charlton heston we dearly miss you
jon stewart, in this past friday's "the daily show", aired a clip of charlton heston's 1999 NRA convention speech. 1999. (start watching around 7:20). heston's words:
"tragedy will always be with us. somewhere, right now, evil people are planning evil things. all of us will do everything meaningful, everything we can do to prevent it. but each horrible act can't become an axe for opportunists to cleave the very bill of rights that binds us".
and more of heston's words:
"america must stop this predictable pattern of reaction. when an isolated, terrible event occurs, our phones ring, demanding that the NRA explain the inexplicable. why us? because their story needs a villain. that is not our role in american society, and we will not be forced to play it. if you disagree, that's your right. i respect that. but we will not relinquish it, or be silenced about it, or be told, 'do not come here--you are not welcome in your own land' ".
and jon's simple apology and statement about it:
"i was wrong and heston was right. and if you replace "NRA" with "muslim community" and "second amendment with "first amendment", he's still right".
THAT'S also what i believe.
mr heston, rest in peace. i'm proud to live in this country, as you were so proud to live in this coutry, that our forebears fought so hard to bequeath us. i will do everything i can to bequeath it to those after me with the same constitution and full bill of rights intact, and respect the example you set in the very same way. i would entreat all other citizens to do the same.
"tragedy will always be with us. somewhere, right now, evil people are planning evil things. all of us will do everything meaningful, everything we can do to prevent it. but each horrible act can't become an axe for opportunists to cleave the very bill of rights that binds us".
and more of heston's words:
"america must stop this predictable pattern of reaction. when an isolated, terrible event occurs, our phones ring, demanding that the NRA explain the inexplicable. why us? because their story needs a villain. that is not our role in american society, and we will not be forced to play it. if you disagree, that's your right. i respect that. but we will not relinquish it, or be silenced about it, or be told, 'do not come here--you are not welcome in your own land' ".
and jon's simple apology and statement about it:
"i was wrong and heston was right. and if you replace "NRA" with "muslim community" and "second amendment with "first amendment", he's still right".
THAT'S also what i believe.
mr heston, rest in peace. i'm proud to live in this country, as you were so proud to live in this coutry, that our forebears fought so hard to bequeath us. i will do everything i can to bequeath it to those after me with the same constitution and full bill of rights intact, and respect the example you set in the very same way. i would entreat all other citizens to do the same.
Labels: politics
posted by kad barma at 2:27 PM
1 Comments:
Agreeing with Jon Stewart. And in this case well we should.
Regards — Cliff
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