Americans Offers Condolences to Britain, to Londoners, to Good
Friends
Over two centuries have passed since Americans and British
raised their guns toward each other in war. We drove the Red
Coats out of our land but we kept them in our hearts in many
ways. After all, surpassing the Irish, French and Italians, the
largest group of immigrants in this country is still the
British. Our ancestry could not be extricated from Great Britain
any more than the Sun could be disassociated from the morning.
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 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 bit. We borrow from your dignity all the
time. We borrow from a long list of noble kings and queens. We
borrow from Shakespeare, Churchill and Diana and yes, Mr. Blair.
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.
Since the attack on our citizens on 9-11 we have in part at
least been 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
diplomat 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.