are still broke.
I can name you 5000 times when the Americans raced to the help of other people in
trouble. Can you name me even one time when someone else raced to the Americans in
trouble? I don't think there was outside help even during the San Francisco
earthquake.
Our neighbors have faced it alone, and I'm one Canadian who is damned tired of
hearing them get kicked around. They will come out of this thing with their flag held
high. And when they do, they are entitled to thumb their nose at the lands that are
gloating over their present troubles. I hope Canada is not one of those."
Stand proud, America!
Widespread, but only partial, news coverage was given recently to a remarkable
editorial broadcast from Toronto by Gordon Sinclair, a Canadian television
commentator. What follows is the full text of his trenchant remarks as printed in the
Congressional Record:
"This Canadian thinks it is time to speak up for the Americans as the most generous
and possibly least appreciated people on all the earth.
Germany, Japan and, to a lesser extent, Britain and Italy were lifted out of the
debris of war by the Americans who poured in billions of dollars and forgave other
billions in debts. None of these countries is today paying even the interest on its
remaining debts to the United States.
When France was in danger of collapsing in 1956, it was the Americans who propped it
up, and their reward was to be insulted and swindled on the streets of Paris. I was
there. I saw it.
When earthquakes hit distant cities, it is the United States that hurries in to help.
This spring, 59 American communities were flattened by tornadoes. Nobody helped.
The Marshall Plan and the Truman Policy pumped billions of dollars into discouraged
countries. Now newspapers in those countries are writing about the decadent,
warmongering Americans.
I'd like to see just one of those countries that is gloating over the erosion of the
United States dollar build its own airplane. Does any other country in the world have
a plane to equal the Boeing Jumbo Jet, the Lockheed Tri-star, or the Douglas DC10? If
so, why don't they fly them? Why do all the international lines except Russia fly
American planes?
Why does no other country even consider putting a man or woman on the moon? You talk
about Japanese technocracy, and you get radios. You talk about German technocracy,
and you get automobiles. You talk about American technocracy, and you find men on the
moon - not once, but several times - and safely home again.
You talk about scandals, and the Americans put theirs in the store window for
everybody to look at. Even their draft-dodgers are not pursued and hounded. They are
here on our streets, and most of them, unless they are breaking Canadian laws, are
getting American dollars from ma and pa at home to spend here.
When the railways of France, Germany and India were breaking down through age, it was
the Americans that rebuilt them. When the Pennsylvania Railroad and the New York
Central went broke, nobody loaned them an old caboose. Both are still broke.
I can name you 5000 times when the Americans raced to the help of other people in
trouble. Can you name me even one time when someone else raced to the Americans in
trouble? I don't think there was outside help even during the San Francisco
earthquake.
Our neighbors have faced it alone, and I'm one Canadian who is damned tired of
hearing them get kicked around. They will come out of this thing with their flag held
high. And when they do, they are entitled to thumb their nose at the lands that are
gloating over their present troubles. I hope Canada is not one of those."
Stand proud, America!
Sep 14th 2001, 5:56 am
#2
Guest
Posts: n/a
While this is a lovely sentiment, I feel it's important that the truth behind
it is known:
Gordon Sinclair died in 1984. This editorial was written in response to Anti-American
backlash re: the Vietnam war.
Since this article was written in 1973, America has not stood alone to face the
world. Many other countries have made the same decisions to help in situations
(Kuwait), many countries have offered as much help AS HAS BEEN ACCEPTED when the US
has had internal strife and troubles (recent hurricanes, OK City, etc)
This editorial fosters the notion that the US is the only country with humanitarian
ideals and policies, and that is simply not true.
That being said, my heart is aching right now as I wait for an appointment to donate
blood to be used as necessary.
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hounded. They
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it is known:
Gordon Sinclair died in 1984. This editorial was written in response to Anti-American
backlash re: the Vietnam war.
Since this article was written in 1973, America has not stood alone to face the
world. Many other countries have made the same decisions to help in situations
(Kuwait), many countries have offered as much help AS HAS BEEN ACCEPTED when the US
has had internal strife and troubles (recent hurricanes, OK City, etc)
This editorial fosters the notion that the US is the only country with humanitarian
ideals and policies, and that is simply not true.
That being said, my heart is aching right now as I wait for an appointment to donate
blood to be used as necessary.
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remarkable
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printed
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of the
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forgave
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streets
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in to
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Nobody
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the
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erosion of
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the
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or the
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lines
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moon? You
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and
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again.
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for
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hounded. They
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Canadian
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age,
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the
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still
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people
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San
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tired of
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their flag
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lands
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Sep 14th 2001, 5:29 pm
#3
Guest
Posts: n/a
This post is in the wrong place and very hurtful. I am Dutch, living in Canada and
there are so many things wrong with this article that you should go to the Chapters
and buy yourself a good book on countries all over the world and not come back before
you got smarter then this.
Serge schreef:
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there are so many things wrong with this article that you should go to the Chapters
and buy yourself a good book on countries all over the world and not come back before
you got smarter then this.
