This will tough for some of you to read....

[sam i am]

...but it's worth a quick perusal, IMO :

Thought for the day

In case we find ourselves starting to believe all the
anti-American sentiment and negativity, we should remember England 's Prime Minister Tony Blair's words during a recent interview.

When asked by one of his Parliament members why he believes so much in America, he said:

"A simple way to take measure of a country is to look at how many want in... And how many want out."

Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you:

1. Jesus Christ
2. The American G. I.
One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.

YOU MIGHT WANT TO PASS THIS ON,
AS MANY SEEM TO FORGET BOTH OF THEM.

Have a nice day!:)

[Schmeltz]

You're right, that was so sappy it was pretty hard to read.

[Documad]

When asked by one of his Parliament members why he believes so much in America, [Blair] said:

"A simple way to take measure of a country is to look at how many want in... And how many want out."

I'd like to be clear -- Blair said the first part "simple way to take measure of a country." Blair didn't coin the phrase but he did say it.

Blair did not say the part about J.C. and the American G.I. I think your post makes it look like he did. I'm sure you weren't trying to mislead anyone. It's just that I've noticed that a lot of Christian internet sites did what you did and put the two back to back, which could lead a lazy reader to think that Blair said the whole thing. It doesn't sound like Blair but I don't know if the lazy reader would realize that.

So to be clear, the part about J.C. and the G.I.s is your opinion, not Blair's, right?

I think that JC was a good man. But there are quite a few nuts in history who also think they died for the greater good. In fact, it's a pretty big problem in the world today.

[QueenAdrock]

The sentiment is a nice one and I can appreciate the meaning behind it. But personally I believe Jesus just got a pretty shitty deal in the end and the American GI is being lied to and dying for oil.

[HAL 9000]

There is a snopes on this

http://www.snopes.com/politics/quotes/blair.asp

The whole premise behind the quote is flawed though. The direction and speed of migration across a nation’s border is measure of the ‘potential difference’ in quality of life across that border. If you think this defines ‘greatness’ then one might as well look at GDP per head or the local freedom. Few would dispute that America is rich both in terms of material wealth and in terms of freedom (although arguably less rich here than it used to be – but that’s another issue).

What causes anti-Americanism is not the quality of life within the US but the perceived negative influence of the US on quality of life beyond its borders. The feeling (rightly or wrongly) that that wealth within the States comes at the expense of those outside causes Anti-Americanism.

Most people realise this though, right? It sounds like those people who say “Just be glad you live in a free country so that you can say those things” or “If you disagree with what the US is doing maybe you should leave”.

Edit – just noticed that it said ‘Only’ two forces have offered to die for you – my Great Grandfather (whose diary I have been reading) went over the top at the Battle of the Somme armed with a knife tied to a stick and ran straight at the German machine guns and artillery across open ground, he saw his closest friends literally ripped to pieces (30,000 Brit troops died that day) as he ran and was himself shot three times – He did this because he thought he was fighting for freedom. A far bigger sacrifice than that made by JC and certainly on a par with the American GI. I know Sam would acknowledge the oversight but still…..grrrr. This was far too much to write about a piece of harmless glurge - Sorry for ranting

[sam i am]

Glad I got a few responses. I'm surprised.

The quote was in quatation marks to separate it from the ensuing sentiment.

As for your great-grandfather : he didn't offer to die directly for you. The thought is that JC DID and does offer to die directly for each and every one of us.

Clarified, hopefully.

[sam i am]

You're right, that was so sappy it was pretty hard to read.

You're acknowledging that there are sappy conservatives! :eek:

[Drederick Tatum]

I'd rather base my ideas and values on something abit more substantial than an email Fwd.

[kaiser soze]

unfortunately our soldiers are dying for a lie and our freedoms are being diminished daily

[synch]

unfortunately our soldiers are dying for a lie and our freedoms are being diminished daily
Which makes baby jesus cry thus closing the circle.

[Documad]

Which makes baby jesus cry thus closing the circle.
I'll be repeating that and not giving you credit.

[Schmeltz]

You're acknowledging that there are sappy conservatives!


I've never denied it.

