Byrd's Fable Fits Perfectly

[kalian]

http://www.nynewsday.com/news/local/newyork/columnists/ny-nybres273561309nov27,0,6095058.column?coll=ny-ny-columnists

The hand shakes but the mind does not. Nor does the voice waver. Always in his jacket pocket is a copy of the Constitution of the United States, which he loves.

And Oct. 17, Robert C. Byrd, 86, United States senator from West Virginia, rose in the Senate and read a speech, with sentences shorter than his usual because his thoughts were so biting. He had searched his heart and the skies above for words that would scald now, and be a legacy for all to follow.

You will not have to tell your grandchildren of the heights to which Robert Byrd took us on that day. They will be able to read his speech in their classrooms and libraries. For his are the words of his time that will last.

The speech is printed here as a gift to readers.

[Myra]

1. Thank you for this invaluable gift Senator Byrd (& Breslin, & kalian)

I wish our DU signature lines were long enough to accomodate
the full text of Byrd's speech. What a great great man.

My god. He quoted Goering. Made the exact right comparison,
right there on the senate floor:

"I began my remarks with a fairy tale. I shall close my remarks with a horror story, in the form of a quote from the book 'Nuremberg Diaries,' written by G.M. Gilbert, in which the author interviews Hermann Goering.

"'We got around to the subject of war again, and I said that, contrary to his attitude, I did not think that the common people are very thankful for leaders who bring them war and destruction.

"'... But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy or a fascist dictatorship or a Parliament or a Communist dictatorship.

"'There is one difference,' I pointed out. 'In a democracy, the people have some say in the matter through their elected representatives, and in the United States, only Congress can declare wars.'

"'Oh, that is all well and good, but, voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country.'"