a MUST READ!!

[chrishaolin]

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.

Attached 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!"

The program may be viewed Wednesday, March 5th at 8:00 PM on Charter Cable

Channel Six in our area.

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 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 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 acknowledgment 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!

[girly]

AMEN!