Serge schreef:
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Sep 14th 2001, 6:45 pm
#4
Guest
Posts: n/a
Widespread, but only partial, news coverage was given recently to a remarkable
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A truly remarkable piece; not in the least because it demostrates a truly blissful
ignorance of the history of the 20th century.
/Serge.P
---
Home page: http://www.cobalt.chem.ucalgary.ca/ps/
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A truly remarkable piece; not in the least because it demostrates a truly blissful
ignorance of the history of the 20th century.
/Serge.P
---
Home page: http://www.cobalt.chem.ucalgary.ca/ps/
Sep 14th 2001, 7:09 pm
#5
Guest
Posts: n/a
i agree with you. i am dutch as well, and also living in canada. in general americans
-included canadians- know hadly anything about europe unfortunately.
On Fri, 14 Sep 2001 13:29:59 -0400, "Bert W. P. van Hoeijen"
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[usenetquote2]>> America, the Good Neighbor[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]>>[/usenetquote2]
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-- Hanson's Law: Never attribute to malice what can be accounted for by ignorance.
-included canadians- know hadly anything about europe unfortunately.
On Fri, 14 Sep 2001 13:29:59 -0400, "Bert W. P. van Hoeijen"
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[usenetquote2]>> America, the Good Neighbor[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]>>[/usenetquote2]
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-- Hanson's Law: Never attribute to malice what can be accounted for by ignorance.
Sep 15th 2001, 10:30 am
#7
Guest
Posts: n/a
circumstances may be different but the spirit of the article is bang on. It is
sometimes difficult for Candians to stop seeing the world through the prism of the
anti Americanism so fashionable here (and elsewhere)
BD
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remarkable
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printed
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of the
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forgave
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streets
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in to
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Nobody
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the
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>
erosion of
>
the
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or the
>
lines
>
>
>
moon? You
>
>
and
>
again.
>
>
for
>
hounded. They
>
Canadian
>
>
>
age,
>
the
>
still
>
>
>
people
>
>
San
>
>
>
tired of
>
their flag
>
lands
>
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sometimes difficult for Candians to stop seeing the world through the prism of the
anti Americanism so fashionable here (and elsewhere)
BD
>
>
>
remarkable
>
>
printed
>
>
>
>
>
>
of the
>
forgave
>
>
>
>
>
streets
>
>
>
in to
>
Nobody
>
>
>
>
the
>
>
>
erosion of
>
the
>
or the
>
lines
>
>
>
moon? You
>
>
and
>
again.
>
>
for
>
hounded. They
>
Canadian
>
>
>
age,
>
the
>
still
>
>
>
people
>
>
San
>
>
>
tired of
>
their flag
>
lands
>
>
>
Sep 16th 2001, 1:17 am
#8
Guest
Posts: n/a
Serguei Patchkovskii wrote:
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Just thought I'd mention that this piece was broadcast in 1973. That's 28 years ago.
See http://www.rcc.ryerson.ca/ccf/news/unique/american.html
Best regards, Alex.
--
My email address is intentionally mangled to foil spambots. For replying, remove the
"-decoy" from the address. Sorry for the inconvenience.
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Just thought I'd mention that this piece was broadcast in 1973. That's 28 years ago.
See http://www.rcc.ryerson.ca/ccf/news/unique/american.html
Best regards, Alex.
--
My email address is intentionally mangled to foil spambots. For replying, remove the
"-decoy" from the address. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Sep 18th 2001, 9:33 pm
#9
Guest
Posts: n/a
Mr. Sinclair (1900-1984) was a journalist lived all of his 84 years in
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[snipped]
The fact that Mr. Sinclair was a distinguished journalist, well familiar with the
world's affairs, is beside the point here (even though I am grateful to you, and to
other contributors, for pointing this out!). What is important here, is that his
-opinion- piece, posted in this newsgroup, emphasises the role of the U.S.A., in the
history of the 20th century, in a grotesque manner. It completely ignores the
contributions due to the rest of the world, as well as the less savoury facts of the
U.S. history - which, like any other country in the world, does have its shameful, as
well as glorious moments. As such, it constitutes an insult to the citizens of other
countries (including Canada!), which is of a comparable magnitude to the
transgression, commited by those who ignore the US role in history.
/Serge.P
---
Home page: http://www.cobalt.chem.ucalgary.ca/ps/
>
[snipped]
The fact that Mr. Sinclair was a distinguished journalist, well familiar with the
world's affairs, is beside the point here (even though I am grateful to you, and to
other contributors, for pointing this out!). What is important here, is that his
-opinion- piece, posted in this newsgroup, emphasises the role of the U.S.A., in the
history of the 20th century, in a grotesque manner. It completely ignores the
contributions due to the rest of the world, as well as the less savoury facts of the
U.S. history - which, like any other country in the world, does have its shameful, as
well as glorious moments. As such, it constitutes an insult to the citizens of other
countries (including Canada!), which is of a comparable magnitude to the
transgression, commited by those who ignore the US role in history.
/Serge.P
---
Home page: http://www.cobalt.chem.ucalgary.ca/ps/
