We have not forgotten
POSTED BY: FutureMrsFIllion
UPDATED: Sunday, September 17, 2006 23:00
VIEWED: 2234
PAGE 1 of 4
*FMF drops this in for your reading pleasure and thens backs out of the way*
The Nation
Mon Sep 11, 9:49 PM ET
The Nation -- Keith Olbermann is without a doubt the best news anchor on television today. Two weeks ago, echoing the spirit of the legendary Edward R. Murrow, Olbermann took Donald Rumsfeld to task for comparing critics of the Iraq war to Nazi appeasers. Tonight, broadcasting live from above a desolate and still demolished Ground Zero, Olbermann delivered a stirring eight minute commentary indicting the Bush Administration's shameful and tragic response to 9/11. The entire speech is worth watching and reading, so I'm posting the full text below.
Half a lifetime ago, I worked in this now-empty space. And for 40 days after the attacks, I worked here again, trying to make sense of what happened, and was yet to happen, as a reporter.
All the time, I knew that the very air I breathed contained the remains of thousands of people, including four of my friends, two in the planes and -- as I discovered from those "missing posters" seared still into my soul -- two more in the Towers.
And I knew too, that this was the pyre for hundreds of New York policemen and firemen, of whom my family can claim half a dozen or more, as our ancestors.
I belabor this to emphasize that, for me this was, and is, and always shall be, personal.
And anyone who claims that I and others like me are "soft,"or have "forgotten" the lessons of what happened here is at best a grasping, opportunistic, dilettante and at worst, an idiot whether he is a commentator, or a Vice President, or a President.
However, of all the things those of us who were here five years ago could have forecast -- of all the nightmares that unfolded before our eyes, and the others that unfolded only in our minds -- none of us could have predicted this.
Five years later this space is still empty.
Five years later there is no memorial to the dead.
Five years later there is no building rising to show with proud defiance that we would not have our America wrung from us, by cowards and criminals.
Five years later this country's wound is still open.
Five years later this country's mass grave is still unmarked.
Five years later this is still just a background for a photo-op.
It is beyond shameful.
At the dedication of the Gettysburg Memorial -- barely four months after the last soldier staggered from another Pennsylvania field -- Mr. Lincoln said, "we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract."
Lincoln used those words to immortalize their sacrifice.
Today our leaders could use those same words to rationalize their reprehensible inaction. "We cannot dedicate, we can not consecrate, we can not hallow this ground." So we won't.
Instead they bicker and buck pass. They thwart private efforts, and jostle to claim credit for initiatives that go nowhere. They spend the money on irrelevant wars, and elaborate self-congratulations, and buying off columnists to write how good a job they're doing instead of doing any job at all.
Five years later, Mr. Bush, we are still fighting the terrorists on these streets. And look carefully, sir, on these 16 empty acres. The terrorists are clearly, still winning.
And, in a crime against every victim here and every patriotic sentiment you mouthed but did not enact, you have done nothing about it.
And there is something worse still than this vast gaping hole in this city, and in the fabric of our nation. There is its symbolism of the promise unfulfilled, the urgent oath, reduced to lazy execution.
The only positive on 9/11 and the days and weeks that so slowly and painfully followed it was the unanimous humanity, here, and throughout the country. The government, the President in particular, was given every possible measure of support.
Those who did not belong to his party -- tabled that.
Those who doubted the mechan
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Well written. Utterly meaningless. I feel cheated having read the article and demand you return my time.
H
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Well you can demand. Its s free country. At least is sort of still is. But wait a little while, GW ain't out of office yet.
----
Bestower of Titles, Designer of Tshirts, Maker of Mottos, Keeper of the Pyre
I am on The List. We are The Forsaken and we aim to burn!
"We don't fear the reaper"
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Quote:
Originally posted by FutureMrsFIllion:
The polite phrase for how so many of us were duped into supporting a war, on the false premise that it had 'something to do' with 9/11 is "lying by implication."
The impolite phrase is "impeachable offense."
Sorry, Hero. Your time is Done and Over. Go look elsewhere for Compensation.
I, for one, agree with Mr. Olbermann. I'm thrilled that Bush cannot serve a third term. Good riddance to bad (and woefully ignorant) rubbish.
"Have you ever been with a Warrior Woman?"
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Olbermann, as always, puts the biscuit in the basket... Although I hoped for some high sticking, maybe some boarding...
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Thank you FMF...great commentary!
King of the Mythical Land that is Iowa
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About time some folk in the media grew a pair.
I just hope he doesn't wind up facing charges like Greg Palast and others who've dared speak truth to power.
I ain't forgotten neither, but I don't want a memorial, such things are nice and I've nothing against it.. but what *I* want ?
Heads, heads on pikes, and above all and foremost, I want the *right* heads, to be sure beyond all doubt that those who organized and ordered such a horrible thing won't ever be doing it again.
Barbaric, maybe - but barbaric or not, that's the tribute I would prefer to pay to the memory of the fallen.
"Those responsible will be held accountable." -V
-Frem
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Quote:*looks from 'twixed narrowed eyes*
Originally posted by Mavourneen:
I'm thrilled that Bush cannot serve a third term.
I, Miss, count my chickens after they're out of office...
Ba-gawk Chrisisall
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Some Libs haven't forgotten about the 2000 election, is what Olbermann really means. Sadly, they should turn the page and try to remember what really happened on 9/11.
America was attacked. Every single one of us. Playing partisan politics only allows the enemy more room to roam, and distracts us from doing what is needed to defeat those animals.
This isn't a clash of civilizations. This is a clash FOR civilization.
(Olbermann is the most self absorbed, elitist and pin headed sports guy who isn't Bryant Gumble. There's a reason his show is on MSNBC, and not on any REAL network )
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Auraptor,
Specifically, we were attacked on 9-11, here in NY. I know plenty of people who were there, and a few who lost family members.
Moreover, we were attacked by the Bush administration, at least as much as Al Qaeda, if Al Qaeda even had enough to do with it. If you study the situation enough, you'll come to this conclusion. Everyone will. Because it's the truth. It took five years for it to sink in to me, and I feel pretty slow about it.
It's not that Bush and his supporters are behaving badly by endlessly milking our tragedy for political gain, it's that they're the ones who are actually guilty. I'd be much happier seeing Bush's advisors, Cheney, Perle, etc. get got then Osama, because, honestly, I don't think Osama had a lot to do with this, if anything at all. And that's not because I'm a loon, it's because I looked into it.
Guys, 9-11truth.org and a ton of other websites our there, they supply evidence, and even when you skill out the 90% that's unsubstantiated rumor, the rest of that evidence is damned convincing.
They attacked us my ass. Auraptor, if I thought for one moment that you really cared about that, I would say, go read, learn, find out who your real enemy is, and I will guarantee you, they are a lot closer to home.
But I don't. I think you, and all the Bush crowd, are using 9-11 as a talking point, because support for big spender Baby Bush keeps that money rolling through the door, which is what this administration and its following is really about.
No offense, but I calls it as I sees it and I've looked long and hard. Just saying.
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