*Stand Up For America Rally*

[lynnestankard]

I have just received this by email from my daughter Diane in Chicago. Her friend at work showed it to her and she thought I'd love to see it.
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Last week, the Shelby County Alabama 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 Alabama State Auditor Beth Chapman.
This 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!"
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> > Stand Up for America Rally Speech By: Beth Chapman

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, Janine Garafolo, 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 andgo.

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 ascending 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 that epitomizes 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!

hroughout 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 them and us 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!

IN GOD WE TRUST

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I hope this doesn't cause another row - it's not meant to do that - but hopefully give a little peace to the familys of the military men and women. IN both USA and UK.

Lynne

[gini]

Lynne, thank you for sharing this with us.

As you know there are protests all across the globe against America's actions in Iraq. Some of the countries protesting are ones that we have given millions upon millions of dollars in aid.

Those dollars represent my own, most Pet Talker's and the nation's hard earned tax dollars.

I can only pray that this war will result in much greater understanding between nations and ultimately peace for that entire region.

That is a pretty big prayer isn't it?
But anything is possible with God!

[lynnestankard]

Amen Gini.

I'm anti-war but now their in there these people must be supported.

Lynne

[lovemyshiba]

That's a great speech. I always found it ironic how all of these famous people are all for speaking about how awful it is, but I don't see any of them suiting up and heading over there. Another thing, is that they have way more money that all of us combined, shouldn't they be offering some sort of financial aide for these people--after all, they can afford to.
Thanks for sharing it, I too, am against war, but now that our troops are over there, I am behind them 100 percent.

[Chinadoll]

Thank you!
I just printed that out to send to Joey. He thinks it'll be any day now that he leaves the base in CA and goes overseas. Whatever anyone's thoughts are of the war, our troops need support.

[RICHARD]

right up the street here (lost angeles, ca)
they have had the street in front of the Kodak theatre
closed for 6 days to make sure that there are no security breeches for the oscars......

now, since some actors have condemmed the war effort and the
government, why are they afraid of a terrorist attack??

i'm so glad martin sheen is the president... lmmfao.

[mugsy]

RICHARD!!! I'm with you, if they can't support us and bad mouth their own country, get your own security and YOU pay for it.

Oh well, I am all for the war effort since it was obvious that Saddam was not going to leave willingly. Mike and I were watching today at lunch (he brought lunch in today for me) and watching the bombings and he was pointing out things that I would never have noticed, like the fact the the bombs were ALL concentrated in one area. He said they were laser missles where they are totally precise in their targets, which made me feel a little better. I surely don't want to see anyone killed, so the fewer casualities the better.

Thank you for sharing the speech Lynne, it was very good!!

[RICHARD]

Originally posted by mugsy
RICHARD!!! I'm with you, if they can't support us and bad mouth their own country, get your own security and YOU pay for it.

Oh well, I am all for the war effort since it was obvious that Saddam was not going to leave willingly. Mike and I were watching today at lunch (he brought lunch in today for me) and watching the bombings and he was pointing out things that I would never have noticed, like the fact the the bombs were ALL concentrated in one area. He said they were laser missles where they are totally precise in their targets, which made me feel a little better. I surely don't want to see anyone killed, so the fewer casualities the better.

Thank you for sharing the speech Lynne, it was very good!!

FIRST OF ALL,
don't 'be with me'- i'm trouble all the time.

mike, it's guys like you that make the rest of us look bad.....brought her lunch, it's friday......thanks!

the JDAMS, GBU and TLAM missiles are a pretty awesome set of weapons systems..

[mugsy]

And that would different for me how??? lol

I'll let Mike know when I get home! hehehe NOW....he also brought my best friend at school a sandwich too and SHE got a kiss!! And just for Richard....it was from Mike! ehhehe

[NoahsMommy]

Lynne,

That's a wonderful speech. I've always hate seeing these stupid celebrities acting as though their very presence is more important than anyone else's. I mean come on, people know who you are because you can pretend!! So can children....

I'm praying hard for those fighting for the right thing. I was so sad to hear about the casualties in the malfunctioning helicopter. May God bless and be with thier families.

[Ann]

I do not intend to "cause another row". I just want to say my opinion. I'll make it short.

Originally posted by lynnestankard
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.

One sentence she is telling the *insert "derogatory" names here* to get out of the USA, and the next one she is bragging about the freedom of speech allowed in the USA. That so doesn't make sense to me... Am I the only one who sees that hypocrisy in that?

Originally posted by gini
As you know there are protests all across the globe against America's actions in Iraq. Some of the countries protesting are ones that we have given millions upon millions of dollars in aid. Those dollars represent my own, most Pet Talker's and the nation's hard earned tax dollars.

But those tax dollars also come from the tons and tons of Americans that are against the war.

[RICHARD]

Originally posted by Ann
I do not intend to "cause another row". I just want to say my opinion. I'll make it short.



But those tax dollars also come from the tons and tons of Americans that are against the war.

you are right......there are tons and tons of dollars that come from people who object to the war.......

but after those dollars leave our wallets the government spends them as they see fit, BFVs, M1A1, A-1O, JDAMS, NVG, F-117,
B1.... i abbreviated the weapons we bought with our tax dollars to keep my answer short.

[NoahsMommy]

Most American's (most people) are against the act of war. Its happening, we can't do anything about it now.

Please, everyone, this thread was put here (in my opinion) to show patriotism, something to make us feel good about, in a sad situtation.

There are ton of other threads where you can talk about how stupid/wrong/immoral war and every politician is. Please leave one open for patriotism....

[micki76]

Originally posted by Ann
One sentence she is telling the *insert "derogatory" names here* to get out of the USA, and the next one she is bragging about the freedom of speech allowed in the USA. That so doesn't make sense to me... Am I the only one who sees that hypocrisy in that?

Apparently. Please stop. Just please don't say anything if you can't say something nice.

[sammi]

Thank you for posting that lynnestankard .