"Our Friendship Has No Limit"

On the Bush speech writing front, haven't come up with much on the historic side yet, maybe because i don't think that i would like to see a great canadian's word butchered by the elected Prez (?) But if I were really writing a speech for the man, and he was coming here, I would try and find a way to repeat the substance of this... for Martin it has the advantage of being JC's, and yet about as compassionate and heroic as Canadians might aspire to get - mocking damn Parrish all the while, of course. Just read it and notice how much Iraq has skewered those high ideals. And I am not a big "war on terror" guy, but if ever days required eloquence, it was post 9-11. It is somewhat sad that we - and by that I mean the collective West - lost our way and drifted there. Bush's job might be to remind us of our sense of shock from that day, even as he has so contributed to disillusionment by extending our trust beyond reasonable measure:

Prime Minister Jean Chrétien: National Day of Mourning 9/11 Memorial Address (exert as required) delivered 14 September 2001 Ottawa, Ontario: Mr. Ambassador [U.S. Ambassador to Canada, Paul Cellucci] you have assembled before you, here on Parliament Hill and right across Canada, a people united in outrage, in grief, in compassion, and in resolve; a people of every faith and nationality to be found on earth; a people who, as a result of the atrocity committed against the United States on September 11, 2001, feel not only like neighbours but like family. At a time like this words fail us. We reel before the blunt and terrible reality of the evil we have just witnessed. We cannot stop the tears of grief. We cannot bring back lost wives and husbands. Sons and daughters. American citizens, Canadian citizens, citizens from all over the world. We cannot restore futures that have been cut terribly short. At a time like this, the only saving grace is our common humanity and decency. At a time like this, it is our feelings, our prayers and our actions that count. By their outpouring of concern, sympathy and help, the feelings and actions of Canadians have been clear. And, even as we grieve our own losses, the message they send to the American people is equally clear: Do not despair; you are not alone; we are with you -- the whole world is with you. The great Martin Luther King, in describing times of trial and tribulation, once said that: "In the end, it is not the words of your enemies that you remember, it is the silence of your friends." Mr. Ambassador, as your fellow Americans grieve and rebuild, there will be no silence from Canada. Our friendship has no limit. Generation after generation, we have traveled many difficult miles together. Side by side, we have lived through many dark times; always firm in our shared resolve to vanquish any threat to freedom and justice. And together, with our allies, we will defy and defeat the threat that terrorism poses to all civilized nations. Mr. Ambassador, we will be with the United States every step of the way -- as friends, as neighbours, as family."

I do not disagree with those words, and to a large extent wish we were truly more apart of them. but a specific quote? Will look further tomorrow. In the mean time, as an intellectual exercise, compare Carolyn Parrish's words with these. Again, I am not a fan of Bush, far from it. But even I can see the true idiot amidst that flock. AND - my version of "We Built this City" gets cut into with the following magical words - "Looking out over that Golden Gate bridge on another gorgeous sunny Saturday and not seeing that bumper to bumper to traffic... It's your favorite radio station, Your favorite radio city, The city by the bay; The city that rocks; The city that never sleeps." Mike Pal's favorite city...