Saturday, September 6, 2008

The best candidate for America: John McCain

The ending of John McCain's acceptance speech says it all about his character and love for his country. Unlike his opponent, you do not have to doubt where McCain's loyalties lie.

Here is the ending of McCain's speech. It gave many American's goosebumps:

"Long ago, something unusual happened to me that taught me the most valuable lesson of my life. I was blessed by misfortune. I mean that sincerely. I was blessed because I served in the company of heroes and I witnessed a thousand acts of courage, and compassion, and love.

On an October morning, in the Gulf of Tonkin, I prepared for my 23rd mission over North Vietnam. I hadn't any worry I wouldn't come back safe and sound. I thought I was tougher than anyone. I was pretty independent then, too.

I liked to bend a few rules and pick a few fights for the fun of it. But I did it for my own pleasure, my own pride. I didn't think there was a cause that was more important than me.

Then I found myself falling toward the middle of a small lake in the city of Hanoi, with two broken arms, a broken leg, and an angry crowd waiting to greet me.

I was dumped in a dark cell and left to die. I didn't feel so tough anymore.

When they discovered my father was an admiral, they took me to a hospital. They couldn't set my bones properly, so they just slapped a cast on me. And when I didn't get better and was down to about a hundred pounds, they put me in a cell with two other Americans.

I couldn't do anything. I couldn't even feed myself. They did it for me. I was beginning to learn the limits of my selfish independence. Those men saved my life.

I was in solitary confinement when my captors offered to release me. I knew why. If I went home, they would use it as propaganda to demoralize my fellow prisoners.

Our code said we could only go home in the order of our capture, and there were men who had been shot down long before me. I thought about it, though. I wasn't in great shape, and I missed everything about America, but I turned it down.

A lot of prisoners had it much worse...

A lot of -- a lot of prisoners had it a lot worse than I did. I'd been mistreated before, but not as badly as many others. I always liked to strut a little after I'd been roughed up to show the other guys I was tough enough to take it.

But after I turned down their offer, they worked me over harder than they ever had before, for a long time, and they broke me.

When they brought me back to my cell, I was hurt and ashamed, and I didn't know how I could face my fellow prisoners. The good man in the cell next door to me, my friend, Bob Craner, saved me.

Through taps on a wall, he told me I had fought as hard as I could. No man can always stand alone. And then he told me to get back up and fight again for my country and for the men I had the honor to serve with, because every day they fought for me.

I fell in love with my country when I was a prisoner in someone else's. I loved it not just for the many comforts of life here. I loved it for its decency, for its faith in the wisdom, justice, and goodness of its people.

I loved it because it was not just a place, but an idea, a cause worth fighting for. I was never the same again; I wasn't my own man anymore; I was my country's.

I'm not running for president because I think I'm blessed with such personal greatness that history has anointed me to save our country in its hour of need.

My country saved me. My country saved me, and I cannot forget it. And I will fight for her for as long as I draw breath, so help me God.

My friends, if you find faults with our country, make it a better one. If you're disappointed with the mistakes of government, join its ranks and work to correct them. Enlist...

Enlist in our Armed Forces. Become a teacher. Enter the ministry. Run for public office. Feed a hungry child. Teach an -- an illiterate adult to read. Comfort the afflicted. Defend the rights of the oppressed.

Our country will be the better, and you will be the happier, because nothing brings greater happiness in life than to serve a cause greater than yourself.

I'm going to fight for my cause every day as your president. I'm going to fight to make sure every American has every reason to thank God, as I thank him, that I'm an American, a proud citizen of the greatest country on Earth. And with hard work -- with hard work, strong faith, and a little courage, great things are always within our reach.

Fight with me. Fight with me.

Fight for what's right for our country. Fight for the ideals and character of a free people.

Fight for our children's future. Fight for justice and opportunity for all.

Stand up to defend our country from its enemies. Stand up for each other, for beautiful, blessed, bountiful America.

Stand up, stand up, stand up and fight.

Nothing is inevitable here. We're Americans, and we never give up.

We never quit."

What a great speech and inspiring speech. This is a true representation of what America is all about. This is a true American story.

This speech was a major contrast with Obama's speech last week, where instead of talking about how great America is and how through hard work we can make America better, he talked about all that is wrong with America, and how miserable it is in this country.

He played on people's misery, just like the democratic strategy is counting on everything going wrong. The democrats cannot win if Americans wins in Iraq. The democrats cannot win if the economy is doing well. The democrats cannot win if unemployment is low. The democrats cannot win if if people's lives are improving. The democrats cannot win if all Americans are getting a great education. The democrats cannot win if people are happy and content.

The democrats have their entire hopes to obtain elected office hinging on people feeling miserable. The democrats desire to get into office far exceeds their love of country. They believe people are stupid, and that individuals cannot improve their lives without the help of government; that people are too stupid to make decisions for themselves.

McCain believes that people are smart, and that America prospers not because of what the government does, but because of what people do. That the way to prosperity is not through government, but through the people.

McCain believes it's easy to be selfish and put yourself first, and complain about your country. Or you can be proud of all the great things this country offers, make note of what is wrong, stand up, fight, and make this an even better country.

McCain does not place domestic issues before national defense, as Obama does. McCain understands if a terrorist destroys our country how the economy is doing will not matter.

McCain's story is a symbol of what is great about America. We may not all agree on his strategy for making America better, but unlike his opponent, we all can be assured that he has in mind his country first, himself second.

And that's why I think we should all make a stand and vote for McCain and make this a landslide victory to show the democrats that America is not a nation of misery, but the greatest nation on earth, and the greatest nation in the history of the world.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

With the selection of Sarah Palin for the VP slot, McCain demonstrates how committed he is to rural America. She's right; we grow your food, work in your factories, and fight your wars. In fact, a study by the Carsey Institute found that soldiers from rural areas are much more likely to die in combat than their urban counterparts. To learn more about rural soldiers, visit http://www.RFDAmerica.com.

Rural America is squarely behind the McCain/Palin ticket. I can't wait to see what the Dems offer us gun-clinging country folk. You can bet whatever it is, it won't do anything to improve our lives. In the end, the urban elitists don't care about us. Not even a little.

Khaki Elephant said...

Wow. Great post and a great take on the speech. And thanks for adding the text from McCain's ending, it works even when read. Hope you don't mind my linking to it.

Rick Frea said...

Thank you. You can link to anything of mine any time you want.

Anonymous said...

VEry true. I loved the McCain speech. The Palin pick was awesome. I think he has a good chance now!

Nikki said...

Hey freadom, this is an excellent post as khaki said. I am struck at how some claim that now McCain is the rock star now that he beat the ratings...my inkling is that the Obama craze has been fraudulent and a media farce. Just theorizing. Not a conspiracy of sorts but a marketing technique by the dems to make it look like he is far more popular than he actually is. great job. :)N

Mike said...

Very powerful. Excellent post.