This post, and it’s predecessor, brought by you by the Black Rose at Boston’s Fanueil Hall, co-sponsored by Guinness and Harp, the only beers of choice.
The Black Rose is the quintessential Boston Irish Bar. And the decor, the servers, the food, and the service show it. But this is just the prelude.
Tonight, the sidekick and I head to Sandrine’s for dinner. Oh joyous joy. Choucrote and some other treats from Alsace. mmmmm
My first observation of Retired Vice Admiral James Stockdale was the 1992 Vice Presidential debate – which is likely when many Americans of my generation first saw the man. It wasn’t until years later that I realized the type of individual that Ross Perot wanted as his Vice President.
Admiral Stockdale was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions as the highest ranking officer amongst a group of American prisoners of war held during the Vietnam War, his citation reads:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while senior naval officer in the Prisoner of War camps of North Vietnam.
Recognized by his captors as the leader in the Prisoners’ of War resistance to interrogation and in their refusal to participate in propaganda exploitation, Rear Adm. Stockdale was singled out for interrogation and attendant torture after he was detected in a covert communications attempt. Sensing the start of another purge, and aware that his earlier efforts at self-disfiguration to dissuade his captors from exploiting him for propaganda purposes had resulted in cruel and agonizing punishment, Rear Adm. Stockdale resolved to make himself a symbol of resistance regardless of personal sacrifice. He deliberately inflicted a near-mortal wound to his person in order to convince his captors of his willingness to give up his life rather than capitulate. He was subsequently discovered and revived by the North Vietnamese who, convinced of his indomitable spirit, abated in their employment of excessive harassment and torture toward all of the Prisoners of War.
By his heroic action, at great peril to himself, he earned the everlasting gratitude of his fellow prisoners and of his country. Rear Adm. Stockdale’s valiant leadership and extraordinary courage in a hostile environment sustain and enhance the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.
Men such as this don’t walk on this earth very often.
Rest in peace, Admiral.
President Bush, as quoted by the New York Times earlier this week:
Mr. Bush said that there was “total transparency” at the Guantánamo Bay detention center in Cuba and that the International Red Cross was free to inspect the center at any time. To those Europeans skeptical of his claims, Mr. Bush said he would “suggest buying an airplane ticket” and going to “take a look for yourself.”
It’s important, however, that those engaged in terrorism realize that our determination to defend our values and our way of life is greater than their determination to cause death and destruction to innocent people in a desire to impose extremism on the world.
Whatever they do, it is our determination that they will never succeed in destroying what we hold dear in this country and in other civilized nations throughout the world.
– Tony Blair, Prime Minister, The United Kingdom
Finally, I wish to speak directly to those who came to London today to take life.
I know that you personally do not fear giving up your own life in order to take others – that is why you are so dangerous. But I know you fear that you may fail in your long-term objective to destroy our free society and I can show you why you will fail.
In the days that follow look at our airports, look at our sea ports and look at our railway stations and, even after your cowardly attack, you will see that people from the rest of Britain, people from around the world will arrive in London to become Londoners and to fulfill their dreams and achieve their potential.
They choose to come to London, as so many have come before because they come to be free, they come to live the life they choose, they come to be able to be themselves. They flee you because you tell them how they should live. They don’t want that and nothing you do, however many of us you kill, will stop that flight to our city where freedom is strong and where people can live in harmony with one another. Whatever you do, however many you kill, you will fail.
– London Mayor Ken Livingstone
“I want to say one thing: This was not a terrorist attack against the mighty or the powerful, it is not aimed at presidents or prime ministers, it was aimed at ordinary working-class Londoners. That isn’t an ideology, it isn’t even a perverted faith, it’s mass murder.”
– London Mayor Ken Livingstone
Photo by the Sidekick with the new Nikon D70.
In Boston’s Old Granary Burying Ground near the Boston Common lie three of the five Massachusetts men who signed the Declaration of Independence. John Adams, cousin of Sam, lies six miles to the south in Quincy, Massachusetts next to his son – both Presidents of the United States.
Rest in peace….