rs0522
11-06-2000, 09:51 PM
We are about to elect the first President of the Second Century of
America.
In the 20th Century America has achieved success and domination on a
scale hitherto unknown to human history. We defeated two of the most
barbaric empires the world has ever seen; Nazi Germany, and Communist
Russia (lest you beg to differ about the latter consider the Communist
Russian concentration camps claimed nearly 10 million victims in the
systematic destruction of their enemies and perceived enemies.) Do not
forget that "NAZI" was shorthand for the National Socialist German
Workers' Party.
We have waged terrible war with a national singlemindedness and ferocity
that would cause the Sacred Band of ancient Thebes to tremble in their
armor were they to face it. We have done so not to conquer, or subdue,
but to protect people from those that would enslave them.
We have developed the power to physically destroy the world by pushing a
button (and so far the restraint not to.) In what Tom Wolfe describes as
"The single greatest engineering feat in human history," we have put men
on the moon. In the 20th century, the doors of America have been open to
the huddled and ragged masses of humanity as never before. In the latter
half of the 20th Century we have received and given full citizenship to
more
immigrants than in the previous 100 years.
We have created an empire, economically, militarily, and morally of such
vast global scale that Alexander the Great or Julius Caesar would have
burned and wept with envy had they the imagination to even envision such
a thing.
Today the average American enjoys a standard of living that the Sun King
would envy. The wealth of knowledge available to the average man
through books, the internet, television, the free press, is
unprecedented in human history, as is the freedom to act and speak on
that knowledge, add to it.
Today, an average worker may surf the internet and decide whether we go
on a cruise of the entire Carribean, or just pick a single beach, or
would he rather go skiing?
If a rich man and a poor man go to the hospital at the same time, they
treat the one who is more seriously injured first, and neither expects
otherwise.
America, both private and public reaches out with compassion to those
who are suffering needlessly. We do this selflessly out of the belief
that all the
world should enjoy the privileges that we have achieved.
From the light bulb to the telephone to the automobile, to the
microchip, most every important technological advance of the last
hundred years has been spawned from American ingenuity.
We are the only nation in history to have been founded on the belief
that all men are equal.
We are also a humble nation. As you read my words, consider for a moment
that we as Americans do not dwell on these facts, we do not glory in our
superiority. Instead we look at all we have achieved and are genuinely
saddened by what remains imperfect. We have taken our position of
leadership for granted to such an extant that we no longer notice, or
comment upon it. We do not pat ourselves on the back, which is why I
take a moment to do so.
We are a good nation and our achievements have bettered the world.
All this occured in the last 100 years. Who knows what we may accomplish
in the next, our 2nd century as the greatest civilization the world had
known.
Will we falter as the British Empire did after it's self-congratulatory
Fin-de-siecle, 100 years ago?
I hope not. This Tuesday we will elect the first President of the second
century of America.
For a moment only, put the issues of the public eye aside, put aside all
that is wrong, and consider instead all that we have accomplished, and
all that
we should accomplish going forward.
Vote.
Consider some of our Presidents, Democrat, Republican, or otherwise, and
consider that our next President will stand upon the shoulders of
Giants.
For the next 100 years our future Presidents will have to stand upon the
shoulders of the man we elect this Tuesday. You may be dismayed with
your choices or there may be a giant hidden upon one of our candidates.
I don't know. Your vote though will have to carry the weight of the
giants to come, that I do know. Use it well.
America.
In the 20th Century America has achieved success and domination on a
scale hitherto unknown to human history. We defeated two of the most
barbaric empires the world has ever seen; Nazi Germany, and Communist
Russia (lest you beg to differ about the latter consider the Communist
Russian concentration camps claimed nearly 10 million victims in the
systematic destruction of their enemies and perceived enemies.) Do not
forget that "NAZI" was shorthand for the National Socialist German
Workers' Party.
We have waged terrible war with a national singlemindedness and ferocity
that would cause the Sacred Band of ancient Thebes to tremble in their
armor were they to face it. We have done so not to conquer, or subdue,
but to protect people from those that would enslave them.
We have developed the power to physically destroy the world by pushing a
button (and so far the restraint not to.) In what Tom Wolfe describes as
"The single greatest engineering feat in human history," we have put men
on the moon. In the 20th century, the doors of America have been open to
the huddled and ragged masses of humanity as never before. In the latter
half of the 20th Century we have received and given full citizenship to
more
immigrants than in the previous 100 years.
We have created an empire, economically, militarily, and morally of such
vast global scale that Alexander the Great or Julius Caesar would have
burned and wept with envy had they the imagination to even envision such
a thing.
Today the average American enjoys a standard of living that the Sun King
would envy. The wealth of knowledge available to the average man
through books, the internet, television, the free press, is
unprecedented in human history, as is the freedom to act and speak on
that knowledge, add to it.
Today, an average worker may surf the internet and decide whether we go
on a cruise of the entire Carribean, or just pick a single beach, or
would he rather go skiing?
If a rich man and a poor man go to the hospital at the same time, they
treat the one who is more seriously injured first, and neither expects
otherwise.
America, both private and public reaches out with compassion to those
who are suffering needlessly. We do this selflessly out of the belief
that all the
world should enjoy the privileges that we have achieved.
From the light bulb to the telephone to the automobile, to the
microchip, most every important technological advance of the last
hundred years has been spawned from American ingenuity.
We are the only nation in history to have been founded on the belief
that all men are equal.
We are also a humble nation. As you read my words, consider for a moment
that we as Americans do not dwell on these facts, we do not glory in our
superiority. Instead we look at all we have achieved and are genuinely
saddened by what remains imperfect. We have taken our position of
leadership for granted to such an extant that we no longer notice, or
comment upon it. We do not pat ourselves on the back, which is why I
take a moment to do so.
We are a good nation and our achievements have bettered the world.
All this occured in the last 100 years. Who knows what we may accomplish
in the next, our 2nd century as the greatest civilization the world had
known.
Will we falter as the British Empire did after it's self-congratulatory
Fin-de-siecle, 100 years ago?
I hope not. This Tuesday we will elect the first President of the second
century of America.
For a moment only, put the issues of the public eye aside, put aside all
that is wrong, and consider instead all that we have accomplished, and
all that
we should accomplish going forward.
Vote.
Consider some of our Presidents, Democrat, Republican, or otherwise, and
consider that our next President will stand upon the shoulders of
Giants.
For the next 100 years our future Presidents will have to stand upon the
shoulders of the man we elect this Tuesday. You may be dismayed with
your choices or there may be a giant hidden upon one of our candidates.
I don't know. Your vote though will have to carry the weight of the
giants to come, that I do know. Use it well.