[Ali]

In case we find ourselves starting to believe all the
anti-American sentiment and negativity, we should remember England 's Prime Minister Tony Blair's words during a recent interview. Blair is on the ropes, my friend. He is hated and despised by everyone who voted him in and is under investigation for all manner of things, not least of which the lies he told us about Iraq.

Why should we remember his words, when all that's ever left his mouth is lies?

If has any sense, he'll leave No 10 tomorrow and move to the US. He seems to have plenty of Repubican friends over there.

[sam i am]

Blair is on the ropes, my friend. He is hated and despised by everyone who voted him in and is under investigation for all manner of things, not least of which the lies he told us about Iraq.

Why should we remember his words, when all that's ever left his mouth is lies?

If has any sense, he'll leave No 10 tomorrow and move to the US. He seems to have plenty of Repubican friends over there.

Wow. You called me "[your] friend." I'm touched.....really.

Blair, for all his warts, is the most Clintonesque of European leaders (despite Britain continuing to not want to be a part of England).

Who do you think will replace him : the COnservatives have all the momentum, from what I read...?

[chromium05]

Blair, for all his warts, is the most Clintonesque of European leaders (despite Britain continuing to not want to be a part of England).

Who do you think will replace him : the COnservatives have all the momentum, from what I read...?

Erm...not sure what you mean here, but England is part of Britain, not the other way around (Britain consists of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland).

Blair is an arse-licking f*cker. When he first got in, he was great and the country did well. Now, he's all about agreeing with Bush and the UK feels a depressing place to be.

With regards to a replacement, Gordon Brown should not be up there. I have never looked favourably on the conservatives and have heard Cameron say nothing about what he would do / change etc.

There is no-one at the moment who seems to have the right qualities to make a decent PM. Hopefully, pretty soon, someone with the right mix of charisma, intellect, morals and sense will make themselves known. George Galloway has a good mix of those, with a lot of balls to stand up to the US, but I wouldn't want him in charge of the country.

EDIT: On re-read - I guess you meant Britain not wanting to be part of Europe?

[HAL 9000]

Wow. You called me "[your] friend." I'm touched.....really.

Blair, for all his warts, is the most Clintonesque of European leaders (despite Britain continuing to not want to be a part of England).

Who do you think will replace him : the COnservatives have all the momentum, from what I read...?
Blair will almost certainly be replaced by Gordon Brown (an internally determined change of prime minister as Blair will resign and the Labour party will appoint a new one). It could be John Reid but this is unlikely, either way it is unlikely to result in any radical change. The next time there is a general election, it seems likely at the moment that it will be a contest between David Cameron of the Conservatives and Gordon Brown. I personally think David Cameron will win. He has been making a lot of very progressive noises (particularly on the environment) and I view him as a good thing (as Ali says, he has not made many clear policies yet, but he is indicating that he is likely to abandon a lot of the clunky beliefs that were holding the party back).

[Ali]

Wow. You called me "[your] friend." I'm touched.....really.

Blair, for all his warts, is the most Clintonesque of European leaders (despite Britain continuing to not want to be a part of England).

Who do you think will replace him : the COnservatives have all the momentum, from what I read...?
Hello Sam, I do have a soft spot for you, really :)

I loathe and despise Blair (as do most of the people who voted him in) mostly for lying to us about Iraq and also going against all the things that Labour stood for. New Labour = Old Tory in my book (except for Europe). Brown will replace Blair as head of the Labour party and will then be unceremoniously dumped when Labour lose the next general election to the Tories.

I like what Cameron says (unlike a lot of hi own MP's), but I doubt he can produce the goods and he remains eerily silent on a lot of subjects (the War in Iraq, immigration and Europe) and is being criticised for having no policies (a bit like the Democrats!!!).

However, I think I will vote for the Tories when the time comes (pick yourself up off the floor, Sam) mainly because a) the Lib Dems are Muppets b) I want to give Blair a blood nose and c) because my MP (who is Tory) is going to fight the new runway at Luton airport, and I have enough EasyJet flights buzzing over my house already, thanks very much.

[sam i am]

^^^^

Hmm....

Voting for a Tory is admirable : kudos.

Maybe Britain will get back to it's roots.