Stand Up for America Rally Speech By Beth Chapman

In early March, the Shelby County Alabama Legislative Delegation hosted a  "Stand Up for America Rally." More than 1,200 people attended including  featured speakers Chief Justice Roy Moore, Adjutant General Mark Bowen and  Alabama State Auditor Beth Chapman.   Attached is a copy of Mrs. Chapman's speech, which resulted in five standing  ovations, tremendous applause and an encore. It's a short read and well  worth it.   I hope you enjoy it as we continue to "Stand up for America!" 

I'm here tonight because men and women of the United States military have  given their lives for my freedom. I am not here tonight because Sheryl  Crowe, Rosie O'Donnell, Martin Sheen, George Clooney, Jane Fonda or Phil  Donahue, sacrificed their lives for me. 

If my memory serves me correctly, it was not movie stars or musicians, but  the United States Military who fought on the shores of Iwo Jima, the jungles of Vietnam, and the beaches of Normandy. Tonight, I say we should support  the President of the United States and the U.S. Military and tell the  liberal, tree-hugging, Birkenstock-wearing, hippy, tie-dyed liberals to go  make their movies and music and whine somewhere else.   After all, if they lived in Iraq, they wouldn't be allowed the freedom of  speech they're being given here today. Ironically, they would be put to  death at the hands of Sadam Hussein or Osama Bin Laden. I want to know how  the very people who are against war because of the loss of life, can  possibly be the same people who are for abortion?   They are the same people who are for animal rights but against the rights of  the unborn.

The movie stars say they want to go to Iraq and serve as "huma n  shields" for the Iraqis. I say let them buy a one-way ticket and go.   No one likes war. I hate war! But the one thing I hate more is the fact that  this country has been forced into war-innocent people have lost their  lives - - and there but for the grace of God, it could have been my brother,  my husband, or even worse my own son.  

On December 7, 1941, there are no records of movie stars treading the  blazing waters of Pearl Harbor. On September 11, 2001; there are no photos  of movie stars standing as "human shields" against the debris and falling  bodies ascending from the World Trade Center. There were only policemen and  firemen - -underpaid civil servants who gave their all with nothing expected  in return.  When the USS Cole was bombed, there were no movie stars guarding the  ship - - where were thehuman shields then?  If America's movie stars want to be human shields, let them shield the  gang-ridden streets of Los Angeles, or New York City, let them shield the  lives of the children of North Birmingham whose mothers lay them down to  sleep on the floor each night to shelter them from stray bullets.  If they want to be human shields, I say let them shield the men and women of  honesty and integrity that epitomizes courage and embody the spirit of  freedom by wearing the proud uniforms of the United States Military. Those  are the people who have earned and deserve shielding! 

Throughout the course of history, this country has remained free, not  because of movie stars and liberal activists, but because of brave men and  women who hated war too. However, they lay down their lives so that we all  may live in freedom. After all - "What greater love hath no man, that  he lay down his life for his friend," or in this case a country.  

We should give our military honor and acknowledgement and not let their  lives be in vain. If you want to see true human shields, walk through  Arlington Cemetery. There lie human shields, heroes,  and the BRAVE Americans who didn't get on television and talk about being a  human shield - they were human shields.  

I thank God tonight for freedom - - those who bought and paid for it with  their lives in the past - - those who will protect it in the present and  defend it in the future.   America has remained silent too long! God-fearing people have remained  silent too long!   We must lift our voices united in a humble prayer to God for guidance and  the strength and courage to sustain us throughout whatever the future may  hold. 

After the tragic events of Sept. 11th, my then eleven year-old son said  "terrorism is a war against them and us and if you're not one of us, then  you're one of them. "  So in closing tonight, let us be of one accord, let us stand proud, and let  us be the human shields of prayer, encouragement and support for the  President, our troops and their families and our country.  

May God bless America, the land of the free, the home of the brave and the  greatest country on the face of this earth.

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