Stand
Up For America
Beth
Chapman
Alabama
State Auditor
03/26/03
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. Mrs. Chapman’s speech, which resulted in five standing
ovations, tremendous applause and an encore, is well worth the read. I’m proud to call this lady a fellow
Alabamian! Deb V
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 Saddam Hussein 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 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!
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 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