It is sometimes difficult for those of other nationalities to grasp the passion of the American people for their country. This does a pretty good job of demonstrating:
USS New York
It was built with 24 tons of scrap steel from the World Trade Center. It is the fifth in a new class of warship - designed for missions that include special operations against terrorists. It will carry a crew of 360 sailors and 700 combat-ready Marines to be delivered ashore by helicopters and assault craft.
Steel from the World Trade Center was melted down in a foundry in Amite , LA to cast the ship’s bow section. When it was poured into the molds on Sept 9, 2003, ‘those big rough steelworkers treated it with total reverence,’ recalled Navy Capt. Kevin Wensing, who was there. ‘It was a spiritual moment for everybody there.’ Junior Chavers, foundry operations manager, said that when the trade center steel first arrived, he touched it with his hand and the ‘hair on my neck stood up.’ ‘It had a big meaning to it for all of us,’ he said. ‘They knocked us down. They can’t keep us down. We’re going to be back.’
The ship’s motto? ‘Never Forget’
10 Jul 2008 at 08:18 am | #
Symbolic gestures - while admirable - do not replace concrete action or will prevent their country from “going wobbly” in the face of current international uncertainties.
This generation is facing challenges as daunting as the Greatest Generation did years ago. “Never Forget” is unfortunately, being played as extreme by some who are looking to frame the political debate.
While I always admire the patriotism and self-confidence of the American people, I still will be rooting against them in the Ryder Cup.
10 Jul 2008 at 09:06 am | #
One of the things I have admired about the US - is the depth of the emotion - it does not make it right, but it is something that I can admire.