Ms. Svensson, Europe:
     I thought I could ignore your insensitive, mean-spirited, and ignorant
posting, but I can't. It is a perfect example of the kind of arrogant nonsense
that prompted the editorial to which you responded. You even threw in a
gratutious obscenity while putting us down. Thanks. It helps to know who your
friends are at times like this.
     We really don't need your advice about how to behave now and we probably
will not keep a low profile, or one that pleases you, after being attacked
like this, at least I am confident we won't. But, thanks for sharing your
ideas. We like ideas here and allow all kinds to be discussed.
     If the actions of countless Americans at Normandy and throughout WWII,
during the Berlin airlift, the Marshall Plan, and countless other episodes in
twentieth-century history have not won us the support of Europeans or the
world, perhaps the support of Europeans and the world is not something we
really want, or need. Reread the editorial, it is all true, with one minor
exception. We are certainly not perfect, but we have done much good and have
asked very little in return.
    You accuse us, as a nation, of being historically ignorant and suggest we
read a history book before we say anything -- well, I have read a few history
books while getting my Ph.D in history; while teaching history for 27 years;
and in writing a half dozen or so books -- so I think I know a little bit
about history. Everything in the editorial is essentially true -- except the
omission, already noted, of the aid Japan supplied after the San Francisco
earthquake -- and there is much, much more that could be cited. We are not
perfect, God knows, but we've done a lot of good things over many, many years.
If any one needs to read and study history before posting opinions, Ms.
Svensson,it really is you and the pathetic person whose opinion you quote.
     Yes, we do have some people in the US YOU might characterize as "fucking
stupid" -- but, I think there are at least two in Europe, maybe more. Some of
those YOU might characterize that way are dead now because they went into a
building that had been hit by a large airplane loaded with jet fuel to rescue
other people and, you known, I bet they never asked if there were only
Americans in the building or if there were Europeans or people from elsewhere
in the world inside -- and didn't care. They put their lives at risk, and lost
them, to save others without concern for themselves or who they were trying to
help. As the son, grandson, nephew, cousin, and brother-in-law of members of
the NYPD and the FDNY past and present, I know why they did it and I feel both
profound sadness in the terrible loss of good men and women we have suffered
as a nation and real pride that we have people in our country who can and will
do such things when called upon.
     You don't identify your own country, but no worry, that's OK. We will
survive and overcome this and whatever else comes, and we will be here to help
when your country needs us. We do that, we're Americans.

Bill Mulligan



>===== Original Message From Museum discussion list
<[log in to unmask]> =====
>The way rumours are spread after the horrible events of September 11th, will
probably make up material for at least a couple of PhDs. I've seen some good
sincere suggestions on this and other e-mail lists. Americans, and especially
the people who lost their loved ones, are in everyone's
>thoughts at the moment. That is just and right after this pointless violence.
>
>We living in other countries keep our breath and our fingers crossed that
America will handle the situation in a way to continue to earn our good
opinion. So, in the small way I can assist you achieve that, I suggest that
everyone that keeps spreading this so called "Tribute to
>the Unites States" get them self a history book. The piece is full of
misunderstandings, if not downright lies. I understand that there are many
Americans who are shocked and want to feel that they are great, do that. You
are a great country, but. Spreading things like this is making
>you open for accusations of ignorance as well as arrogance.
>
>I have received this text several times over the last couple of days. Once
the sender (another European) had attached "There are some fucking stupid
people around in the US!!!!!!!!!!!!!" - don't give people the opportunity to
think that. Be proud, but keep the profile low enough
>(and correct!) to keep the support you've got from the rest of the world.
>
>Kristina Svensson
>Europe
>
>Date:    Thu, 13 Sep 2001 23:11:45 -0500
>From:    Lori Allen <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: America: The Good Neighbor
>
>This almost makes me want to get that dish thingy so I can get 379,546
>channels, including Canadian TV.  Read on and smile.
>Lori Allen,
>Grad Student, UMSL
>
>
>
>>
>> > TRIBUTE TO THE UNITED STATES - editorial from a Canadian
>> > news paper
>> >
>> >
>>       > > >>  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 the 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 land on earth 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 right 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
>>       > > >> who 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 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!
>>       > > >>
>> >
>>       > > >>
>>       > > >>  This is one of the best editorials that I have ever
>>       > > >>  read regarding the United States. It is nice that
>>       > > >>  one man realizes it. I only wish that the rest of
>>       > > >> the world share his insight. We are always blamed for
>>       > > >>  everything, and never even get a thank you for the
>>       > > >>  things we do.
>>       > > >>
>>       > > >>  I hope each of you send this to as many people as you
>can
>> and
>> > emphasize that they
>>       > > >>  should send it to as many of their friends until this
>letter
>> is sent
>> > to every person on the web.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>
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William H. Mulligan, Jr.
Associate Professor of History
Director, Forrest C. Pogue Public History Institute
Murray State University
Murray KY 42071-3341
270/762-6571 Fax 270/762-6587

=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:

The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).

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