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A Byrd of Peace and Honor
--by Mary MacElveen Today, as America changed her course forever, and a course that has set us on the wrong path, a brave man spoke out and his name is Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia. He stated in an almost empty senate chamber these solemn words, "Today I weep for my country," Not only is he weeping, but many of us who have championed his fight and love of peace are also weeping tears. Tears that are as powerful as the Niagara Falls. Because today, we set into motion a course of death and destruction, and as Senator Byrd so eloquently and bravely stated, "No more is the image of America one of strong, yet benevolent peacekeeper. ... Around the globe, our friends mistrust us, our word is disputed, our intentions are questioned. Today, we became the very thing we have always abhorred, an aggressor nation hell bent on invading another country, and we had no right to do so. Many learned men with experience in world affairs have spoken out against such an invasion and war, but their message too fell on destructive deaf ears. Men such as the Pope, former President Jimmy Carter, Retired General Norman Schwartzkopf, Walter Cronkite and the list goes on. Men of great stature, whose words were dismissed. Many Senate and House Democrats chose to vote along the lines of aggression instead of peace, and it is my hope that this will transform them to remember what our once great country stood for. A country that many looked upon with pride and admiration. Instead of disgust and condemnation. How can these elected leaders face those who sent them to Washington, DC to make a real difference? They will most certainly down the road face them, and ultimately their God. On a television show, Actors Studio, the host James Lipton was at one time interviewing Stephen Spielberg. At the end of the show, a questionnaire is asked of each person that is interviewed. One of the questions asked is, "If there is a God, what will he say to you when you meet him?" Mr. Spielberg answered, "Thanks for listening". What will God say to those that voted for this resolution? It is my opinion, he will say, "You did not listen" Well today, Senator Byrd did indeed listen, and in my opinion, God is very proud of him at this point. Senator Byrd then went on to say, "After war has ended the United States will have to rebuild much more than the country of Iraq. We will have to rebuild America's image around the globe." This task at this point cannot be fulfilled by the Bush administration. They have done too much damage to our credibility already, and we need a strong administration to rebuild what was shattered today. We have most certainly failed our long time allies that have always looked upon us with admiration, and for that this administration has shamed our country. He also stated, "May God continue to bless the United States of America in the troubled days ahead, and may we somehow recapture the vision which for the present eludes us," My hope is, Senator Byrd that God blesses those who will have lost their lives. It is my hope that he blesses all that spoke up for peace and demanded it. It was reported by Reuters that many within the visitors gallery rose and applauded his statements but were admonished to be quiet. To that I add, this is indeed a sad day when those who wish peace are told to be quiet and admonished for doing so. How low have we sunk in this nation, when we cannot even give accolades to a man of peace? What would our framers be thinking at this very moment? They would have been sickened when dissension was told to be quiet. They would have heralded this Byrd of Peace. He spoke his mind and lead with his vote for his beliefs, and that is exactly the type of leadership this country of ours craves at this moment in time. The people who should be admonished and told to be quiet are those who do not lead with conviction, and who only follow. Senator Byrd was quoted as saying as well, "There is no credible information to connect Saddam Hussein to 9/11." I fully agree with his assessment here, and think we have used the horrific attacks that befell our nation on September 11th, 2001 as a crutch and excuse for world domination. Where this administration will use such an event to flex it military muscle. Three thousand did not die on that horrific day, only to have their deaths used as an excuse to cause the deaths of thousands more. In so doing, this administration has failed at honoring their memories, and those loved ones left behind. He then went on to say, "We cannot convince the world of the necessity of this war for one simple reason. This is a war of choice." Many told this administration just that world wide on two separate events. Many world leaders who also have the intelligence to back up their decisions have as well. They point blank through their non support of this war, told George W. Bush do not rush to war. Yet millions of protesters and world leaders opinions were summarily rejected. One of the most powerful statements made today by Senator Byrd was this, "Instead of isolating Saddam Hussein, we seem to have isolated ourselves." But, this isolation of our country went into effect the moment that Bush seized the powers of our presidency. Today was indeed a very sad day, and it is my hope that we will have many more Byrds of Peace coming to Washington, DC in the coming years, to help restore a democracy now damaged. We need leaders such as Senator Byrd and others just like him not speaking in almost empty senate chambers, but a chamber filled to the rafters, where each word is met with thunderous applause and standing ovations. God Bless our Byrd of Peace and Honor, Senator Robert Byrd. Mary MacElveen
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