You could have heard a pin drop

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   OLYHOOCHposted 13 years ago

   At a time when our president and other politicians tend to apologize for our country's prior actions, here's a refresher on how some of our former patriots handled negative comments about our country.
   
   
   
   JFK'S
   Secretary of State, Dean Rusk, was in France in the early 60's when DeGaule decided to pull out of NATO.  DeGaule said he wanted all US 
   Military out of France as soon as possible.
   
   
   Rusk responded,
   "Does that include those who are buried here?"
   
   DeGaule did not respond.
   You Could have heard a pin drop.
   ----------------------------------------------------------------
   
    
     When in England, at a fairly large conference, Colin Powell was asked by the Archbishop of Canterbury if our plans for Iraq were just an example of
   'empire building' by George Bush.
   
   He answered by saying,
   "Over the years, the United States has sent many of
   Its fine young men and women into great peril to fight for freedom, beyond our borders.  The only amount of land we have ever asked for in return is enough to bury those who did not return."
   
    
   You Could have heard a pin drop.
   ----------------------------------------------------------------
   
   
   There was a conference in France
   where a number of international engineers
   were in attendance, including French and American.  During a break, one of the French engineers came back into the room saying, "Have you heard the latest dumb stunt Bush has done? He has sent an aircraft carrier to Indonesia to help the tsunami victims.  What does he intend to do, bomb them?"
   
   
   A Boeing engineer stood up and replied quietly:  "Our carriers have three hospitals on board which can treat several hundred people; they are
   Nuclear powered and can supply emergency  electrical power to shore facilities; they have three  cafeterias with the capacity to feed 3,000 people three meals a day, they can produce several thousand gallons of fresh water from sea water each day, and they carry half a dozen helicopters for use in transporting victims and injured to and
   from their flight deck.  We have eleven such ships;
   How many does France have?"
   
    
   You Could have heard a pin drop.
   ---------------------------------------------------------------
   
   
   A U.S. Navy Admiral was attending a naval conference that included Admirals from the U.S., English, Canadian, Australian and French
   Navies at a cocktail reception, he found himself standing with a large group of officers which included personnel from most of those countries.
   Everyone was chatting away in English as they sipped their drinks when a French admiral suddenly complained that, whereas Europeans learn many languages, Americans learn only English. He then asked, "Why do we always have to speak English in these conferences rather than
   speaking French?"
   
   
   Without hesitating,
   The American Admiral replied, "Maybe it's because the Brit's, Canadians, Aussie's and Americans arranged it so you wouldn't
   Have to speak German."
    
   You Could have heard a pin drop.
   ----------------------------------------------------------------
   
   
   AND
   THIS STORY FITS RIGHT IN WITH THE ABOVE...
   
   
   Robert Whiting,
   An elderly gentleman of 83, arrived in Paris by plane.  At French Customs, he took a few minutes to locate his passport In his carry on.
   
   
   "You have been to France before, monsieur?" the customs officer asked sarcastically.
   
   
   Mr. Whiting admitted that he had been to France 
   previously.
   
   
   "Then you should know enough to have your passport ready."
   
   
   The American said,
   "The last time I was here, I didn't have to show it."
   
   
   "Impossible.. Americans always have to show their passports on arrival in France !"
   
   
   The American senior gave the Frenchman a long hard look.  Then he quietly explained, ''Well, when I came ashore at Omaha Beach on D-Day in
   1944 to help liberate this country, I couldn't find a single Frenchmen to show a passport to."
   
   You could have heard a pin drop.
   
    
   ----------------------------------------------------------------
   If you are proud to be an American, pass this on! If not, delete it.  I am and proud to be of this land, AMERICA
   
   
   Aspire to inspire before you expire!

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   Ron Montgomeryposted 13 years ago

   Didn't read your entire post, but Colin Powell's remarks are pretty disingenuous given that most U.S. territory was acquired through violent means.

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      John Holdenposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I was trying to find, for balance, the joke story about the US Navy ship trying to order the Canadian lightship to change course.

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         Ron Montgomeryposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         I've not heard that one.

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            Jeff Berndtposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            I am the USS (Aircraft Carrier). Change your course 10 degrees starboard.
            
            Unable to alter course. Change yours.
            
            I am carrying X number of strike fighters. Change your course.
            
            Unable to alter course.
            
            I am armed with X number of cannons. Change your course.
            
            I am a lighthouse.
            
            ...

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               Ron Montgomeryposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               haiku?

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                  Jeff Berndtposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                  A paraphrase of the joke that John was talking about.

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               Ron Montgomeryposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               Ahhhh,  funny and unfortunately close to expectations

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   Ron Montgomeryposted 13 years ago

   ZZ, being able and willing to apologize to a person (or country) that you have wronged is a sign of maturity not weakness.  If you truly love your country, you hope that its leaders always try to act responsibly, but try to make things right when they (on behalf of us) fall short.

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      OLYHOOCHposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Ya know, as sad as it may sound, a person, any person, well, ya just can't  come up with the right solution anymore.
      
      We all, once upon a time, had a fair handle on things, but, those days are gone now, and, so are a lot of them.
      
      OLY.

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         Ron Montgomeryposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Ummmmmmmmm?

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            OLYHOOCHposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Spooky isn't it..........................
            
            OLY

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   Onusonusposted 13 years ago

   Nice!

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      OLYHOOCHposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Well, lets end the night with a little fun.
      
      Enjoy, The Man Song.
      
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7Y0I91rubg

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         Ron Montgomeryposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Are you familiar with the "Bob and Tom" show?  That's where the song originated - I have a hub about it.

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            OLYHOOCHposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            No, could you get me there???
            
            OLY

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               Ron Montgomeryposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               http://www.bobandtom.com/

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                  OLYHOOCHposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                  Thanks,
                  
                  OLY

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