Where Are Men Like Washington When You Need Them?

[HARDCORE]

?WHERE ARE MEN LIKE WASHINGTON WHEN YOU NEED THEM??

No, there are no ?Red Coats? in this tale, and well, over two centuries have passed since our ?War For Independence!? Since then, however, ?Those Beleaguered Europeans Yearning To Breathe Free?, have been joined by a gallant collage of races and creeds that represent the best and sometimes the worse [unfortunately] that the entire world had to offer. This was to become a variance of color, religion and heritage that soon melded itself into the mightiest nation ever to surface upon the face of this planet - ?THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA HAD BEEN BORN!!?

Over the next two hundred years, we had our share of problems, but we always managed to pull ourselves up by the bootstraps and carry on. We may not have always been right, but we were always Americans, ?And That Was Enough!? Never, however, have we been driven [permanently] from that which was paid for in blood, sweat and tears, and when attacked, we fought back no matter the odds. Be our enemy another nation, a disease, depression, or whatever, the ?Spirit Of Our Forefathers? was always there! And in all of our brief history, no President has ever found it necessary to cordoned-off the White House until recent times, regardless of imminent danger. And even Lincoln, when an opposing force came knocking at the door of Washington DC, refused to take to his heels. And how about that ?Gallant Old Babe - Dolly Madison?? She damned near had to be carried out of the White House when the Brits used the place as a focal-point for a ?DC Barn-Fire? back on 24 August 1814!! ?Oh, how times have changed!!?

With terrorism now a critical threat, the rhetoric of some is again centering upon closing off this great building [White House], as well as the street [Pennsylvania Avenue] that runs astride it! A few even want to revamp the whole damned thoroughfare and turn it into an ?18th Century Gravel Path!?? [How will history view this action?]

And where, pray-tell, has the political courage of people like Abe Lincoln gone? Any national leader can issue orders that send millions out into harms way, yet some of these ?Political Generals? go to great lengths to insure their own [absolute] safety, should the fruits of their long-distance labors turn sour! ?Are we to assume that the times of King Arthur, Richard the Lionhearted, Napoleon, George Washington and Teddy Roosevelt have indeed departed!? There once was a time when leaders led by example and physical presence. There they stood, like a ?Stonewall?, not hunkered-down far away in some fortified bunker under Berlin or hiding behind a Kremlin Wall! A true leader is not worried more about his (or her) personal safety and image, than the welfare of the people that they represent! Nowadays, however, people like Hussein finds it necessary to employ doubles to insure their safety or to sleep (like Arafat) in a different bed every night - ?not that many politicos don?t do that anyway!!?

Of course, our own leadership would never resort to building a fortress around themselves, or a moat to surround their ambitions! And granted again, these are indeed different times, requiring harsher measures. But if we are to follow this line of reasoning, why not transport the White House to Alcatraz (Pelican) Island, or #10 Downing Street to the Faulklands, where they can be protected and isolated on all sides! ?Yes, times have indeed changed, and leaders too I fear!??

VERITAS

[reconeil]

Good points raised Old Buddy. Still, and even though the words: "All Men Are Created Equal" might seem nice in text here in America for The Kiddies,...the real truth of the matter is that; "Rank has its priviledges", even in The Civilian World.

Just like most Generals, when someone is politically fortunate enough to get the job wanted, such have deep bunkers, mountain hide-outs, and even airplanes necessary for getting out of harms way. And, as is usual in The Military, is also quite normal for civilians. Both low ranks or Privateers just become possible cannon fodder or plain old victims. No more, no less.

Still, and in fairness, "We The (Schnooks)" do get to go on "Alert" now and then, and might even get the opportunity to jump on a grenade, or some other such type of suicidal waste.

Joking aside, I would advise Our Leaders to stop the nonsense of politicizing warfare, and do what needs doing mucho-quicko. After all, no-way-in-hell is This Civilian gonna-jump-on-a-grenade. Dummy one, or otherwise.

Neil

[Boats]

Hardcore,

They would have take guys fifty and over to get something done nowadays - if you get my drift.

[daniel topliffe]

...and would like to make sure you
included 'todays work place'.

loyalty and dedication is difficult to
locate these days, on either side...

veritas...